Rickie Lee Jones: Duchess of Coolsville: An Anthology - Disc 1 of 3 CD Track Listing

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Rickie Lee Jones Duchess of Coolsville: An Anthology - Disc 1 of 3 (2005)
Duchess of Coolsville: An Anthology - Disc 1 of 3\n2005 Rhino - Warner Strategic Marketing\n\nOriginally Released June 28, 2005\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Duchess of Coolsville is Rhino's three-CD career retrospective of the work of singer and songwriter Rickie Lee Jones, an artist who changed the face of pop in the 1970s in her own way beginning with her surprise hit "Chuck E's in Love." Since that time she has continued on a highly personal, often idiosyncratic path; one that does not always give the marketplace its due. Critics have celebrated and vilified her. Her hardcore legion of fans has scratched their collective head more than once in the last 26 years, over her changes in direction, her sporadic activity, and even at some of her live performances. But Jones has always been stubbornly true to the restless, sometimes tempestuous heart of the artist she is. Thank goodness. This collection, co-produced by Jones and Karen Ahmed, is an example of what every career retrospective should be. The three discs contained here feature generous helpings from all of her studio recordings, as well as live material. Discs one and two present her catalog from Rickie Lee Jones to The Evening of My Best Day. In addition, there are some real rarities, such as "Easter Parade," performed with the Blue Nile, and the live version of "Something Cool," released only on the cassette version of Girl at Her Volcano. Jones' cover of Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" is here from the Party of Five soundtrack, as is "Atlas' Marker (Aviator's Song)," her contribution to Century of Song with Bill Frisell. But there's much more. For starters, the set includes a whopping total of eight unissued demos, including one of "Young Blood" and another of "Satellites." The sequencing is another plus. While it may be irritating for those who like the "same old same old" of chronological style, or those who wish all album's tracks were kept together, this method, as free-ranging as the artist herself, makes for a much more engaging , poetic, and surprising listen. It's a complete yet utterly wonderful jolt to hear "Vessels of Light" from Ghostyhead followed by "We Belong Together" from Pirates, or "Bitchenostrophy" from The Evening of My Best Day preceding her read of "Bye Bye Blackbird" from Pop Pop. The package itself is elegant. It's not only full of photographs, but has essays by Hilton Als and Lee Cantelon, and Walter Becker; there's a long introductory poem by Jones, and testimonies from peers such as Randy Newman, Emmylou Harris, Chuck E. Weiss, Quincy Jones, and others, as well as people Jones has influenced such as Stina Nordenstam and Tori Amos. It's everything a career retrospective should be and then some, and it places the artist in her proper context: as an adventurer with a fiery yet tender heart that expresses itself in song without reservation, artifice, or guile. -- Thom Jurek\n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nCareer overviews programmed by the artists themselves are generally inconsistent affairs, usually due to the musicians' own eccentricities. For Duchess of Coolsville, this long-overdue Rickie Lee Jones compilation covering the years 1979-2003, she decided to sequence most of the songs in alphabetical order. It's a unique, yet rather bizarre, concept that dispenses with all sense of continuity, either chronological or musical. While this randomness behooves an artist as willfully eclectic as Jones, it also makes for a rollercoaster listening experience. Selecting tracks from 10 albums that alternately focused on folk, jazz, pop standards, and even electronica makes putting together any compilation of Jones's work a tough assignment, especially since each of her records has a distinctive flow. The 34 selections on the first two discs hit most, but not all, of the highlights from her often patchy releases. Disc 3 unearths seven demos, some live tracks, and several collaborations, few of which are revelatory.\n\nLong in need of a sonic shining, these songs sparkle with fresh remastering, revealing production details most listeners will hear for the first time. While not the best or most coherent collection of Rickie Lee Jones's work that could have been assembled, this anthology provides a reasonably good overview of the Duchess of Coolsville's diverse, distinctive, and often dynamic career. --Hal Horowitz \n\nAmazon.com Product Description\nRickie Lee Jones' career ascent began after famed rock front man Lowell George recored her composition "Easy Money" for a Little Feat album. As an inimitable song stylist, she first made her indelible mark with the scat-flavored hist "Chuck E's In Love" from her acclaimed 1979 self-titled debut LP. Ever since, Jones has blazed an artististically idiosyncratic path on a long string of beautiful, adventurous, and personal albums. Her more-than-distinctive vocals encompass rock, jazz, blues, classic pop, folk, and R&B inflections...Textured with fluent wordplay and delivered with true heart, Rickie Lee's sound is one of the most authentic and original in contemporary music. