Music » Traditional Folk Music

Release Date: 1990-01-24, Audio CD, Atlantic / Wea

Until his untimely death, Jim Croce was a force to be reckoned with on radio playlists. Photographs & Memories repackages some of his best work. Romantic acoustic-oriented songs were his hallmark, and songs like "Time in a Bottle," were huge hits because of their easy sentimentality. "I Got a Name" was the singer as well-worn folk traveler, while "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and even "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" followed standard boogie chord progressions, albeit with Croce's softer rock feel. There wasn't much really separating the overt emotions of "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" and "Operator" from his sap-dripping contemporaries, but there was just enough of an edge in Croce's warm voice to elevate his love songs to another level. Like a, oh, moderately priced wine, Croce remains a classic--accessible, affordable, and easy to enjoy. -- Steve Gdula

For his third album, John Prine returned to the fuller sound of his landmark debut while venturing into increasingly cryptic lyrical terrain. Songs such as "Mexican Home," "Accident (Things Could Be Worse)," and "Blue Umbrella" are open-to-interpretation explorations that reveal the songsmith's intrepid reflections; they're also among the 12-song set's best numbers. "Dear Abby" is a comical novelty number while "Christmas in Prison" is a doleful in-the-clink carol. The openhearted "A Good Time" slipped into the shadows after Sweet Revenge (like Prine's other Atlantic albums) failed to hit commercial paydirt, but it's as touching as anything Prine has penned. This outing isn't as musically distinctive as Prine's other albums from his early period, but as collections of songs go, it's first-rate. --Steven Stolder

2003 album featuring Eva's unique interpretations of ten classic songs. From her timeless reading of 'American Tune' (Paul Simon's reflections on an ever-changing America) to 'Drowning In The Sea Of Love' (a searing blues-rock take on the Joe Simon 70s hit written and produced by Gamble & Huff), this collection is filled with thrills and surprises. Blix Street.

While the title track may seem, by now, a rather obvious and nostalgic relic, we'd do well to remember that an entire post-baby boom generation has likely never heard it. At 18 minutes, the song remains one of the most hysterical things ever recorded, and many of its politcal barbs can still sting. But the record also contained two far more lyrical pieces: "Chillin' of the Evening" and the gorgeous, sweeping "Highway in the Wind." Some will turn to this countercultural classic for side one's epic, but it's the exceptional songs on side two that will offer finer rewards. --Roy Francis Kasten

One of the most striking debut albums ever released, this disc instantly established Chapman as a musical force, and with good reason. Immediacy, integrity of purpose, and unqualified artistry are apparent in nearly every song. And while "Fast Cars" remains Chapman's best-known work, "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" is that rarest breed: a song which is both topical and timeless. Any exploration into Chapman's work should begin with this at times stunning effort; it's a disc of remarkable uniformity and clarity that Chapman has yet to improve on. --Wayne Pernu

Release Date: 1990-07-17, Audio CD, Warner Bros / Wea

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: PRINE,JOHN
Title: PRIME PRINE-BEST OF
Street Release Date: 10/04/1988
Domestic
Genre: ROCK/POP

Release Date: 2002-09-10, Audio CD, Philo / Umgd

Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Universal. 2008.