Harry Chapin - Story Of A Life (@320)

 

Story of a Life: The Harry Chapin Box Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine.

Harry Chapin was always a bit of a polarizing figure, attracting many dedicated fans but never earning much critical respect. Rhino's comprehensive three-disc box set Story of a Life doesn't really offer an opportunity for re-evaluation, nor does it even try to win over doubters. Instead, it tells a thorough history of Chapin's career, not missing a single hit or major song along the way. There are some rarities scattered throughout the set, mostly live tracks, but also the Chapin Brothers' 1966 single "Someone Keeps Calling My Name." However, the box shouldn't be seen as a treasure trove of unreleased material; instead, it's a journey through Chapin's career, providing an exhaustively detailed travelogue. Really, it contains too much material for anyone but the die-hard fan. But that's where Story of a Life is a success -- it's a loving tribute to Chapin, made with the cooperation of his estate and designed for his loving fans. It works quite well on that level, even if it's far too much for the average fan who just likes "Taxi" and "Cat's in the Cradle."

 

 

Tracklist:

 

Disc 1:

 

1. Harry Chapin - Taxi

2. Harry Chapin - Someone Keeps Calling My Name

3. Harry Chapin - Could You Put Your Light on, Please

4. Harry Chapin - Empty

5. Harry Chapin - Greyhound

6. Harry Chapin - Any Old Kind of Day

7. Harry Chapin - Sunday Morning Sunshine

8. Harry Chapin - Sniper

9. Harry Chapin - Better Place to Be

10. Harry Chapin - They Call Her Easy

11. Harry Chapin - Mr. Tanner

12. Harry Chapin - Mail Order Annie

13. Harry Chapin - W.O.L.D.

14. Harry Chapin - Old College Avenue

15. Harry Chapin – Circle

 

Disc 2:

 

1. Harry Chapin - Short Stories

2. Harry Chapin - Cat's in the Cradle

3. Harry Chapin - I Wanna Learn a Love Song

4. Harry Chapin - 30,000 Pounds of Bananas

5. Harry Chapin - Shooting Star

6. Harry Chapin - What Made America Famous?

7. Harry Chapin - Vacancy

8. Harry Chapin - Dreams Go By

9. Harry Chapin - Tangled Up Puppet

10. Harry Chapin - Rock

11. Harry Chapin - She Is Always Seventeen

12. Harry Chapin - Mayor of Candor Lied

13. Harry Chapin - Caroline

14. Harry Chapin - Laugh Man

15. Harry Chapin – Taxi

 

Disc 3:

 

1. Harry Chapin - Corey's Coming

2. Harry Chapin - If My Mary Were Here

3. Harry Chapin - Dance Band on the Titanic

4. Harry Chapin - Mismatch

5. Harry Chapin - I Wonder What Happened to Him

6. Harry Chapin - Dancing Boy

7. Harry Chapin - Flowers Are Red

8. Harry Chapin - Poor Damned Fool

9. Harry Chapin - Jenny

10. Harry Chapin - I Wonder What Would Happen to This World

11. Harry Chapin - Old Folkie

12. Harry Chapin - Remember When the Music (Reprise)

13. Harry Chapin - God Babe, You've Been Good for Me

14. Harry Chapin - Story of a Life

15. Harry Chapin - November Rains

16. Harry Chapin - Sequel

17. Harry Chapin - Last Stand

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