Customer Reviews

Ultimate Collection

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First off let me say, I loves Jerry Jeff. Buy anything and everything I find, tho I don't own it all, someday I'spect I will. While this is a good start, all of us die-hard double J.W. fans know there is a box set a-comin' down the trail someday, and that I hope is the 'ultimate collection' that will include his best from ALL his labels. Which should amount to at least a 4 to 6 cd set... Of course, the box set won't satisfy everyone,but, very few box sets do. As far as this set goes, clocking in at over 77 minutes,it is a good intro to Jerry Jeff, but having to leave off such great songs as "DRIFTIN' WAY OF LIFE", "RAMBLIN',SCRAMBLIN',"GOT LUCKY LAST NIGHT", "HILL COUNTRY RAIN", "NAVAJO RUG" and one of Jerry Jeff's best, most solemn ballads, "BLUE MOOD", plus another dozen or so fitting tunes, this would of made a great double cd collection that would of possibly merited the "ultimate" label.Still, for the uninitiated, it's the best collection out right now, and... it is Jerry Jeff! 'Nuff said.

This CD is a very good representation of Austin's and Jerry Jeff Walker's Cosmic Cowboy years.

In the 1970s the new, amazing music coming out of Austin had the national music columnists looking for the words to describe it..."Progressive Country", "Cosmic Cowboy", "Redneck Rock", "Country Rock", or simply "Austin Music". This music could be experienced at Armadillo World Headquarters or dozens of music venues in and around Austin.

The definitive albums of progressive country rock---the CLASSIC "Jerry Jeff Walker" (his first Austin album, recorded live in the studio, and YET to be released on CD), "Viva Terlingua" (recorded live in the dance hall of Luckenbach, Texas), "Walker's Collectibles", "Ridin' High", "It's A Good Night For Singin'", "A Man Must Carry On" (which won a Grammy nomination for a live version of "Mr Bojangles"), etc---well-represent what was going on in Austin in those years.

As much as anyone, Jerry Jeff Walker and The Lost Gonzo Band created the progressive country rock coming out of Austin in the 70s. The primary Lost Gonzo Band included Bob Livingston, John Inmon, Gary P. Nunn, Donny Dolan, Kelly Dunn, Tomas Rameriz, and sometimes Jimmy Baker. (On "Viva Terlingua" the band also included Craig Hillis, Michael McGeary, Herb Steiner, Mary Egan, Mickey Raipheld, and Joanne Vent.)

The Lost Gonzo Band opened for Jerry Jeff Walker in the first season of Austin City Limits, with an incredible set of songs, one flowing into the next. Then they backed Walker for one of the most spontaneous and improvised Austin City Limits ever.

In the notes for "A Man Must Carry On" Walker wrote, "We started this album after 'Viva Terlingua'. It led us through over two years of recording and eighty-five boxes of tape." As Imagineer Hondo Crouch would say, one can only imagine what good music could be culled from all those tapes, to make a truly "Ultimate" collection.

What is it about Texas? Some of the best artists in the land(any genre) seem to have come out of Texas or have been heavily influenced by it. Such is the case with Jerry Jeff Walker. Raised in New York State, you'd think that the influence of Texas twang would be far away from his ears, but it called out to him. The call of the Crescent City wasn't too far behind either, for New Orleans, LA has put out an A-list of performers comparable to that of the entire state of Texas, and Walker found himself living there for awhile also.

Nowadays, it's not unusual to see a Jerry Jeff Walker sticker plastered on the back of a beat-up Ford with Texas plates. His influence has been felt far and wide, but he has still managed to stay rather low key and regional when compared to other artists/songwriters of his stature.

"Ultimate Collection" does well to serve up a taste of Jerry Jeff Walker. From the amazing "Mr. Bojangles" to "Sangria Wine" and the fun "Hairy Ass Hillbillies," many of Walker's best self-penned tunes are here. His talent is also shown on songs from folks like Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Ray Wiley Hubbard, and Billy Joe Shaver, among others. He makes their songs his own.

Personal favorites in this collection include "I Ain't Livin' Long Like This," "Up Against The Wall Redneck," "Leavin' Texas," and "Like A Coat From The Cold." Other good selections include "Desperados Waiting For A Train," which can also be heard on the Cash/Kristofferson/Jennings/Nelson "Highwayman" album, and "Pissin' In The Wind."

This entire album is solid, and none of these songs come across as filler. Though many complain that some of Walker's other hits have been left off of here, this is a sufficient album for new listeners and old-timers as well.

If you enjoy artists like Gary P. Nunn(a former member of Walker's band), Billy Joe Shaver, Waylon Jennings, and Robert Earl Keen, you're sure to enjoy Jerry Jeff Walker. He has that honky-tonky swagger and Texas kick about him that makes Texas artists so unique. Also, fans of Jimmy Buffett are sure to enjoy Walkers stories about real folks as well.

Highly recommended.

If you are buying just one Jerry Jeff, this is the one to get. All of Hip-O's releases have excellent remastered sound. They take the trouble to compile songs even when different labels are involved. Hats off to ya, Hip-O. Some other good Hip-O compilations: Marc Bolan (T Rex), Steve Earle, Delbert McClinton. Check em out....and get on and off the LA Freeway with Jerry Jeff.

I found this cd in a used cd bin at some store. Why anyone would get rid of this cd is beyond me. This is a great cd that has alot of Jerry Jeff classics. They are all original recordings including Mr. Bojangles and Sangria Wine. I pefer the live versions but they are still great songs. Most Jerry Jeff cds have only 10 songs on them, so if you want alot of Jerry Jeff I highly recommend this cd. With 20 classics you can't go wrong.

Ultimate Collection is the most comprehensive anthology yet assembled for Jerry Jeff Walker, with tracks spanning the late '60s through the late '70s. "Mr. Bojangles" is here with other crowd pleasers like "Pissin' in the Wind," and "Up Against the Wall Redneck." There's the problem. Ultimate Collection focuses on his rambunctious songs and skips some of his early poetry. In addition, even though all but one of his hits from the '70s is included, none of his '80s hits are. Ultimate Collection is an imperfect survey of Jerry Jeff Walker's music, but it still will have plenty popular appeal.

Very nice collection of Ronald Clyde Crosby music aka Jerry Jeff Walker. If you don't want everything he has done this is very nice. If you like Texas music look into Bob Wills,Ray Wylie Hubbard,Reckless Kelly,Randy Rogers band,Willis Allan Ramsey,Flaco Jimenez (Texas Tornados), Doug Sahm,Radney Foster,Jack Ingram,Pat Green,Cory Morrow,Gary Nunn,Light Crust Doughboys,Stoney LaRue,Wade Bowen and Guy Clark, just to mention a few!

I was absolulely thrilled to find this collection. It contains cuts that I had not had in my possession for many years. Music takes me away to people, things and events in my life that I don't ever want to forget. If you are a JJW fan, then this is a MUST have.

I got this one since my vinyls are going to dust. It catches the Texas ice house flavor of Jerry Jeff Walker very well.

If you're a Jerry Jeff fan, this is a must. Just saw him in concert at the Red Butte facility at the University of Utah and he still has that wonderful stage presence that helps us all forget about the real world for a little while. Helps me remember that I can still go out there and get roudy with the boys once in a while. Now, where did I put that bottle of Jack???