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nBeware of shorter version of "The Horses", November 2, 2006\nReviewer: Joshua Smith (CT, USA)\nThis is an awesome collection of Rickie Lee Jones' work. Of course there are some glaring omissions as other reviewers have pointed out. Still, I would have given this collection a full 5 stars if it had included the full version of "The Horses." Did anybody else notice that the version included on this anthology has been shortened? They have completely taken out the part of the song where Rickie sings "When I Was Young, I was a Wild, Wild One." It's true that she sings this line in the song "Flying Cowboys" as well and the full version of that song is included here. But, I always found it incredibly charming and cool that she sang the same line in "The Horses" and it is a shame that it has been edited out for this release. So, we still have to go back to our unremastered "Flying Cowboys" CD to hear "The Horses" as it was originally recorded. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nSomething (freakin') cool!, January 12, 2006\nReviewer: Thomas W. Altizer (Washington, D.C. United States)\nA unique artist of the highest caliber, Rickie Lee has been making me smile and cry and dance and be glad to be alive for a long, long time. (You'll get a feel for how long listening to this essential collection.) From her eponomyous first record to the "new" works on this set, Rickie has never done anything without putting everything she has into the delivery of every single song. Her voice is a pleasure, though an acquired taste to be sure. Nevertheless, her influence on today's roster of performers is immeasurable. That "Juke Box Fury" is missing is a shame, but to have Rickie's "Easter Parade" with the fabulous Blue Nile is another reason to be grateful that this lady still cares to perform. As someone stated, she is without peer as a live performer and you get a taste of that here. Check her out the next time she is appearing anywhere near you. You will fall in love, I promise.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nworth it even if you own most of her oeuvre, September 17, 2005\nReviewer: D. Monroe (Austin, TX)\nI own a lot of Rickie Lee Jones. I love her work. I disagree with the reviewer who thought the alphabetical order of her songs was pointless. Since so many of her albums were--wonderfully--"set pieces," it's been great to hear familiar songs in unfamiliar contexts. It's as if I'm hearing some of these songs for the first time. \n\nHer music had a huge influence on a lot of the breathy girl singers since, who've served up her phrasing but in a watered down fashion. But she's really important, like Louis Armstrong, in terms of innovating, changing our conception of what a voice can do. Not to mention she wrote all this music too. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNot for Idiots, September 14, 2005\nReviewer: cattlovrr\nFor an artist of Rickie Lee Jones' stature it says a lot about the mediocrity of the average American's musical taste that this album seems to have received only minimal coverage in the press. \n\nThis is a thinking person's album created by an obviously intelligent musician/lyricist. It's challenging in parts while eclectic throughout. \n\nListening to it, you'll be struck by how quickly the nearly quarter century has passed since R.L.J. first came on the scene. \n\nBy comparison, 25 years from now, Britney Spears will have been divorced four times, in rehab twice that and probably weighing more than Rosie O'Donnell. \n\nWhat could be grander justice than that? \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAn Essential Collection from RLJ, September 9, 2005\nReviewer: Mr. D. "deanokat" (Grosse Pointe, MI USA)\nOver the years, I've learned that most people either love Rickie Lee Jones or they hate her. There really aren't that many people on the fence. I happen to love her. And this collection, while not perfect, is essential for any RLJ fan. The demos are great. The packaging, like most Rhino anthologies, is top-notch. Put "Duchess of Coolsville" in your CD player, grab your favorite beverage, kick back, and relax. Rickie Lee will take you on an unforgettable journey.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nRickie Lee, August 22, 2005\nReviewer: Thomas Schabarum (Seattle, WA)\nTake one listen to the demo version of Atlas' Marker and you'll know the intensity of RLJ, both live and in person. That's all you'll need. Of course, much of her other work is extraordinary, and live she's unparalleled. But this version of Atlas' Marker is thrilling and spine-tingling - absolutely. \n\nThanks for an amazing career.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA wonderful anthology., August 7, 2005\nReviewer: M. P. Duffin (Detmold, Germany)\nI expect I'm only repeating what other people have already written, but this collection is lovely. The remastering process has made a stunning improvement to the sound quality (which was already good!), and the "goodies" on the third disc are a welcome addition to the catalogue ("Easter Parade" with Blue Nile is a gem!!). Rickie Lee Jones is a remarkable musician, a fantastic singer, a great arranger, and a genius with words. A very special lady indeed. I often wonder why she isn't as popular as the quality of her work really demands. I suppose I don't understand the commercial music market. \nRickie Lee Jones Rules, O.K.!