Definitve Collection [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Heaven knows, the Scotsman born Donovan Leitch was ripe for ridicule, even when he was hitting the charts with regularity. He was the ultimate flower child, and his airier pronouncements made cynics want to tighten up those love beads around his neck. Listening to Troubadour, however, it's striking how versatile, melodic, and agreeable most of his material sounds decades after "Mellow Yellow" has faded into a jaundiced yellow. Clearly under the sway of Bob Dylan early on in his career, Donovan nevertheless was capable of directing his reverence into something as enchanting as "Catch the Wind." Amping up as the '60s progressed, he assembled a series of psychedelic-pop classics, including "Season of the Witch," the "Hey Jude"-like sing-along "Atlantis," and the uncharacteristically driving "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (the latter features three-quarters of what was to become Led Zeppelin providing stellar support). This two-disc anthology may be more Donovan than some desire, but the booklet, seven previously unreleased tracks, and expansive perspective it provides makes it a more-than-worthy overview for those who take their paisley folk-rock with a beatific smile. --Steven Stolder --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Album Description
Features 21 total tracks including 'Mellow Jellow', 'Jennifer Juniper', 'Colours', 'Riki Tiki Tavi', 'Hurdy Gurdy Man', 'There Is A Mountain', 'Atlantis' and more. Epic. 2005.

Tracks:

You Don't Mess Around With Jim
Photographs And Memories
Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)
Age
Hey Tomorrow
Speedball Tucker
Time In A Bottle
Hard Time Losin' Man
Lover's Cross
Roller Derby Queen
Alabama Rain
I Got A Name
Thursday
(And) I Her Remember Her
Careful Man
New York Is Not My Home
Rapid Boy (The Stock Car Boy)
Good Time Man Like Me Ain't Got No Business
Walkin' Back To Georgia
One Less Set Of Footsteps
Dreamin' Again
Mississippi Lady
Maybe Tomorrow
These Dreams
Chain Gang Medley-Chain Gang-He Don't Love
Bad Boy Leroy Brown
Which Way Are You Going
More Than Tomorrow
(The) Way We Used To Be
I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song
Country Girl
Ol' Man River
Tomorrow's Gonna Be A Brighter Day
Workin' At The Car Wash Blues
A Long Time Ago
Top Hat Bar And Grill
The Hard Way Every Time
Five Short Minutes
Cotton Mouth River
Next Time This Time
Recently
Box #10
Stone Walls
Circle Of Style
Carnival Of Pride
Wear Out The Turnpike
Can't Wait
(The) Migrant Worker
Railroad Song
Child Of Midnight

Album Description

Two disc retrospective with 50 of the best by the late singer/ songwriter. Contains all of his biggest chart hits for both the ABC & Lifesong labels, including the #1 smashes 'Bad, Bad Leroy Brown' & 'Time In A Bottle', plus the top 10's 'You Don't Mess Around With Jim', 'I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song' & 'I Got A Name' (from the Jeff Bridges film 'The Last American Hero'), as well as 'Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)', 'One Less Set Of Footsteps', 'Workin' At The Car Wash Blues' and 'Chain Gang Medley: Chain Gang/ He Don't Love You/ Searchin''. Double slimline jewel case. 1999 release. The full title is 'The Definitive Collection 'Time In A Bottle'.

Customer Reviews:

Buy 50th anniversary collection instead.......2006-02-21

The one really good song not on '50th' that's here is 'railroad song' ('country girl' is also pretty good) but '50th' gives you 'king's song', 'vespers', 'spin,...' 'cigarettes...' 'salon and saloon'. The others found here but not on '50th', 'circle of style' 'carnival of pride' 'wear out the turnpike' and 'can't wait' certainly aren't his best (early duets with his wife). So that comparison favors '50th'. The track order on '50th' is also chonological whereas this one isn't and frankly makes no sense at all, so if you buy this you won't get to hear the evolution of this unique music--something very apparent on '50th' and interesting to hear.

'Railroads and Riverboats', another superb American History song, keeps getting left off compliations. No different here or on '50th'. But both that one and railroad song are on 'Facets', which--save the songs I mentioned--is a bit of a waste.

Essence of Jim Croce.......2006-02-08

The early to mid 1970's might be known among other things in music, as the era of the great singer song writers. Of all these James Taylor, Carly Simon, Carol King, Janis Ian etc. the one writer that touched my heart the most was Jim Croce. In a few short years he wrote many memorable, romantic, funny, touching songs. When his life was abruptly ended, I literally felt a hole in my life. When he was alive, I bought every LP he released as soon as it came out, and for years I bought several of the retrospectives that had his hits and obscure home recordings and folk songs.
Here in this collection is probably the best of his work, both as a songwriter and a folk music performer. It has always puzzled me why there have not been covers of these great songs over the years.
If you don't know Jim Croce this set will let you.
If you were a fan and haven't heard these songs in years, do yourself a favor and get this set and relive some memories.

