No Big Surprise: Anthology

No Big Surprise: Anthology

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Still best remembered for his evocative "City Of New Orleans," which brought Arlo Guthrie his long single hit, the late Steve Goodman was a gifted songwriter, affecting singer, and spirited acoustic guitarist who forged a link between the urban troubadors of the '60s and the "sensitive" singer-songwriters of the '70s. The elfin Chicagoan could tug heart strings as well as the latter camp (try his version of "The Dutchman," or fine originals like "Banana Republics" and "Yellow Coat"), but Goodman was never content to brood over mere heartbreak. His recordings and solo live performances were ripe with humor, from lively updates of old rags and Tin Pan Alley tunes ("It's A Sin To Tell A Lie") to topical parodies ("Lincoln Park Pirates," "Chicken Cordon Bleus," and the ultimate country song, "You Never Even Call Me By My Name," written with John Prine), and this generous two CD anthology captures it all, culling studio and stage tracks from throughout his career. --Sam Sutherland

No Big Surprise: Anthology,Steve Goodman,Red Pajamas,Contemporary Folk,Contemporary Singer/Songwriter,Folk,Folk & Traditional,Pop,Singer/Songwriter

Average customer rating:

Great Choice Picks! - The True Side Of Steve

A Dying Cubs Fan

What Happened to the Dance and the Coat?

Grossly inadequate tribute to an exemplary musician

steve goodman anthology

No Big Surprise: Anthology
Steve Goodman
Manufacturer: Red Pajamas
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
General | Folk | Styles | Music
Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

A Tribute to Steve Goodman

Steve Goodman - Live from Austin City Limits and More

Live at the Earl of Old Town

Great Days: The John Prine Anthology

Somebody Else's Troubles

ASIN: B000000DM7
Release Date: 1994-09-15

Tracks:

Between The Lines
Take Me Out To The Ballgame
Go Cubs Go
City Of New Orleans
Would You Like to Learn To Dance?
Souvenirs
Red Ball Jets
The One That Got Away
Talk Backwards
If She Were You
Danger
You Better Get It While You Can (The Ballad Of...)
Yellow Coat
Banana Republics
California Promises
Bobby Don't Stop
My Old Man
This Hotel Room
Where's The Party
I Just Keep Falling In Love
Watchin' Joey Glow
The Dutchman
In Real Life

Tracks:

Chicken Cordon Bleus
The I Don't Know Where I'm Goin', But I'm Goin'...
Is It True What They Say About Dixie?
Turnpike Tom
Elvis Imitators
Lincoln Park Pirates
Wonderful World Of Sex
Vegematic
A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request
Men Who Love Women Who Love Men
The Auctioneer
The Broken String Song
Just Lucky I Guess
I'll Fly Away
It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
Medley: Born To Be Wild/Teen Angel/Tell...
You Never Even Call Me By My Name
Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes
As Time Goes By

Amazon.com

Still best remembered for his evocative "City Of New Orleans," which brought Arlo Guthrie his long single hit, the late Steve Goodman was a gifted songwriter, affecting singer, and spirited acoustic guitarist who forged a link between the urban troubadors of the '60s and the "sensitive" singer-songwriters of the '70s. The elfin Chicagoan could tug heart strings as well as the latter camp (try his version of "The Dutchman," or fine originals like "Banana Republics" and "Yellow Coat"), but Goodman was never content to brood over mere heartbreak. His recordings and solo live performances were ripe with humor, from lively updates of old rags and Tin Pan Alley tunes ("It's A Sin To Tell A Lie") to topical parodies ("Lincoln Park Pirates," "Chicken Cordon Bleus," and the ultimate country song, "You Never Even Call Me By My Name," written with John Prine), and this generous two CD anthology captures it all, culling studio and stage tracks from throughout his career. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Great Choice Picks! - The True Side Of Steve.......2007-03-01

I appreciate this set more as a BIG fan and have ALL of Steve's albums and cd's and a few tapes etc... BUT this has just what a fan with all the albums needs. More unreleased Steve Goodman!!!
I for one am glad they left off tracks already on other releases and chose to place alternate versions here where I can experience their other side.

There really needs to be a huge box set of unreleased everything.
Man that would be nice

thanks Steve for the songs
thanks to his family for releasing these rarities

Support Steve Goodman and Family
BUY ALL of the albums - they're great!

A Dying Cubs Fan.......2007-02-04

Got this CD because it had two songs specifically written for all of us Cub fans. Haven't been to Wrigley Field since I was in high school but have remained a die-hard Cub fan and like Ernie always says, "Let's Play Two"! Never heard of Steve Goodman until someone sent me an email version of his song, "A Dying Cubs Fan Last Request".............wish I'd heard of him earlier as he was one of those early story tellers and ballad singer/songwriter (like Harry Chapin and Jim Croce)........songs were fun and he entertained his fans. I'm going to have to get some of his other CDs, just to hear more of his stories!

