Roger D. Surbaugh | Lilburn, Georgia United States | 05/14/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I knew Steve Goodman (and Brad Ellis) and his demented sidekick, John Prine, from my days as a bartender at the Earl of Old Town in 1970.
It is difficult for me to describe the beauty, the craftsmanship, the honesty, the hilarity of Steve's music. As Brad notes in his review, Steve died way too young.
I guarantee you will not be disappointed if you buy this album. I am on my forth copy now, since I keep giving them away to my friends, some of whom don't know and believe in the genius of Steve Goodman.
I also highly recommend "No Big Surprise", the compilation album of almost all of Steve's songs and performances."
Great stories from a great storyteller
E. McGraw | Roswell, GA United States | 09/03/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Growing up in Wisconsin amid the folksingers and protesters who over the decades have become middle-aged Prairie Home Companion afficionados, I met Steve (and his scruffy sidekick whom I later learned was John Prine) while going to college in Madison, Wisconsin and moonlighting (literally) as a lighting designer in college music venues. Steve had an energy and wit that pervaded all of his music. Like my fellow yankee from Lilburn, GA, I hand out Steve's CDs to cherished friends, doing my small part to keep the music flowing. I was pleased to see John Prine in concert recently, still doing some of the old songs in honor of his best friend. The Ballad of Penny Evans, about a war widow of the Vietnam era - rings as cutting and fresh now, in the context of the current conflict, as it did then. Enjoy this album, and buy more - Artistic Hair is one of my personal favorites - for your friends."
Steve Greatman
David B. Marshall | Carlsbad, CA United States | 03/18/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I just wanted to add to all those ParrotHeads out there (Jimmy Buffett fans) that you'll see a very young Jimmy Buffett on the cover of this cd (I think I remember him using the name "Marvin Gardens") I've loved this album for almost 30 years now."
One of the great albums - and the greatest song
R. V. Hatcher | Boston | 08/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I saw Steve a number of times on Boston and Cambridge in the early 70s. Once he played Symphony Hall in Boston, it was sold out and you could have heard a pin drop. He held the audience spellbound.
This is one of his earlier albums and contains a good mix of funny, sad, sentimental, and just entertaining songs.
Steve's version of The Dutchman is my all-time favorite song. I know he didn't write it, but it is such an exquisite song that it chokes me up almost forty years later. (His live version of this song is also great and includes some of the finest guitar playing you'll ever hear.)
Steve was the quintessential artist for me. He was only a few years older than me and I was hugely into folk and acoustic music back then, and still am. I felt like his music spoke directly to me.
Listening to this album is like putting on an old pair of worm slippers. Comfortable."