Customer Reviews

Very Best of B.W. Stevenson

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of those "I can't believe it's finally on CD" albums that I had been looking for for over 10 years. One of the greatest albums I've ever heard, especially "Shambala" and "My Maria." Once at a concert B. W. Stevenson said, "Well, I know now not to wait to release a good song when I've got it," referring to "Shambala," which 3 Dog Night released first (an atrocious version). Had he released his version first, we wouldn't have had to wait so long to hear this album on CD.

What an incredible letdown, though, when I opened up and played the disc. A preface: I am not one of those obsessive audiophiles who listens to every CD while implementing all sorts of electronic equipment and gadgets. If it sounds good, I like it, period. I'm also not one of those guys who insist that LPs sound better than CDs.

This CD utterly fails to make the grade. The quality is so poor it's unbelievable. Muddled, filled with ticks, clicks, and pops, it's a travesty. If you have the album, play it after you hear the CD and you'll hear the difference.

Another beef: The CD cover art is a very poor, grainy, washed-out reproduction of the "My Maria" album. Is there nobody at this company who knows how to run a scanner? Absolutely terrible.

My advice: find a place that can transfer your "My Maria" LP onto CD instead. You'll be glad you did. Don't bother buying the CD. You'll be sorry you did.

I completely agree with the previous reviewer who laments the lack of availability of the first album by B.W. Stevenson. I would love to find even an old vinyl copy, but they're hard to come by. Let me add my voice (Rhino records, are you listening?) to those calling for a more complete retrospective of this very talented and often overlooked songwriter's material. This "Best of" collection is most welcome, but it's by no means complete. I love "My Maria" and "Shambala", but without tunes like "On My Own" and "Texas Morning" this collection just doesn't do justice to the full range of B.W. Stevenson's talent.

Album brought back memories of an outstanding artist in the Texas Music Scene. The more popular songs like My Maria and Shambala overshadow the body of his work while he was alive. Some other songs that would be nice to hear would be On My Own and California Shores(El Camino take me Home).However, this CD has some great songs too like A Good Love is Like a Good Song and Sunset Woman. Anyone who likes good folk/rock/country music will enjoy hearing this CD.

The CD was a bit disappointing because I've been waiting 20+ years for a re-release of his first self-titled album, which was full of all the beautiful songs I remember -- like "On My Own", "Texas Morning", and others I can't name -- but can hum. This CD is good, but nothing like the other vinyl album I lost. Will someone PLEEEEZ re-release the "oldies"?

This CD reissue represents a major event for fans of 70s-era country rock. While fans of popular music of this era may remember Stevenson for his versions of songs that were, unfairly, bigger hits for others ("Shambala" and "My Maria"), these same fans will be pleased to discover a wealth of relatively unknown and underappreciated tracks from one of the most talented vocalists and songwriters of the past 30 years. For Stevenson's tender side, check out the achingly beautiful "Remember Me" or "Lucky Touch." This was clearly a man who possessed sensitivity and talent in spades. The "bonus cuts" are all very strong as well. "My Feet Are So Weary" and "Song for Katy" are instant folk/country/rock classics, and "August Evening Lady" is nothing short of a revelation, with its contrasting dynamics and its juxtaposition of quiet, folky introspection and larger-than-life emotional swell. I found the sound quality to be top-notch throughout (far superior to my LP, which I'm afraid I have worn down over the years, waiting for the CD release). Fans of country-rock, readers of No Depression unite! We NEED more B. W. Stevenson on CD! This one is a gem.

This album provides a nice compendium of Stevenson's material, and you will find that this CD "grows on you". Stevenson's rich voice is well matched to the tunes included in this CD, and there isn't a bad song in the lot. What a shame that this country-r&b crooner died without gaining the following he deserves. The country-r&b-rock niche that Stevenson found has become popular during the late 90's, and people who enjoy this combination will enjoy this CD.

This CD took more than just 10 years to get out. It took a lot of tears and determination. Being B.W.'s sister, I wanted to promote the rating of this CD and thank the fans that still look for his work. I only wish we have recorded all the songs he did not get a chance to record. There are more that have not been released and may never come out without public awareness.

If you do not like the CD please return it, but don't publish negative reviews. Too many of us loved him.

I found BW in the late 70's after watching Austin City Limits. I went out the next weekend and bought his then current album We Be Sailin'. In late 2000's I decided that I had to find the rest of BW's albums. I found this CD first and bought it. I now have all the albums and the other CD Rainbow Down The Road -- released after BW's passing. This Very Best Of is a duplicate of BW's My Maria album with additional RCA released songs. It is a worth while CD to have as not many My Maria vinyls have survived in playable condition. I strongly recommend it's purchase. I have started a web site for BW....

This is one CD I never thought I'd see released, nice to have the bonus tracks. Licensed from BMG meaning quality is top notch, I see nothing wrong with the cover artwork...(same as original LP), a good basic bio on the inside, nothing extensive, but better than nothing.

Don't hesitate in buying this CD for your collection, it is great. I'm very picky about sound quality, only ONE negative thing to say, and that is that they didn't bother remastering it which would have really given some of the songs a new life, that bright "new" sound if you will. RCA 70s material lacked bottom punch. Collectables isn't known for some of their quality products (some good, some bad), but this is one of their good ones, BW on CD long overdue!

No, I don't have this CD, yet the songs on here are all great from this late son of the land of the "Lone Star" State. Back in '72, I was in my friends car delivering eggs to the rural people out in the country. His dad ran a egg farm business and would sell fresh eggs cheaper than the stores, and he had an 8-track playing in his car of this performer/songwriter simply called "B.W. Stevenson" on RCA. I found the songs rather quiet, had a ballad feel to some, and some were easy to sing along with. The last song, which is my title of this note, to me was a loner's song who has to make it on his own to keep his head above water. I loved this song, and this tape so much, that the next day, I went to the record store and found the album (LSP-4865), which I still have today. This was a year before "Maria" and shot ol B.W. up to hit alley. It wasn't till recently that I found a copy of his LAST album "Lifeline" on MCA-still have his ballad sound to his music on some of these cuts on this record. Yes, he's "On my own" now...after passing away in 1988 after heart surgery. THX !