The Best Croce Compilation Out!.......2002-12-18

This is by far the best Jim Croce compilation ever made. It has 50 SONGS ON TWO DISKS! What more could you ask for? All of Jim's songs were true classics, and if you loved his hits such as "Operator" and "Don't Mess Around With Jim" you'll fall in love with these Cds. This collection defines the man and tells many stories of life on the road and life in this country. The melodies are very catchy and many of the songs are upbeat (many people don't expect a lot of upbeat stuff from Jim). Jim is a very skilled songwriter and guitarist with a unique voice. The collection captures the full perspective of Jim's career, including songs from his earlier Ingrid&Jim days. Hope this review was helpful!

Unbelievable.......2002-09-05

An amazing collection. Just look at the track list...50 songs on two discs by one of the best singer/songwriters ever to make it big on the charts. I had the added bonus of finding it at a store in LA for 13 bucks, which I now find out is about 10 bucks cheaper than the suggested cost...I'm not sure if they mixed it up with the domestic release or something. But thats not important. This collection is just an absolutely astounding 2+ hours of music, everything from the big time popular tracks (Operator, Bad Bad leroy Brown) to the humorous gems (Roller Derby Queen) to the selections with Ingrid Croce. Without a doubt, one of the best CD purchases I've ever made

Gunga Din.......2001-06-11

Hey to everyone!I'm from Germany.My dad loves this man and in two weeks its his birthday. He has several CD`s "Love songs", "Down the highway","Photographs and Memories" and so on...but there is one title he only got it on Lp: Gunga Din.He got "The faces I've been" and I know that this song is also on the Lp "Facets", but I coudln`t find it on CD. It`s such very big wish by my dad and I would be so happy if someone can tell me where I can buy it or actually if it does exist.Thank u, hopefully till then...!!

Century of the Blues: The Definitve Country Blues Collection

Average customer rating:

Century of the Blues: The Definitve Country Blues Collection
Various Artists
Manufacturer: United States Dist
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Blues | Styles | Music

Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Comedy & Spoken Word | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000C0YMQ
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Tracks:

Mississippi Boweavil Blues - Charley Patton
My Black Mama, Pt. 1 - Son House
Future Blues - Willie Brown
Canned Heat - Tommy Johnson
Left Alone Blues - Ishman Bracey
Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil) - Robert Johnson
Kind Hearted Woman Blues - Robert Johnson
Wind Howlin' Blues
Devil Got My Woman - Skip James
Shake 'Em on Down - Bukka White
Sitting on Top of the World - Mississippi Sheiks
Stack O'Lee Blues - Mississippi John Hurt
Barrelhouse Blues - Edward Andrews
Catfish Blues
Bottle It Up and Go - Tommy McClennan
Bull Frog Blues - William Harris
Mule Skinner Blues
Farewell Blues
Old Original Kokomo Blues - Kokomo Arnold
Country Blues - Muddy Waters
I Be's Troubled - Muddy Waters
Boogie Chillen' - John Lee Hooker
Little Boy Blue - Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Ramblin' - Johnny Shines
Yellow Dog Blues - Sam Collins

Tracks:

Matchbox Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson
Ground Hog Blues - Ramblin' Thomas
Gallis Pole - Leadbelly
Evil Hearted Woman Blues - Oscar Woods
Outside Woman Blues - Blind Joe Reynolds
Maxwell Street Blues - Papa Charlie Jackson
Bulldoze Blues - Henry Thomas
Black Ace - Black Ace
It's Nobody's Fault But Mine - Blind Willie Johnson
Gone Dead Train - King Solomon Hill
Woke Up With the Blues in My Fingers - Lonnie Johnson
Penitentiary Moan Blues - Alger "Texas" Alexander
Katie Mae - Lightnin' Hopkins
Diddie Wa Diddie - Blind Blake, Blind Blake
I Want Some of Your Pie - Blind Boy Fuller
Mama T'Aint Long Fo' Day - Blind Willie McTell
Motherless Chile Blues - Barbecue Bob
Jealous Hearted Blues - Charley Lincoln
No No Blues - Curley Weaver
Guitar Rag - Sylvester Weaver
Big Legged Woman - Brownie McGhee
Twelve Gates to the City - Blind Gary Davis
Every Day in the Week Blues - Pink Anderson
Runaway Man Blues - Floyd "Dipper Boy" Council
Divin' Duck Blues - Sleepy John Estes

