Martin Simpson - The Definitive Collection (16 tracks) +Album Reviews

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Martin Simpson
The Definitive Collection
Genres: Folk, International Music, Pop

Track Listings (16) - Disc #1
1. Moonshine - Martin Simpson, Simpson, Martin
2. I Can't Keep from Crying Sometimes - Martin Simpson, Traditional
3. Dives and Lazarus - Martin Simpson, Traditional
4. Down Where the Drunkards Roll - Martin Simpson, Thompson, Richard [
5. Plains of Waterloo - Martin Simpson, Traditional
6. Road Kill - Martin Simpson, Simpson, Martin
7. Lakes of Ponchartrain - Martin Simpson, Traditional
8. First Cut Is the Deepest - Martin Simpson, Stevens
9. One More Day/Boots of Spanish Leather - Martin Simpson,
10. Nobody's Fault But Mine - Martin Simpson,
11. The Keel Row - Martin Simpson, Traditional
12. Rounding the Horn - Martin Simpson, Traditional
13. Clark Saunders - Martin Simpson,
14. Shawnee Town - Martin Simpson, Bustin, Dillon
15. Horn Island - Martin Simpson, Simpson, Martin
16. Gone Fishing - Martin Simpson, Simpson, Martin

CD Details

All Artists: Martin Simpson
Title: The Definitive Collection
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Highpoint UK
Release Date: 9/27/2004
Album Type: Original recording remastered
Genres: Folk, International Music, Pop
Styles: Traditional Folk, British & Celtic Folk, Contemporary Folk, Celtic, Europe, Britain & Ireland, Singer-Songwriters
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 714822600927

CD Reviews

A Great Diverse Collection

applewood | everywhere and nowhere | 01/05/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have loved Martin's music since stumbling upon it almost 15 years ago (his virtuosic playing ability, selection of traditional tunes, equally fine compositional skills and understated performing style), and already own a dozen or so of his recordings, yet when I recently put this one on I got the feeling of it being fresh and new. Some of the songs are taken directly from successful recent albums, others are taken from live recordings and several from an earlier collection. (5 from THE COLLECTION, 2 from BOOTLEG USA, 2 from SMOKE AND MIRRORS, 2 from THE BRAMBLE BRIAR, 2 from RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HUMIDITY, and 2 from various artist recordings tributes to Richard Thompson and Blind Willie Johnson (both excellent collections from producer David Suff), as well as one from his then unreleased KIND LETTERS.

Of the new tunes for me, I love the acoustic slide instrumental version of Cat Steven's "First Cut is the Deepest", the delicate picking of Dylan's "Boots of Spanish Leather", the swinging jaunty cover of Blind Willie's "Nobody's Fault But Mine", the achingly beautiful "Clark Saunders", the delicate instrumental original "Horn Island", and while the surprisingly unpolished "Lakes of Ponchartrain" is probably my least favorite, it's still a treat to hear it for the unusual contrast (sounds more like a Warren Zevon song!).

Martin Simpson is a wonderful artist. He will sooth your soul, lullabye your babes (big and small), and introduce you to delightful British and American traditional tunes and some of his own you won't be able to tell aren't traditional. If you don't know him this not a bad place to start, however, if you really want to hear him at his best, go directly to what he has produced more recently - PRODIGAL SON, KIND LETTERS, TRUE STORIES, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HUMIDITY & the excellent earlier instrumental COOL AND UNUSUAL. I give this collection 4 stars only because its a bit more uneven than these recent studio releases (all 5 star!)"