Customer Reviews

Trapeze: The Collection

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tom Cochrane, whether on his own or with Red Rider, has long been an underrated rocker-poet-folkie. He's produced lots of hits in the Great White North - No Regrets, I Wish You Well, White Hot, Lunatic Fringe and (of course) Life Is A Highway - and they're all here.

It's the other tracks that should remind critics and casual fans alike that Cochrane is more than just a 1980s and '90s hitmaker. Check out Dreamer's Dream, Neruda and Ocean Blue to get a feel for how varied his sound can be.

Much of that sound was created with guitarist/pedal steel whiz Kenny Greer, who split with Cochrane before the recording of the mega-selling Mad Mad World CD. Fortunately, Greer is back and you hear his influence all over the two new tracks on this collection - Just Like Ali, a tribute to his father and the famous boxer (both of whom have Parkinson's Disease, and all the proceeds from this track go to fight the ailment) and Pictures From The Edge.

Here's the complete track listing:
CD 1: White Hot, Avenue A, Lunatic Fringe, Light In The Tunnel, Power (Strength In Numbers), Human Race, Can't Turn Back, Napoleon Sheds His Skin, Neruda, Young Thing, Wild Dreams, Boy Inside The Man, The Untouchable One, Ocean Blues, Big League, Victory Day Good Times, Just Like Ali.

CD 2: Life Is A Highway, Mad Mad World, No Regrets, Sinking Like A Sunset, Washed Away, Brave And Crazy, I Wish You Well, Wildest Dreams, paper Tigers, Dreamer's Dream, I Wonder, Stonecutter's Arms, Pictures From The Edge.

The package comes with a very complete essay by Canadian freelance music writer Greg Quill, plus commentary on every song by Cochrane himself. So what's missing? Well, both CDs have room for a few more tracks, and those songs should have come from the excellent all-acoustic Songs From A Circling Spirit and the very cool Symphony Sessions albums (Thus my rating of 4, instead of 5 stars). Both were mysteriously ignored when it came to picking songs for Trapeze. Too bad, too. The Symphony Sessions version of White Hot, recorded live in concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, is the definitive one as far as I'm concerned.

There's also a limited-edition version with a third disc containing seven live-in-concert songs.

Tom Cochrane, whether on his own or with Red Rider, has long been an underrated rocker-poet-folkie. He's produced lots of hits in the Great White North - No Regrets, I Wish You Well, White Hot, Lunatic Fringe and (of course) Life Is A Highway - and they're all here.

It's the other tracks that should remind critics and casual fans alike that Cochrane is more than just a 1980s and '90s hitmaker. Check out Dreamer's Dream, Neruda and Ocean Blue to get a feel for how varied his sound can be.

Much of that sound was created with guitarist/pedal steel whiz Kenny Greer, who split with Cochrane before the recording of the mega-selling Mad Mad World CD. Fortunately, Greer is back and you hear his influence all over the two new tracks on this collection - Just Like Ali, a tribute to his father and the famous boxer (both of whom have Parkinson's Disease, and all the proceeds from this track go to fight the ailment) and Pictures From The Edge.

Here's the complete track listing:
CD 1: White Hot, Avenue A, Lunatic Fringe, Light In The Tunnel, Power (Strength In Numbers), Human Race, Can't Turn Back, Napoleon Sheds His Skin, Neruda, Young Thing, Wild Dreams, Boy Inside The Man, The Untouchable One, Ocean Blues, Big League, Victory Day Good Times, Just Like Ali.

CD 2: Life Is A Highway, Mad Mad World, No Regrets, Sinking Like A Sunset, Washed Away, Brave And Crazy, I Wish You Well, Wildest Dreams, paper Tigers, Dreamer's Dream, I Wonder, Stonecutter's Arms, Pictures From The Edge.

The package comes with a very complete essay by Canadian freelance music writer Greg Quill, plus commentary on every song by Cochrane himself. So what's missing? Well, both CDs have room for a few more tracks, and those songs should have come from the excellent all-acoustic Songs From A Circling Spirit and the very cool Symphony Sessions albums (Thus my rating of 4, instead of 5 stars). Both were mysteriously ignored when it came to picking songs for Trapeze. Too bad, too. The Symphony Sessions version of White Hot, recorded live in concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, is the definitive one as far as I'm concerned.

One other thing: in Canada there's a limited-edition version with a third disc containing five live-in-concert songs.

This Is not a bad best of collection cd. It does have most of his really good songs but there was a few left off. Like the MTV video version Light In The Tunnel/Human Race, Breaking Curfew, Whipping Boy & Love Under Fire just to name a few. But this is really a good collection of songs. Disc 1 is from the Red Rider cds. Disc 2 is Tom's solo cds. And there is even a third disc that has seven live songs on it. If you like Tom and are looking for a nice collection of songs to buy this is it.

This is a great collection of Tom Cochrane and Red Rider's best hits. It would be nice to see the guys tour the USA, though Tom elects to tour his native Canada more often. You get a flavor of the hits he recorded over the years. A must for Tom Cochrane music collectors!!!!