Tracks:

Careless Love Blues - Bessie Smith
Goin' Crazy With the Blues - Mamie Smith
Whip It to a Jelly - Clara Smith
See See Rider - Ma Rainey
Mister Man, Pt. 1 - Ida Cox
Murder in the First Degree - Victoria Spivey
I'm a Mighty Tight Woman - Sippie Wallace
Black Angel Blues - Lucille Bogan
Long Ways from Home - Louise Johnson
Downhearted Blues - Alberta Hunter
Rock Island Blues
Poor Boy, Long Ways from Home - Gus Cannon
Rollin' and Tumblin' Blues
Moanin' the Blues - Allen Shaw
He's in the Jailhouse Now - Memphis Jug Band
That's No Way to Get Along - Robert Wilkins
What's the Matter Blues - Frank Stokes
How Long, How Long Blues - Leroy Carr
Cow Cow Blues - Charles "Cow Cow" Davenport
Bricks in My Pillow - Bumble Bee Slim
Honeydripper - Roosevelt Sykes
Strut That Thing - Cripple Clarence Lofton
Blues at Midnight - Memphis Slim
Gangster's Blues - Peetie Wheatstraw
Kokomo Blues - Scrapper Blackwell

Tracks:

Key to the Highway - Big Bill Broonzy
Baby Please Don't Go - Big Joe Williams
Poor Man Blues - Henry Townsend
You Can't Get That Stuff No More - Tampa Red
Worried Life Blues Big - Big Maceo Merriweather
Jockey Blues - Jazz Gillum
That's All Right - Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
When the Levee Breaks - Kansas Joe McCoy
Me and My Chauffeur - Memphis Minnie
Guitar Swing - Casey Bill Weldon
Mama Don't Allow No. 2 - Washboard Sam
Gypsy Woman - Muddy Waters
Moanin' at Midnight - Howlin' Wolf
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl - Sonny Boy Williamson [I]
Eyesight to the Blind - Sonny Boy Williamson [II]
Evans Shuffle - Little Walter
This Train - Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Prowling Nighthawk - Robert Nighthawk
Ain't Nobody's Business, Pt. 1 - Jimmy Witherspoon
Dust My Broom - Elmore James
B.B. Boogie - B.B. King
Three O'Clock Blues - B.B. King
Everyday I Have the Blues - Lowell Fulson
Mean Old World - T-Bone Walker
Call It Stormy Monday - T-Bone Walker

Album Description

Subtitled - The Definitive Country Blues Collection. 2003 compilation featuring the 100 greatest blues tracks ever. Deluxe 64-page booklet detailing every legendary track. Artists include Willie Brown, Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Bessie Smith, & many, many more. Long digibook format. Chrome Dreams.

Average customer rating:

Donovan Rules!!
Definitive seems to be an overused word for "Epic" these days.
Really A Best of the Best Donovon
A fine introduction to the work of Donovan
Um... not a huge fan

Definitve Collection

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

A Gift from a Flower to a Garden
The Autobiography of Donovan: The Hurdy Gurdy Man
The Lovin' Spoonful - Greatest Hits
Donovan's Greatest Hits
Sunshine Superman

ASIN: B000024R3F
Release Date: 1996-02-27

Amazon.com

Heaven knows, the Scotsman born Donovan Leitch was ripe for ridicule, even when he was hitting the charts with regularity. He was the ultimate flower child, and his airier pronouncements made cynics want to tighten up those love beads around his neck. Listening to Troubadour, however, it's striking how versatile, melodic, and agreeable most of his material sounds decades after "Mellow Yellow" has faded into a jaundiced yellow. Clearly under the sway of Bob Dylan early on in his career, Donovan nevertheless was capable of directing his reverence into something as enchanting as "Catch the Wind." Amping up as the '60s progressed, he assembled a series of psychedelic-pop classics, including "Season of the Witch," the "Hey Jude"-like sing-along "Atlantis," and the uncharacteristically driving "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (the latter features three-quarters of what was to become Led Zeppelin providing stellar support). This two-disc anthology may be more Donovan than some desire, but the booklet, seven previously unreleased tracks, and expansive perspective it provides makes it a more-than-worthy overview for those who take their paisley folk-rock with a beatific smile. --Steven Stolder

Album Description

Features 21 total tracks including 'Mellow Jellow', 'Jennifer Juniper', 'Colours', 'Riki Tiki Tavi', 'Hurdy Gurdy Man', 'There Is A Mountain', 'Atlantis' and more. Epic. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

Donovan Rules!!.......2007-05-22

If you remember this era in time, you will love this CD by one of the greatest folk artists from the sixties. This is a classic CD of the most beautiful music of that time and it still is beautiful today. I love Donovan!!

