Harry Chapin: Story Of A Life [BOX SET]

Harry Chapin

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 19, 1999)
• Original Release Date: October 19, 1999
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B00001WRKR
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,568 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The 1970s produced a peculiar school of singer-songwriters whose narrative-driven lyrics set them apart from their self-reflective peers. Think of David Ackles and Randy Newman on the fringes, and far nearer the mainstream, the "Captain Jack"-era Billy Joel and earnest-to-the-core Harry Chapin. Chapin first made a splash in 1972 with "Taxi," a claustrophobic little melodrama set in a cab. He made the top 20 two years later with the familial "Cat's in the Cradle." Though he'd never climb so high again, songs such as "W*O*L*D" and "Dance Band on the Titanic," and albums like Verities & Balderdash kept the folk crooner in the spotlight. From there, he championed a variety of social causes until he was killed in a 1981 auto accident. Story of a Life packages three discs of Chapin recordings in one attractive box. Given the singer's excesses (he wasn't the subtlest of artists, either as a writer or singer), that's a lot of Chapin. But fans will appreciate the loving liner essays from family members and, of course, the cinematic songs from a performer whose heart was always in the right place. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harry Chapin--Boxed Set for Die-Hard Fans, April 11, 2000

By	Ruth Egan (Anderson, IN) - See all my reviews

This isn't a collection for someone who is trying to get to know Harry Chapin and his music. It is, however, a collection for people who already love Harry Chapin and are collecting his works.

Die-hard fans know that Harry had a few different versions of some of his songs (i.e. Circle)and this set offers a few new ones.

The recordings between the songs are super, and show a bit of Harry's great sense of humor and his sense of concern for those who are going hungry.

If you don't know Harry Chapin, don't make this the first album of his that you buy. But if you love Harry, this is a must-have for your collection.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Compilation, February 4, 2000

By	Steven K. Szmutko (EWING, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a lifelong Harry Chapin fan, I have been frustrated for many years at the absence of his best work from CD. This collection captures the essence of his work from his best known songs such as Taxi and Cats in the Cradle to lesser known (but better) works as well. Of particular note is the excellent sound quality as compared with earlier collections. This should easily have been a 4-CD collection. One can only hope that this collection is a success so that Harry's other albums, such as Short Stories, Sequel and Legends of the Lost and Found (in my opinion, the superior "live album)are released. However, for those wanting a rounded collection of Harry Chapin's work, this is it.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Day The Music Died, August 22, 2003

By	Jessica Ruth Leonhard (South Bend, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews

I love this compilation of Harry Chapin songs, but other than for the convenience of having the music in one nicely compiled set of three CDs and accompanying book, I love it no more and no less than I love every Harry Chapin album, CD, book, video, and DVD that I already own. Unfortunately, it doesn't include his complete body of work. I'll never understand why the Chapin family doesn't compile Harry Chapin's complete body of work into one "life works" collection for Harry's many fans to purchase, with net proceeds supporting the causes for which Harry lived.

The day that Harry died is "the day that the music died" for me, as well as for other fans of his, not only because we were fans of his music, but because we were also fans of Harry and everything that he stood for, and contributed to putting an end to world hunger. If you would like the lyrics of the songs included in this wonderful compilation of songs, check out this web site: http://www.littlejason.com/chapin/albums/storyofalife.html