This is an excellent CD with all the old classics, well worth listening to, even if you don't know Harry Chapin's music.

I thought the cd was going to be studio versions of the songs. Instead it is live versions that do not sound well. You can barely hear Chapin sing. Not quite pleased with this purchase.

The late Harry Chapin had few peers in the seventies. Like Jim Croce and Harry Nilsson, Chapin was a troubadour in the storyteller's tradition. At his best, he spun tales of folksy everymen gone down on their luck ("Taxi" and "WOLD"). He could also go all out cinematic, like the 10-plus minutes of "Sniper," which could be one of the weirdest songs ever recorded by a so-called folk artist. (And one of the most disturbing I-hate-my-parents howls this side of The Door's "The End.")

But he also had a sanctimonious streak that could turn downright corny (his biggest hit, "Cat's In The Cradle") or treacley at its worst - the pointless "Sequel." But Chapin was - like many storytellers - best experienced live. I got to see him play one of his many benefit shows, at Susquehanna University in 1980. The crowd heartily joined in for "30,000 Pounds Of Bananas," which is presented here live, as it should be.

Chapin's baritone voice barrels out atop the songs, richly expressive for every song here. Like Jim Croce, Chapin's voice was instantly recognizable and his writing style very much of his own personality. He drew from both folk and tin-pan-alley, with songs like "Remember When The Music" and sentimental fare like "Dreams Go By" being the stuff of stage musicals.

I am not the huge fan here that some claim to be, so I think this is all the Harry Chapin I - a casual listener - would need. The only song I really see as missing is "Circles," but for the budget price, I can live with that omission. Worth it for the 72 minutes of music; for a change, one of the "Essentials" discs in the Rhino series that lives up to its name.

I teach and the kids read the poetry book and NEVER heard of Harry.
iPODS surrounded me.............

Minus two stars for not including Harry's two best storytelling gems: 30,000 Pounds of Bananas & Six String Orchestra. Some gold is on the surface. Some gold is buried, and sadly overlooked.