Definitive seems to be an overused word for "Epic" these days........2007-04-24

The compilers for this compilation didn't always pick the best non-hit tracks: Where's "Get thy Bearings" or "The River Song" from Hurdy Gurdy Man? Or, "Someone's Singing" from Wear Your Love Like Heaven? Or, amazingly not included: "Young Girl Blues" or "Hampstead Incident" from Mellow Yellow? I can probably add to this many more songs that are essential that weren't included .... "Bert's Blues" from Sunshine Superman, for example. Meanwhile, some of the songs included I've considered kind of un-definitive (e.g., "Writer In the Sun" or "Oh Gosh") -- also, although it was a hit, "Jennifer Juniper"'s kind of dull to me. Basically what I'm saying is this: Don't write off this musical Eastern mystic from the West too soon based merely on the selection choices on this compilation. He wrote and performed many good songs during these years -- not necessarily just these. Donovan deserves better than this compilation, imhumbleo -- but for the price offered, it's agreeable barter at least.

Really A Best of the Best Donovon.......2007-01-21

DONOVON emerged from the folk scene with Sunshine Superman, one of his best recordings. His music can be divided in two basic modes: the simplicity of valued human relationships & a new interpretation of mythic themes. The selected CD TROUPADOUR is the definitive collection of his early to more current work. SUNSHINE SUPERMAN includes such classic Donovan as Legend of a Girl Child Linda, Mellow Yellow, and Season of the Witch.

Donovan's Greatest Hits
Sunshine Superman
A Gift from a Flower to a Garden
The Hurdy Gurdy Man
Mellow Yellow

A fine introduction to the work of Donovan.......2006-09-20

As one who has owned copies of Greatest Hits (both the original CD release and the expanded remaster from 1999), this comp and the 3-CD Try for the Sun box, I have to admit there has yet to be a Donovan anthology that truly does justice to the man's catalogue, as each one seems to exclude one track or another that a fan would want to have there. These, however, are such minor quibbles as to be truly insignificant. Greatest Hits is perfect for the casual fan looking for Don's classic-era songs; Troubadour gives us a complete overview of his decade with Epic plus the two years preceding it in which he cemented his reputation as a Scots Woody Guthrie; while Try for the Sun is for the true completist.

I first bought this set when it was released and there were few enough Donovan CDs to be had; Sony had only seen fit to put Sunshine Superman, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Barabajagal and Greatest Hits out, and sad to say, they are still woefully deficient in their reissue of his catalogue (although Troubadour forgave a multitude of sins, as the Try for the Sun box has also done). Troubadour gives you two wonderful Donovan demos, "London Town" (Don's take on Tim Hardin's "Green Rocky Road") and "Cod'ine" (an early anti-drug song, and one of two Buffy Sainte-Marie songs Don covered, the other being the more famous "Universal Soldier," also included here), and his three hit singles for Pye/Hickory: "Catch the Wind," "Colours" and the aforementioned "Universal Soldier." From there, it launches full-on into his Epic years (1966-76); for me, this collection truly opened my eyes to all Don's music, and the rarities were often the most revealing as to his talents. "Breezes of Patchulie," an outtake from the Sunshine Superman sessions, was nothing like its title would suggest--not some hippie dream, but real folkish angst with sitar and violin to add some colour. A decent selection of songs from the Mellow Yellow LP and A Gift From a Flower to a Garden, which hadn't been available at that point, plus tracks from Open Road, Cosmic Wheels, Essence to Essence, 7-Tease and Slow Down World, all of which had been out of print at the time, were also welcome additions, and only Don's best songs (no embarrassments like the oft-cited "Intergalactic Laxative"--even the title is embarrassing) were included. Of the later rarities, "What the Soul Desires" was my favourite, and one I still play for myself on my guitar even now.

In 1992, this was a much-needed career overview of Donovan's work; even now, in 2006, it's the best set of classic Donovan tracks. For the completist or rabid Donovan fan, I would recommend the box set Try for the Sun, as it gives you loads of rarities and tracks otherwise only available on imports (e.g. the HMS Donovan album, never given a US release) and dares to cover his comebacks (a track each from the Rick Rubin-produced Sutras from 1996 and 2004's Beat Cafe, which I also recommend highly), plus adding the film There Is an Ocean on DVD. But for those wanting more than just the obvious hits, but less than a real vault-raider, Troubadour is just what the doctor ordered.