Tom Cochrane, whether on his own or with Red Rider, has long been an underrated rocker-poet-folkie. He's produced lots of hits in the Great White North - No Regrets, I Wish You Well, White Hot, Lunatic Fringe and (of course) Life Is A Highway - and they're all here.

It's the other tracks that should remind critics and casual fans alike that Cochrane is more than just a 1980s and '90s hitmaker. Check out Dreamer's Dream, Neruda and Ocean Blue to get a feel for how varied his sound can be.

Much of that sound was created with guitarist/pedal steel whiz Kenny Greer, who split with Cochrane before the recording of the mega-selling Mad Mad World CD. Fortunately, Greer is back and you hear his influence all over the two new tracks on this collection - Just Like Ali, a tribute to his father and the famous boxer (both of whom have Parkinson's Disease, and all the proceeds from this track go to fight the ailment) and Pictures From The Edge.

Here's the complete track listing:
CD 1: White Hot, Avenue A, Lunatic Fringe, Light In The Tunnel, Power (Strength In Numbers), Human Race, Can't Turn Back, Napoleon Sheds His Skin, Neruda, Young Thing, Wild Dreams, Boy Inside The Man, The Untouchable One, Ocean Blues, Big League, Victory Day Good Times, Just Like Ali.
CD 2: Life Is A Highway, Mad Mad World, No Regrets, Sinking Like A Sunset, Washed Away, Brave And Crazy, I Wish You Well, Wildest Dreams, paper Tigers, Dreamer's Dream, I Wonder, Stonecutter's Arms, Pictures From The Edge.

The package comes with a very complete essay by Canadian freelance music writer Greg Quill, plus commentary on every song by Cochrane himself. So what's missing? Well, both CDs have room for a few more tracks, and those songs should have come from the excellent all-acoustic Songs From A Circling Spirit and the very cool Symphony Sessions albums (Thus my rating of 4, instead of 5 stars). Both were mysteriously ignored when it came to picking songs for Trapeze. Too bad, too. The Symphony Sessions version of White Hot, recorded live in concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, is the definitive one as far as I'm concerned.

i was not very familiar with Tom Cochrane when i bought this collection. I had obviously heard "Life is a Highway" but i decided to buy after hearing "Stonecutter's Hands." Overall, I am very impressed. His lyrics are imaginative and intelligent and the guitar-based musicianship is strong. I like his Red Rider material but prefer his solo work which is contained on disc 2. I was actually so impressed I subsequently purchased all of his albums and although there are some very good songs left off Trapeze (particularly from his solo work)I would say this collection is probably going to be sufficient for anyone less that a completist-type collector.

Excellent collection of fine music from Canada. Clear vocals and ear-pleasing melodies make this a fine choice for those interested in the music of Tom Cochrane and Red Rider.

This is the best collection of songs by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider by far! The liner notes included give life & meaning to the songs, reminiscent of the legendary Bruce Springsteen's Live (1975-1985) Box Set! The collection has 2 CDs : Disc 1 has 17 songs from earlier works before landmark album "Mad Mad World" in 1991. It's full of beautiful hits/gems including, "Victory Day", "Boy Inside The Man", "The Untouchable Ones", "Napoleon Sheds His Skin", "Avenue A", "Good Times" & much more! My favourite song on this disc is track 15 "Victory Day" : If you walk with me, we'll get there someway (Tom Cochrane sings at his best, title track, 1986). Disc 2 has 13 songs from 1991 onwards : "Mad Mad World" (6 songs), "Ragged Ass Road" (4 songs, including my favourite on this disc, "Dreamer's Dream"), "Xray Sierra" (2 songs) and last song, "Pictures From The Edge". I give the collection 4 stars for omitting some gems, namely "Everything Comes Around", my favourite song from "Mad Mad World", "Don't Fight It" (Title Track), "Cowboys In Hongkong" from "As Far As Siam", "Bird On A Wire", "Next Life" from "Symphony Sessions" & "Crack The Sky" from "Neruda". But credit to the collection, it is not quite easy deciding what to include & what to leave out with a large magnificent discograhy that Tom Cochrane & Red Rider have without disappoint somehow some fans! You might think "Victory Day" is a "Dreamer's Dream", but if you walk with me, we'll get there someway! A highly recommended listening of the highest order!

These 2 CD's are unbelievable and should be more recognized. Tom Cochrane should be an inspiration to all Canadians for his exceptional lyrics and his unique voice. These CD's sum up all that is Tom Cochrane and how he is so underappreciated and underated. I can not get enough of listening to it since i bought it a couple weeks ago. You can go through the entire 2 CD's without skipping a song. I think his best songs on this CD are Boy Inside the Man, Sinking Like A Sunset, Stonecutter's Arms, and Big League. I know some people would include Life is A Highway on there, but I think he has much better tracks on this unbelievable collection. This music is so inspirational and is a must have for all Cochrane fans, young or old. It is the kind of music that makes you proud to be a Canadian.

One of the besst compilations of "The Best Of" in a very long while. Music is so easy listening to all ages...