Anybody listen to Harry Chapin?

S

Steven F

Joined
Oct 12, 1999
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I know this isn't a music forum, but the Zappa guys started this, so I'm just asking for equal consideration. Now, back to my basic question, are there any forumites who are fans of Harry Chapin? In my humble opinion, Chapin remains the greatest songwriter of all time. And as far as you Zappa guys are concerned -- I listened to some of Zapa's stuff because of your enthusiasm for his work, now you should listen to some of Harry Chapin's, and if you don't have any I'll send you some (so there's no excuse).
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"Mail order Annie" is one of the world's great songs talking about the human condition of hope and sharing. Guy was a great poet, but his songs were just too durned long to make it on the air.

He and his family was also neighbors of mine on Long Island.

Good songs, good guy.

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JP
 
Chapin?

OK, I'm 50, and I love rock from Buddy Holly to the earlier Beatles and Stones ( High Tide and Green Grass ). Acid Rock and anything later, forget it.

But Chapin?

I know folk singing and some pop music. The Weavers to the Seekers. Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger to Tamarack ( yes, the Canadian group for Harry and Will Kwan ).

Chapin doesn't ring a bell. I can barely hear the tinkling of wind chimes.

So who IS he anyway? Someone out of Tin Pan Alley? The torch singer eras?

( By the way, Steven, just speculating - ever notice how Toni Tennile grew up to the old standards and still loves to belt them out, and anyone who has listened to Mama Cass can hear the influence they've had on her singing. So what wouldn't you give to listen to the two of them together in concert? )
 
I'd hesitate to say I'm a "fan", because I didn't follow all his work, but his popular music was appealing. Especially the haunting "Taxi", guess that was his biggest hit.

Anyone hear of Cashman and West, "A Friend Is Dying"...?

Nick
 
Rusty, email me your mailing address and I'll send you a CD of some of his stuff. In the morning I'm leaving town for 4 or 5 days, so I won't have a chance to make a copy for you and get it in the mail until I get back. BUT, as soon as I return I'll send it off. And if anyone else would like a copy of their very own, just let me know.
 
Yup, Steven, I'm a big Harry fan. Among my favorite songs are A Better Place, Mr. Tanner, Last Stand, and, of course, Circle.

"…Well, it seems like I've been here before but I can't remember when. So I got this funny feeling we'll all get together again. No straight lines make up my life. All my roads have bends. There's no clear cut beginnings and, so far, no dead ends…"
-- Circle
Click to expand...
That's from memory but I think I'm pretty close.
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From my very limited knowledge of Buddist & Hindu beliefs, the sentiments seem to be consistent.

IMO, two must have albums for any Chapin fan are "The Bottom Line Encore Collection" & the "Harry Chapin Tribute". The tribute album was recorded in 1987 at Carnegie Hall, at a concert in celebration of the Congressional Gold Medal that Harry was awarded posthumously in recognition of his fight against hunger. (FYI, Harry founded World Hunger Year & donated half of his concert earnings to that and other anti-hunger causes.)

As an idealist, Harry believed in the brotherhood of man. As a pragmatist, he knew that sustained individual efforts are required in order to effect positive change. He also realized that it is necessary to keep a sharp eye on the "dirty ways of the world." Not a bad philosophy, don't you think?


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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
Brian, I agree with your assessment of Chapin -- he truly believed in the brotherhood of humankind and dedicated his life to making the world a better, more humane place. I think I have a copy of just about everything he recorded. My most prized Chapin possession is a copy of his book of poetry titled "Looking ... Seeing," published in 1975.
 
It seems like there aren't that many Chapin fans around the cantina. What about Dead Heads?
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BTW, Steven, I looked for that book of poems on Amazon. It is out of print but there was one on their auction @ $75 with 4 days to go.

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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
When I was a kid all the radio stations played Taxi and Sequel endlessly. How BORRRRING! Then I turned 35 and figured out what he was talking about. Very deep man, great poet. I listen to some of his songs on a regular basis now. For me, his best work is WOLD.

BTW, any one hear the Gordon Lightfoot song All the Lovely Ladies? A very brief and insightful piece. Actually a wonderful prayer, of sorts. http://www.corfid.com/gl/Albums/Gords_Gold_II/All_The_Lovely_Ladies.htm
(Hope this works)

Tom
 
I'd wondered if Lightfoot could be on the lines of Chapin. Gordon's evidently gotten better.
 
Hard to believe this question is raised here on BF, but since it was, I have a question for you....

"Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald" was always one of my favorite H. Chapin songs (besides "Taxi"), but while I know Harry recorded it, I'm told it was written by Gordon Lightfoot. Can someone confirm or refute this?

Harry was a great balladeer!
 
Matthew, Lightfoot wrote and recorded "Edmund Fitzgerald." To my knowledge, Chapin never recorded it. The link I provided above has lyrics to all Lightfoot songs on all his albums. "edmund" is on at least two, and perhaps more. The version on "Gord's Gold II" is slightly different from the standard recording, more "electric".

Tom
 
Matthew, Tom is right. Gordon Lightfoot wrote, and recorded, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." If you want a copy, email me your mailing address and I'll send you a CD copy of "The Wreck" along with some of Lightfoot's other stuff.
 
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