What Happened to the Dance and the Coat? .......2007-01-21

I had the great fortune of seeing this artist in a small college concert in Nebraska in the early 70's and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. I loved this guy's music and humor and was heartsick when I heard he passed at such a young age. He had a special way of singing touching ballads without being too sappy, sentimental or over the top with emotion. And yet, they would just rip your heart out.

This 2-CD set is good and I do appreciate 2 songs about the Cubs and the very funny live medley! Also, both CD's are nice and long (CD1 is 75 and CD2 is 73 minutes). But there are a few things that really bother me about this anthology.

First, while Goodman had a great live act, I agree with a previous reviewer that many of the live versions here seem rushed through and there is too much crowd noise. I'd have deleted some of the live songs and added a few more studio versions to start off CD2. I wish they would have included studio recordings of "Donald and Lydia", "Mind Your Own Business" and "You Never Even Called Me By My Name." Both the studio and live versions of this last song should be on this 2-CD set.

The biggest disappointment for me though is this: The MAIN reason I bought this CD was to get one of my favorite songs of all time, "Would You Like to Learn To Dance." I asked my best man to play this song at my wedding! I had the 1972 LP with this song on it and couldn't wait to hear the clean CD version. So I was more than irritated to find that the version of this song on this anthology was NOT the same version that is on the 1972 album.

I have the same complaint about "Yellow Coat" - another incredibly poignant ballad and probably my second favorite Goodman song. This song was also on the 1972 LP. The studio versions of both these songs on this anthology are not, in my opinion, nearly as good as they are on the 1972 album. So I had to go out and buy the CD of Goodman's 1972 album anyway.

In the end I give this great artist 10 stars and wish to God he was still with us. I always wanted him to record a song with John Mellencamp or maybe John Lennon! But this compilation gets only 3 stars for messin' with Dance and Coat.

Grossly inadequate tribute to an exemplary musician.......2006-05-02

I really, really wanted to like this compilation. Steve Goodman's music has affected me for three decades: his lyrics, his humor, his consummate musicianship...why one star? Briefly, the first disc (studio recordings) doesn't have some of his best stuff, and the second disc (the "live" stuff) is indifferently recorded and (even worse) sometimes indifferently performed.

I'm not prejudiced against live recordings: many are excellent, such as "The Weavers at Carnegie Hall" or "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison". This live disc sounds like it was recorded in a small bar with a small circle of yahoos whose whoops and hollers get really annoying after a while. Now if you were one of those yahoos present, you'd like this CD as a souvenir; for the rest of us, it's fairly tedious. It also shows Goodman singing some of his stuff in a fairly bored I-gotta-finish-this fashion or in a cynical style ("As Time Goes By" is almost unlistenable). Several of of his more popular songs are on the live disc: "Chicken Cordon Bleus", "Turnpike Tom", "You Never Even Called Me by My Name" (another indifferent performance), "Men who Love Women Who Love Men"--they just aren't up to the standards of his studio recordings. I can't believe his estate approved this release.

I was fortunate to see Goodman twice in the seventies. At one huge outdoor Country Music festival that had big names like Willie Nelson, he got up on stage in front of 20,000 people with just his guitar--that takes guts--and wowed 'em. Then he sang a song about a Vietnam War widow ("The Ballad of Penny Evans")--sang it a capella, no less--and brought those 20,000 people to a standing ovation. Steve Goodman live was an incredible experience--an experience which this disc (sadly) does not capture at all.

The one saving grace of this compilation is the notes in the booklet, which has a bunch of his old pals reminiscing about him. Interesting stuff, but doesn't make up for the fact that if you want a good introduction to his music you really ought to look elsewhere. Try the original Buddah recording, "Steve Goodman" and then maybe move on to "Words we Can Dance To" and "Jessie's Jig and other Favorites". His pals got together some years back and made "A Tribute to Steve Goodman", which is excellent.

Pet Peeves department: How could any decent compilation leave out the aforementioned "Ballad of Penny Evans"? Not to mention his fine cover of Big Bill Broonzy's "The Glory of Love". And how about the one he wrote with Jimmy Buffett, "Door Number Three"?

I've enjoyed the notes on this album far more than the album itself. If it's the only introduction to Steve Goodman available to you, enjoy it with the understanding that there's a lot more to Steve and his music than this sloppy compilation delivers.

steve goodman anthology.......2006-03-30

way cool, especially the live disc, reminded me of seeing his concerts many years back. Steve is gone, but his music will allways live on!

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