Search - Greg Brown :: If I Had Known: Essential Recordings Vol. 1, 1980-1996

If I Had Known: Essential Recordings Vol. 1, 1980-1996
Greg Brown
If I Had Known: Essential Recordings Vol. 1, 1980-1996
Genres: Folk, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (17) - Disc #1

The first-ever collection of classic tracks by the artist who has helped define the last two decades of American roots songwriting! The CD disc includes over 70 minutes of music REMASTERED from the original master tapes. T...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Greg Brown
Title: If I Had Known: Essential Recordings Vol. 1, 1980-1996
Members Wishing: 8
Total Copies: 0
Label: Red House Records
Release Date: 9/9/2003
Album Type: Limited Edition, Original recording remastered
Genres: Folk, Pop
Styles: Traditional Folk, Contemporary Folk, Singer-Songwriters
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 033651017127

Synopsis

Album Description
The first-ever collection of classic tracks by the artist who has helped define the last two decades of American roots songwriting! The CD disc includes over 70 minutes of music REMASTERED from the original master tapes. The Limited Edition DVD disc features the documentary film "Hacklebarney Tunes?The Music of Greg Brown?46 minutes of interviews, jams and live concert footage. Filmed in 1996 (to coincide with the years of this retrospective), it follows Brown through the little towns and countryside of his home country, the Hacklenbarney district of southern Iowa. Included are interviews and recollections with his parents, kinfolk and friends, old colleagues like BO RAMSEY, DAVE MOORE and GARRISON KEILLOR and music critics who have followed him over the years. Essential for Brown fans and a superb introduction to his music!

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CD Reviews

Great music and fascinating DVD
A. Butterfield | UK | 10/19/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Living as I do in the UK, I've never had the chance to see Greg Brown 'live', so I was keen to get this DVD and CD combination. The DVD is very interesting. Greg, who comes across as very warm and intelligent, is interviewed throughout, and there are 'live' performances and nice scenes with Greg's folks back in his home town of Hacklebarney. You really get a feel for where 'Greg Brown' came from, and where he still is in a way, something that must be the key to his success and longevity as an artist. He's unspoiled.

The CD is crammed full of some of Greg's greatest songs from the past few years. They need a bit of listening to before you realise just how good they are, but instantly obvious is Greg's unique style and the humour in his unique voice. What's interesting, seeing the background in the DVD, is how he has kept to his roots while at the same time creating music that's universal and whose themes go beyond the 'down home'. This is really well worth getting."
Excellent Retrospective
James D. DeWitt | Fairbanks, AK United States | 01/22/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"You can't call the songs "greatest hits;" Greg Brown isn't the kind of artist who has had or even wants pop hits. You can't call them his "best songs;" there's no agreement on what song is best, other than perhaps the last song you heard him perform. So I will settle for calling this a retrospective, a look backwards across twenty plus albums over twenty plus years. It's imprecise, but close.It's equally hard to characterize Brown's song writing. There are elements of gospel - he's the son of a fundamentalist minister - and blues, a lot of traditional American folk music, but the mix is peculiarly Brown's own. The style has evolved over the years, as this album demonstrates. What's consistent is the use of specific images, sometimes apparently unrelated images, to make broader, allusive messages. His music is deceptively simple, even catchy, but it never leaves you feeling manipulated.His musicianship is fine, but there are lots of fine musicians. What sets Greg Brown apart as a performer is his voice, which ranges from a baritone to a gravelly bass. There are very few folk artists who can use their voice as the bass line in their songs. His voice is remarkable, and he uses it intelligently, adding layers of meaning to songs. If you are new to Greg Brown, this is a terrific introduction. If you are already a fan, you may still want this album: some of the older songs benefit greatly from remastering, and sound much better here than they do on their original albums.Strongly recommended."
Greg Brown - If I Had Known (CD & DVD Combo)
Eric Lillyblad | Forest Lake, MN USA | 07/30/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Simple, honest music. This is a perfect CD/DVD to purchase to get to know Greg Brown and his music. The CD provides a nice variety of songs taken from some of his numerous albums. The DVD gives great background of his life, including interviews with friends and family members. The DVD also has some nice concert footage and reveals the nature of the man and his earthy, somewhat mischeivous background and outlook on life."