Urban Folk music reviews

I bought this CD mainly to get the Beatles' "I Will" performed by Kathy Mattea, listed as Track 14 at Amazon.com. But this track was MISSING! from the CD, as was "It Won't Be Long' listed as Track 2 at amazon.com. The remaining tracks are good but what a disappointment, if you're expecting to hear "I Will" !

The previous reviewer was disappointed not to find 'I Will' and 'It Won't Be Long'. Believe it or not, there are actually two versions of this cd. The other version has these two songs but omits 'Drive My Car'. Try to find a copy of version two. 'I Will' is a great version performed live.

This record isn't really that bad, it's just not all that great, either. Billy Bragg is a great songwriter, and these are all great songs, but there are so few of them, that the purchase isn't really justified. The performances are competant, but a longer track listing would have made a far more interesting release.

Dolly Parton, who is in my opinion, one of the most overrated singers in country music history, has had some good songs down through the years, so I decided to go the box set route with her. It is a worthwhile set, with songs like "Coat Of Many Colors", "Nine To Five", and "I Will Always Love You" on it. and "The Seeker" The gems are the not so well known songs like "Love Is A Butterfly, and "Mule Skinner"" which are very good. One song on this CD I really hate is "Jolene". This has been done by FOUR different singers: Dolly, Martina McBride, Sherrie Austin, and Olivia Newton-John. I happen to have THREE of them (I don't have Martina's), and not one version appeals to me at all. I just don't get this song at all, it is pathetic, and I hold Dolly responible for it (Cause she wrote it).
I would recommend getting this set, but there are so many better boxes then this (In particular, "Strait Out Of The Box"). so if you can get it on sale, go get it.

The first disc of this box set (although maybe there should've been smaller paper for packaging like a regular 2-CD set, but with the same liner notes and pictures, to make it less expensive) shows why Dolly Parton is a legend. With really good recordings like "Jolene," "Down From Dover," and "Just Because I'm a Woman," among others, she shows to be a great country singer and songwriter with an at times heartbreaking repertoire. The second disc shows why Dolly is a superstar. However, more pop recordings like "Here You Come Again" are sometimes good, but mostly fair and unindelible. If you can, borrow the first disc from someone and tape it or something. Then, you'll get one really disc that'll make you forget the downside of Dolly Parton's success.

I could not review this album because it was not avalible to listen to. Had I listen to it I'm sure I would have either liked it or not liked it. I'm sure the album has music on it. This music is probably played by instraments. I'm sure they sound like what their supost to sound like.
So in conclution, this album may or may not be the best album I've ever heard!

I listened to these samples and they are not the real singers. The listing is misleading.

I'm familiar with this package. The previous reviewer is incorrect in the assertion that these are not the real singers. Often, singers like Donna Fargo, Johnny Paycheck, Porter Wagoner Faron Young, Ferlin Husky ........... re-record versions of their hit records for any number of reasons. Recordings such as these were used on this collection. Whether the quality of the newer versions is equal to/better/worse than the originals is purely a matter of personal taste. But, it is important to know that the label is not trying to rip anyone off by misrepresenting the actual artists who participated in these sessions.

Um, for an album supporting abortion rights, isn't the cover for this cd a little inappropriate? or perhaps it's TOO appropriate...either way it's pretty gross.

but the madonna track kicks!

This cd is really bad with one exception...the rare Madonna single "Goodbye to Innocence." This track is great, it's a precursor to the famous techno/electronic albums Madonna has recently made. The lyrics interweave elegantly with the digital soundscape of the song. It really is a great track...buy it only for this single if you are a die-hard Maddie fan!

I found this album at a mucic store in Berkeley last time I was up there, listed under Danelle Dax. I'm not too sure why it was listed under her, but she is the reason I bought this album. Most of the songs are a bit mainstream, but this is an over all good mix of style, with a good message behind it. I personally have a liking to female vocals, and Kristian Hersh and the Waterlillys fill that hole well. Doubleplusgood is very interesting, and it took a while, but I've really gotten into their fun style. But again, the selling point for me was Danelle Dax's song "Defiled", for all us fans who wonder what happen to her after Pop Eyes, here she is.

This album is another example of crap compilations. Where's the Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, Television, or even the Ramones? This CD is completely one sided.

Here's the latest entry in the Seventies compilation sweepstakes. How is it different from the rest? It really isn't. Many of these songs have been anthologized ad nauseam. The lone exception is Cat Stevens' "Wild World." [I can't recall Stevens ever having shown up on an anthology before.] Don McLean's "American Pie" is the full 8:38 version and not the radio edit single which included only Part I as the A-side and Part II as the B-side. These are all great songs, and if they are missing from your collection this is a more than competent collection of some of the decade's biggest hits. Although it should be noted that all of these songs were released in 1974 or earlier with the exception of 1976's "Show Me the Way." [Maybe this should have been retitled Best of the Early 70s.] My only concern is that you don't get much bang for your buck. For example, look at the Totally Hits and Now That's What I Call Music series. They sell for about the same price as these 20th Century Masters series, yet they average about 18 songs per CD where these average only 12. It simply becomes a matter of how badly you want to add these songs to your collection.

I was so disappointed in this CD Set. I had really looked forward to receiving this set because of the great song titles and great artists only to play them and find out that almost all of the tracks were live recordings and not very good quality at that. They sounded as if they were recorded in some bar room. I would definitly NOT recommend this CD Set to anyone.