\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nCharlotte's Mom hits a Home Run !!, July 29, 2005\nReviewer: Jimmy James "Jimmy James" (Canada)\nIf you like RLJ, then you will love this compilation. Digital re-mastering is a big plus for some of her early hits included here. There are only a few songs which I hoped would be included but are not on this compilation: "Ghetto of my Mind," "The Real End," and, "Rainbow Sleeves." Also missing is RLJ's masterful renditions of "Walk Away Rene," and "Under the Boardwalk." Thus, I can only give four stars to this otherwise remarkable retrospective. The third disc is very interesting from a songwriters / arrangers' perspective, with early demo versions that, in some cases, bear little resemblance to the versions which were eventually released on vinyl/disc. RLJ is a remarkably gifted songwriter and performer -- if you are unfamiliar with her recordings, this is an excellent place to start. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nONE OF YOUR BEST, AMERICA, July 25, 2005\nReviewer: Remaster Bob (Hong Kong, China SAR Hong Kong)\nHi. The people who review reviews on the British site seem not to have noticed a very wise change in amazon's guidelines which now allows for comments on the sound quality of discs. Maybe I'll have more luck here in the States.... \n\nBecause the remastering standard of this Anthology is absolutely superb. Hats off to Dan Hersch at Digiprep and his latest equipment. Superb sound. I can hear tom-toms reverberating, bass strings resonating, it's just delicious, Dan. Thanks to you and Rhino for this invaluable update of Rickie Lee Jones music. \n\nThe music! Well, she, RLJ, is a unique, gifted, and truly American artist and her eccentricities are well represented here. Listeners who seek consistency of style and tempo might get frustrated by the alphabetical sequencing on discs 1 and 2, but if you are prepared to go with the flow then relax and let this terrific selection wash over you. Particularly if you only know a few of her albums, in which case surprises will pop out at you all over the place. For me, new friends included the old Sinatra number "Cycles" and the haunting "Sailor Song", blending in successfully with absolute classics like "Flying Cowboys" (a massive favourite), "It Must Be Love", "Living It Up", and of course "Chuck E's In Love". \n\nThe third disc is far better than most of these "odds and sods" appendages, with wonderful demos of "Easy Money" (developed thereafter by Lowell George) and "Satellites" for example, and rarities like Donovan's song of romantic determination "Sunshine Superman" (performed in her most cheerful uptempo style, from the movie 'Party Of Five') and "Easter Parade" with equally unusual Scottish band Blue Nile (who are well worth separate investigation, by the way). Everyone will enjoy different items here. \n\nBut the full proof of RLJ's idiosyncratic brilliance is covered ahead of this on the first two discs. Let me state the obvious - she has a fantastic voice. Soak it up, and choose your own favourites. Have fun making your own single-disc collection for the car! (Now - Warner/Rhino - do the decent thing and remaster all the original albums. Soon. Call Dan!). \n\nHalf.com Details \nContributing artists: Bill Frisell, Dr. John, Leo Kottke, Randy Newman, Rob Wasserman, The Blue Nile \nProducer: David Was, Karen Ahmed (Compilation), Lenny Waronker, Rickie Lee Jones (Compilation), Rickie Lee Jones, Russ Titelman, Walter Becker \n\nAlbum Notes\nPersonnel include: Rickie Lee Jones (vocals, guitar, keyboards); David Hidalgo (vocals, 8-string guitar); Dr. John (vocals, keyboards); Syd Straw (vocals); Rick Boston (various instruments); Steve Lukather, Buzz Feiten (guitar); Leo Kottke (acoustic guitar, slide guitar); Bill Frisell (electric guitar); Greg Phillinganes (keyboard); Randy Newman (synthesizer); Chuck Rainey (bass instrument); Rob Wasserman (double bass); Willie Weeks (bass guitar); Alex Acuna (drums, congas); Jeff Porcaro, Jim Keltner, Steve Gadd (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion).\n\nWhile it's baffling that there was no Rickie Lee Jones anthology before 2005's DUCHESS OF COOLSVILLE, this remarkable box set more than makes up for the absence. Co-produced by Jones herself, the three-disc Rhino compilation remains in line with the singer/songwriter's idiosyncratic aesthetic in the way it cleverly careens through her career. The first disc alone shifts from 2003's THE EVENING OF MY BEST DAY to 1993's TRAFFIC FROM PARADISE, then later presents a trio of songs from Jones's acclaimed self-titled '79 debut, before landing briefly on her 1997 trip-hop album, GHOSTYHEAD. Yet the set flows wonderfully, revealing the consistent quality of Jones's ever-changing musical vision.\nPlenty of Jones's best songs are here, including her only true "hit," the poppy "Chuck E's in Love," and "The Horses," a beautiful ode to her daughter, co-written with Steely Dan's Walter Becker. For the Jones faithful, the third disc is the real revelation, since it includes a slew of previously unreleased live tracks and demos, in addition to collaborations with Dr. John, Bill Frisell, the Blue Nile, and others. Ideal for fans and newcomers alike, DUCHESS OF COOLSVILLE represents the full breadth of Jones's artistry.\n\nIndustry Reviews\n3 stars out of 5 - [M]ost of the signature tunes are here....It's a bold attempt to cover her entire career...
This folk cd contains 19 tracks and runs 76min 8sec.
Freedb: 1311d613

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