Retrospective: The Best of Suzanne Vega

Suzanne Vega

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 22, 2003)
• Original Release Date: April 22, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B00008PRS4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,422 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's the rare singer-songwriter whose emotional confessions rise above bathos to find true resonance with their listeners; rarer still the one who can connect their audience with the plight of everyday strangers. Suzanne Vega not only managed that feat on her unlikely, child-abuse themed breakthrough hit "Luka" in ‘88, but opened the door for a renaissance of intelligent, female folk-oriented music in the decade that followed. This 21-track anthology spans Vega's career before and since, a chronicle of cool, sharp-eyed detachment infused by a restless, oft-underrated sense of musical invention that spans club-mixes (the "Tom's Diner" here was originally a "pirate" deejay mix by DNA that Vega wisely adopted), Latin jazz ("Caramel"), electro-percussive rhythm explorations ("Blood Makes Noise," "99.9F," and ""Woman on the Tier" from the Dead Man Walking soundtrack) neo-classicism ("Small Blue Thing") and a sharp-edged pop sense ("I'll Never Be Your Maggie May," "Book of Dreams") that can't be denied. That it's all still clearly rooted in a diverse pantheon that includes Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Woody Guthrie is all the more remarkable. Rarities include "Left of Center" from the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, a live "Queen and the Soldier" and previously import-only "Rosemary." Also features all lyrics and the insightful recollections of Vega colleague/Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Import pressing of their greatest hits collection packaged in a slidepack. Part of the Universal 'Just the Music' Campaign. 2006. * Please note, no liner notes are included. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oh, Suzanne! Thank you for always challenging yourself., May 13, 2003

By	Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The first time I heard Suzanne Vega was a dj only copy of "Marlene On The Wall," staccato vocals delivered with velvety precision against a crisp but folksy background. I was hooked. That led me to her debut album and my friends probably wishing I'd shut up already about this great new record I'd discovered. From that debut album on, gratefully, Suzanne Vega never remained stuck in a mold. She grew in confidence (the a cappella opening to "Tom's Diner" being particularly gutsy) and courage to tackle weightier topics, such as the abused child of "Luka."

"Book Of Dreams" was one of the most peculiar pop records I recall from 1990. The album it came from, "Days Of Open Hand" was almost hallucinatory in its consistent referral to dreams and vague impressional memories. Oddly enough, there were no hits here after the massive success of "Luka," but "Tired Of Sleeping" catches the weariness of stardom better than a screaming heavy metal away-from-home song ever could. Stranger still, it was the bootlegged DNA remix of "Tom's Diner" from the previous "Solitude Standing" that became Suzanne's final big hit.

That success gave her even more incentive to push the envelope. Maybe it was the influence of Nine Inch Nails at the time, but "99.9 Degrees" played with distortions and electronica to make an album that - while still firmly rooted in folk - stretched its world view. "Blood Makes Noise" may be one of the best songs about AIDS ever written, complete with the denial that goes with "the thickening of fear."

A four year wait eventually gave us 12 songs of "Nine Objects of Desire." Suzanne returned to relationships with the terrific "World Before Columbus" (featuring a couple of Elvis Costello's Attractions) and the jazz inflected "Caramel." It was about as far removed from "99.9 Degrees" as that album was distant from "Solitude Standing." Although based on her marriage to Mitchell Froom, their collapsing relationship became the fodder for 2001's "Songs In Red And Gray." That album was on a par with Phil Collins' "Face Value" and "Hello I Must be Going" as an unflinching look at the demise of a relationship. Sung both from resilience ("(I'll Never be) Your Maggie May") and confused disillusionment ("Penitent"), it is an unheralded masterpiece.

The extra benefits of having this retrospective are the inclusion of "Left Of Center" from "Pretty In Pink" (featuring Joe Jackson on piano), the first appearance of the hit mix of "Tom's Diner" on a proper Suzanne Vega album, and an ok live rendition of "The Queen and the Soldier" (originally from the debut). The songs that pull this down from five stars are the lackluster "Rosemary" and the experimental "Woman On the Tier" (from "Dead Man Walking") that closes the disc on an unnecessarily harsh note.

Excluding those two distractions, you get 19 amazing performances. And given the amount of whispered grace and nuanced strength that Suzanne Vega has covered in six albums and eighteen years, this is still a highly recommendable collection.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Was Sitting In the Diner Listening to Suzanne Vega..., August 1, 2003

By	Mars Velvet (Green Tree, Blue Earth...Deep Space) - See all my reviews

What a superb collection of songs by this fascinating singer/songwriter/storyteller. The collection not only spans her career but also takes you through at least 4 different styles of music! Here are some of my impressions:

"Luka" was the breakout hit that introduced Vega to radio listeners. A bit folk and a bit of sophisticated tailoring with words and production. A heartfelt story about a child coping with abuse.

"Tom's Diner" offers a slice of life depicting a morning at a diner having coffee and peoplewatching. Originally accapella this collection has the DNA hit remix.

"Marlene On The Wall" has a fast paced vocal delivery over strumming guitars making this a fan fave at concets.

"Caramel" from the album NINE OBJECTS OF DESIRE came to me as a complete surprise! A beautiufl soft vocal over samba jazz which will remind listeners of the early 60's movement of Brazillian jazz and lounge music. It sits comfortably with other Latin lounge hits like "Corcavado" and "Girl from Ipanema". This song is indeed.....a treat.

"99.9F", "Blood Makes Noise" and "Woman on the Tier" show off Vega as an extraordinary industrial music artist. The first is catchy, the second is brilliantly strange, and the third is a disturbing piece from the film DEAD MAN WALKING..

"Left of Center" has an urgent beat that will have you singing this hit from PRETTY IN PINK all day long!!

"(I'll Never Be Your) Maggie May" is a reaction to the song by Rod Stewart! Very interesting lyrics and a neat notion to answer someone else's song!

"Solitude Standing" and "The Queen and the Soldier" show off Vega's folk infuence in epic storytelling.

There are many other gems including "In Liverpool", "Small Blue Thing", and "Book of Dreams".

This is a fine collection for any devout Vega fan or the newcomer to intelligent songwriting. You will enjoy this great CD!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So much more than "Luka"., April 29, 2003

By	H3@+h (VT) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I can't believe that this Retrospective came out last week, and it isn't even in the top 1000 sellers. Too bad for all those people that don't realize how talented Suzanne Vega is. This is an amazing, and lengthy collection of her best songs from her first album to her last. Whether you're a fan of her folkier stuff, or her more upbeat songs like "Blood makes noise" and "99.9 farenheit degrees", this has got it all. Included of course is her breakthrough hit "Luka", and "Tom's Diner" featuring DNA. My current favorite is "(I'll never be) your Maggie May". It's Suzanne's take (not cover), on the Rod Stewart Song. So good. This also has her songs from the movies "Dead man walking" and "Pretty in Pink". I saw her live this week, and she put on a great show. She was very nice and down to earth. Of my past 10-20 cd purchases, I might just enjoy this one the most.