This Old Road

Kris Kristofferson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 7, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New West Records
• ASIN: B000E6UKD2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,223 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though Kris Kristofferson has long seemed ageless, the approach of his 70th birthday plainly has the songwriter looking back, taking stock and coming to terms with his legacy and his mortality. The result is his most consistently compelling release in decades, as well as his most stripped-to-the-bone intimate. The spare production by bassist Don Was captures Kristofferson in all his rough-edged, plain-spoken, and big-hearted glory, with occasional support from guitarist (and longtime Kristofferson compatriot) Stephen Bruton and drummer Jim Keltner putting the focus on songs that combine the poetic grace of Kristofferson's early classics with a conviction that has grown stronger with the passing years. "Wild Americans" offers a roll call of outspoken heroes--from American Indian activist John Trudell to country maverick Steve Earle--while "In the News" lambastes the very concept of a holy war. Yet it's the spiritual side of Kristofferson that really touches the soul, from a father's wonder at the "Holy Creation" of his children's birth to the bittersweet benediction of "Thank You for a Life." With the title cut, "The Last Thing to Go," "The Show Goes On," and "Final Attraction," he takes a look back at the life of a troubadour and decides that, for all the bumps, this road has been one of incomparable rewards. The listener shares the riches. --Don McLeese

Product Description

Kris Kristofferson has always identified himself first and foremost as a writer, and true writers know that what works best is giving a piece of themselves to the listener. With his latest album, This Old Road, Kristofferson lays a chunk of his own soul on every track. This beautifully sparse recording, puts an emphasis on his fine lyrics and distinctive voice by featuring Kristofferson, his guitar, and harmonica. The album is so intimate it makes the listener feel as if they are sitting in Kristofferson’s living room while he picks and sings just for them.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I'd go crazy if I paid attention all the time", March 17, 2006

By 

John Terry "musiclikerguy" (Kansas City, Mo) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Old Road (Audio CD)

Don't let Kris Kristofferson fool you. He has been paying attention. This album is a love letter to his family and friends. It's also full of angry, cautionary observations about the world we live in. The stripped down production is a perfect accompaniement to Kristofferson's well worn vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica. When you have a resume that sports as many country classics as this gentleman, it's kind of hard to believe that there was anything worthy of adding to it. No one would have blamed him for resting quietly on his laurels. "This Old Road" quietly adds another chapter to the Pilgram's progress. What an extraordinary journey it's been.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go Break A Heart, May 19, 2006

By 

prisrob "pris," (New England USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: This Old Road (Audio CD)

Guy Clark, a friend, told Kris one night to "Go Break a Heart", as he was going on stage, instead of the old sawbone "Go Break a Leg." It seems somehow the right thing to say. These are the lyrics from Kris's song "Final Attraction" the last song on the CD. All of Kris's friends and those he loved. The Old Troubador comes through on this CD.

"Come on boy, get back up there
You can do it one more time
For Hank Williams, go break a heart
And Janis Joplin, go break a heart
And Waylon Jennings, go break a heart
And John Lennon, go break a heart
And Roger Miller, "
And Jimi Hendrix, "
And Mickey Newbury, "
(add on....)John and June Cash
Vince Matthews, Shell Silverstein,
And maybe one time for me,
Go break a heart"

This is the barebones of Kris Kristofferson; superb, poetic lyrics and his distinctive voice, like old fine whiskey. He is approaching 70, and he plays on this CD with his guitar and a few old friends. It is bleak and oh, so sweet. The lyrics in these songs break your heart, as Kris wishes. They are real, and we know exactly what Kris is saying. This is the man who won our hearts and souls with his gravelly, whiskey voice, putting his honesty on the line for us.

Kris was a Rhodes Scholar who turned down a position at West Point to work as a janitor in Nashville. Soon he was known for his song writing and voice, writing with Shel Silverstein, "Me and Bobby McGee", "Sunday Morning Coming Down," and "For the Good Times." Kris Kristofferson is known as a living legend at this point in his career. But, he tells us he is the same man he has always been. He talks of freedom in many of his songs. "If you took freedom out of the songs, you'd have very few Kristofferson songs," he laughs.

"If I had to describe it in one word, I'd say it's honest," he says of "This Old Road". "It's all pretty close to the bone, about my own personal journey. It's about what sense I've made of my life up to now."

"Pilgrim's Progress" is a song that Kristofferson says, "tells the truth, a progress report."

The CD pays tribute to those who have gone on "The Last Thing to Go," wherein he salutes "those of us who took things seriously, who were trying to move people;

"The Show Goes On," a song he calls "a fond look back at the way we were putting ourselves out there and trying to create something special.

" On "Wild American" he reminds listeners of some personal heroes; people like Native American activist John Trudell and others who "happen when you need `em" like Merle Haggard and Steve Earle.

"Final Attraction," a song that was inspired by watching the communication between Willie Nelson and a large crowd of listeners. Go Break A Heart"

"In the News" takes a hard look at modern-day life with the mention of Lacy Peterson refrain of "Read about the sorry way he done somebody's daughter. Chained her to a heavy thing and threw her in the water. And she sank into the darkness with their baby son inside her. A little piece of truth and beauty died."

"The Burden of Freedom" focuses on "the fact that freedom is a double-edged sword," Kristofferson says. "When I wrote it back in the late 60s, it was about leaving the path I had been prepared for--West Point and all that--but it's mostly about doing what you believe is right whether that makes you enemies or not."

"Chase the Feeling," which describes destructive behavior-"it takes one to know one, baby"

"Holy Creation" is his beautiful composition. He says the song was inspired by his eight children, whom he calls his "greatest legacy."

"Thank You for a Life." "The best love songs can be taken on a couple different levels, so that song is being sung to my wife but also to God," he says. "In the end, it's all love."

This CD is about love, freedom, and the people, like BK and me, who love Kris Kristofferson and his music. A critic has said of this CD, "And on this, the most intensely personal album of his career, he goes the extra mile, creating a thing of rare beauty, grace, and eloquence." Kris never thought he was a good singer. He was a good songwriter, he does agree. He didn't like singing his songs, but others did, like Janis Joplin. It wasn't until after Joplin died from a drug overdose in October 1970 that Kristofferson first heard her recording of his song.
"She had hooked it. It was a very emotional experience for me" he said. That's how we feel now Kris. You hooked it. This is an emotional experience for those of us who love your music. Highly, highly recommended, prisrob 5-19-06

66 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An introspective, reflective masterpiece., March 7, 2006

By 

DanD - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: This Old Road (Audio CD)

Let's examine that word: "masterpiece." What is a masterpiece? It's a work of art that lasts longer that its artist; it is a work so profound that it touches you on every emotional level. A masterpiece is something you may never fully understand, may never truly comprehend, but show it unequivocal respect and admiration.

That's what Kristofferson's latest record is: a masterpiece. I won't sink to the level of going song-by-song; how could I even attempt such a journey? This mostly-acoustic album is a journey through the mind of an artist. Kristofferson has proved himself, over DECADES, to be the premier songwriter in the music industry. For his latest release, he turns to his own life's story, his own place in this vast "universal mind." With a voice hewn by years of hard living and loving, and stellar production by Don Was, Kristofferson will take you on a soulful journey from which you may never return. Not that you would want to.

THIS OLD ROAD is a masterpiece...and if you have a single doubt in your mind as to that truth, then buy the album and give it a listen. And if it doesn't touch you, check your pulse and make sure you still have a beating heart capable of breaking. Because this one will break your heart, then put it back together again. A beautiful, timeless record. A masterpiece.