Greatest Stories Live [Live]

Greatest Stories Live [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
"Stories" is the operative word here. The late Harry Chapin penned tales that touched a chord in listeners regardless of their age, background, or truth be told, regardless even of the type of music they normally listened to. Chapin always came across as a tough guy with a heart of gold, a brainy type who wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty--much like the protagonist of "Taxi" (a terrific rendition of which is contained herein). In addition to radio staples like "Cat's in the Cradle," the 1976 recording also sheds light on slightly lesser-known pieces like "Circle" and "Mr. Tanner." Chapin's affable manner shines through the entire album, giving it a disarming quality that's not always present on the studio versions. --David Sprague

Tracks:

Dreams Go By
W.O.L.D.
Saturday Morning
I Wanna Learn A Love Song
Mr. Tanner
A Better Place To Be
Let Time Go Lightly
Cats In The Cradle
Taxi
Circle
30,000 Pounds Of Bananas
The Shortest Story

Amazon.com

"Stories" is the operative word here. The late Harry Chapin penned tales that touched a chord in listeners regardless of their age, background, or truth be told, regardless even of the type of music they normally listened to. Chapin always came across as a tough guy with a heart of gold, a brainy type who wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty--much like the protagonist of "Taxi" (a terrific rendition of which is contained herein). In addition to radio staples like "Cat's in the Cradle," the 1976 recording also sheds light on slightly lesser-known pieces like "Circle" and "Mr. Tanner." Chapin's affable manner shines through the entire album, giving it a disarming quality that's not always present on the studio versions. --David Sprague

Customer Reviews:

Chapin was a great performer and songwriter.......2007-05-17

I first became aware of and saw Harry while I was attending the Air Force Academy in 1976. He put on an awesome show. This album is one of the finest live recordings of all time and perfectly reflects Harry's talents.
I subsequently saw Harry at The Circle Star Theater in San Carlos, CA where Harry remarked, "Back on the rotisserie." I saw him for the last time at a free concert at Stanford University. It was a solo event, except for the songs where he had his baby boy on stage. Watching Harry perform "Dancing Boy" while his son danced on stage and my similar-aged daughter dance on the grass was the most magical moment my wife and I have ever experienced at a concert. Alternately, one of our saddest moments was when we learned of Harry's untimely death which was the only time we've cried at the news of the death of an artist/performer.

Awesome cd.......2007-02-21

If you are a fan of Harry Chapin then this is a must have - his talent shows through with each song and he is truly amazing - it is such a terrible thing that he died so early and didn't get the recognition he deserved.

This is an incredible live album - my personal favs are Dreams Go By, 30,000 bananas, Cat and the Cradle, Mr Tanner

Nostalgia.......2007-01-09

It had been many years since I listened to Harry Chapin. Listening to the CD reminded me of how much I have missed him. I will be back soon for more.

My Favorite Chapin Album.......2006-08-06

I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a fan of Harry Chapin, even though I own four of his albums - just one who appreciates his work. Introduced to Chapin in high school, via my dad, his Live album still remains my favorite; in fact, it's my favorite live album of any artist that I've heard.

There are twelve tracks on the album, spanning the years from the early 1970's through 1976. All of his big hits are on it, including "Cats in the Cradle." What makes this album unique is that the listener not only gets to hear Chapin's raw talent (without all of the tweaking from the studios), but also a glimpse at his personality.

Sometimes live performances just aren't that good - the artist just can't pull it off in front of the crowd. Not the case with Chapin and his band; in fact, I almost prefer his live versions over the studio ones for a couple of reasons: 1) the band takes greater risks; 2) more creativity is demonstrated; and 3) the interplay between the band and crowd is awesome!

Harry Chapin must have had quite a sense of humor, as demonstrated in "30,000 Pounds of Bananas." After he sings the song, he demonstrates to the audience the three alternate endings that he worked on. It is abolutely hilarious and entertaining. Another highlight is getting to hear his brother, Stephen, sing. Wow, what a beautiful voice! The same goes for John Wallace in "Mr. Tanner."

The only disappointment with the CD version is that there wasn't room enough to include the song "She Is Always Seventeen," which was on the original LP. It is an awesome song about a hippie who never grew up.

To sum it all up, if you've never listened to any Harry Chapin with the exception of the radio hits, this album is the best place to start. You will truly get a sense of the man and his music.

So What's With No 'Love Is Just Another Word', Already...?.......2006-04-07

Harry Chapin confirmed with me following a later concert that the majority of these tracks come from his appearance at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, site of my earlier attendance and one of three west coast venues that the eleven live tracks on this album are drawn from. What no one has been able to confirm is why after all these years Love Is Just Another Word remains Harry Chapin's only studio track yet to make it to CD-format.

A favorite hackneyed homage that reviewers and fans alike enjoy paying to artists is how much better they are or were live than on record. With many an artist, Harry Chapin included, this artist-appreciator just ain't buyin' it. While concerts are enjoyable outings and live albums are on-occasion fun to listen to, they're both often marred by too many rock&roll-ly songs included to play on the heightened emotional state of the concertgoer. In this case the Way-Too-Many -Thousand Pounds of Bananas is the prime example.

Harry Chapin was at his best when he could weave heartfelt love and social-conscious story songs with arrangements that drove the story home. His initial canvas was most-often the studio, and he had a knack for bringing the best out of his loyal cadre of musicians. She Is Always Seventeen along with Love Is Just Another Word remain painfully absent from this CD. It's understandable how with apparent single-disc timing constraints the thinking upon first CD release would be to include the brothers' two accompanying live performances over the just-mentioned two of three LP studio add-on tracks...but that was then and this is now.

With a minimum of three concerts recorded, there has to be additional material at-hand that would well-serve a COMPLETE Greatest Stories Live. High Time Rhino, Elektra, Warner or the Estate gave us a complete Greatest Stories Live reflective of at a minimum the LP as it was conceived, intended and delivered, with the live tracks complimented by She Is Always Seventeen & Love Is Just Another Word to again accompany The (surviving) Shortest Story. [If they can do it for Joni...which they now have....] All in favor...say AYE.

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