Um... not a huge fan.......2006-09-12

I love folk music, folk rock, and any genre that is even remotely related, but I have to say that I am disappointed with this collection. There were only three songs worth noting - Catch The Wind, London Town, and What The Soul Desires - that were any good. The rest of the songs were musically well executed, but the lyrics and themes were just shy of idiotic. I ordered this set just to get Catch The Wind, so I guess I can't say I'm upset by it, but I guess I'm just thinking that perhaps Donovan may just be a bit overrated as far as this genre is concerned. He's got a good sound and a good voice, but his lyrics are a bit on the stupid side. Now, if you could give his melodic voice to Bob Dylan or Dylan's song writing ability to him, then we'll have something.

Bliss: One - The First Definitve Collection

Average customer rating:

Big names, no big surprises
Top-notch mixed progressive label compilation
amazing!

Bliss: One - The First Definitve Collection
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Bliss Productions
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000067APL
Release Date: 2002-06-04

Tracks:

Relax - Revolt
Forget Time - Jimmy Van M & Young American Primitive feat. Terra Deva
No Compromise
Heavens Calling - Hyperion
Crazy People - 3 Monkeys
In The Bottle - Mike Hiratzka & Jim Ramer
Nutmeg - Austin Leeds
Please Call - Jon Cowan & Andy Holt
Music Better Sound - Defunction
Wave Speech - Pete Lazonby

Customer Reviews:

Big names, no big surprises.......2002-07-16

On paper, Bliss One's a can't miss; released by one of America's best dance labels, Bliss Productions (check out "Painting on Silence," "Altered States 2," and the exquisite "Directions") and compiling top artists from the progressive scene (Hyperion, Quivver, Austin Leeds).

But it does, packed with dry, minimal tribal-prog tunes that bop in place for minutes on end. Main offenders Hyperion "Heaven's Calling" and eleven minute (!) opener Revolt "Relax" are called to task, but that sense of pacing pervades throughout. "Forget Time," the impeccable breakbeatish smash from Jimmy Van M, gets a thorough overhaul from I-Jack into pedestrian house, while Hyperion & Revolt "No Compromise" doesn't deliver the "F'ed Up Drum Music" it speaks. Leave it to the Bliss company men, then, to deliver prime pieces, the stuttered bass thump and acid warbles of Mike Hiratzka & Jim Ramer "In the Bottle," and the deep, dubby answering machine trip "Please Call" from Jon Cowan & Andy Holt.

Yes, as always, these ten pieces would work in a club, or when a bit off your gourd, but otherwise it just fills speaker space.

Top-notch mixed progressive label compilation.......2002-06-25

The flow of first-rate progressive mixed cd's has slowed a bit in 2002, and there are some signs of incipient creative stagnation within this subgenre. So it comes as a pleasant surprise to hear this fine 73-minute label compilation release from Miami's Bliss Productions. Mixed (apparently) by Jon Cowan, this disc represents ten very recent tracks that have borne the Bliss label.

The resulting mix is satisfying, indeed. The sound overall tends toward the dark-ish and percussive, featuring the hypnotic, deep vibes that have characterized progressive releases over the past few years. A few of the tracks are absolutely outstanding, particularly the insistently rhythmic "Heavens Calling" by Hyperion and Mike Hiratzka, and Jim Ramer's riveting, trancey, and yet melodically lovely composition, "In The Bottle." A few of the tracks may at first seem familiar, particularly Pete Lazonby's venerable "Wave speech" and 3 Monkeys' "Crazy People." These tracks are presented as fresh remixes, however, and hardly sound warmed-over in any way.

There are only two tracks that are anything less than first-rate. The I-Jack's Stake & Chips Vocal Mix of Jimmy Van M & Young American Primitive's "Forget Time" features fine remixing work but a meandering, ho-hum vocal track. And although Hyperion & Revolt's "No Compromise" includes powerful rhythms and a banging musical texture, I found the repetitive vocal samples concerning "f**d up drum music" a bit irritating.

This is but a small complaint, however. Overall, this is a gem of a mix that fans of deep, pulsating progressive dance music should enjoy. If you like the work of dj's such as John Digweed, Chris Fortier, Sandra Collins, D:Fuse, Taylor, Parks & Wilson, and Jerry Bonham, you probably will enjoy this cd.

amazing!.......2002-06-12

I have been a big fan of this top notch Miami label for sometime now, but this one takes the cake. Amazing unreleased music from Lemon 8, Pete Lazonby, Quivver, Parks & Wilsom, Revolt and so on! buy it..its well worth it.

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