Name: The Essential Collection [Digipak]
Brand: Rounder Select
SKU: 18234
Price: 430 SGD
Availability: InStock

Performer Notes

Personnel: Bill Morrissey (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica); Amilia K Spicer, Suzanne Vega (vocals); John Jennings (guitar, electric guitar); Peter Heimlich, Patty Larkin, Peter Keane (guitar); Duke Levine, Michael Toles (electric guitar); Seth Austen (slide guitar, bottleneck guitar, violin); Edward Gerhard (slide guitar); Beverly Woods (hammer dulcimer, piano); Johnny Cunningham (violin); Leslie Silvokos, Kris Delmhorst (cello); Ed Peterson (saxophone); Bill "Foots" Samuel (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Jamil Sharif (trumpet); Chris Belleau (trombone); David Torkanowsky, Tom McClung (piano); Ron Levy (organ); Matt Jenson (Wurlitzer organ); Charlie Jennison (synthesizer); James Singleton (acoustic bass); David Lee Watson, Richard Gates (electric bass); Kent Allyn (fretless bass); Billy Conway (drums, percussion); Doug Plavin, Johnny Vidacovich (drums).
Audio Mixers: Mark Wessel ; Paul Q. Kolderie; Sean Slade.
Liner Note Author: Scott Alarik.
Recording information: Blue Jay Recording Studio, Carlisle, MA (1985-2003); Fishtracks, Portsmouth, NH (1985-2003); Hi-n-Dry, Cambridge, MA (1985-2003); Long View Farm, North Brookfield, MA (1985-2003); Ultrasonic Studios, New Orleans, LA (1985-2003).
Illustrator: Christian Clayton.
Photographers: Ren Norton; Dan Jarvis; Ellen Karas; Susan Wilson.
Rounder's celebration of Bill Morrissey's 20th anniversary as a recording artist, dubbed The Essential Collection, is a hearty 20-track collection culling at least one track from each record he's released over the years, except for the duet album with Greg Brown, Friend of Mine. The label did a fine job assembling the tracks with a comfortable flow to showcase Morrissey at his poetic best, and while all of these songs are welcome collected together in one place, the three new tracks Morrissey recorded for inclusion on the release are the biggest treat here. "Fifty," his affirming song that distills the stereotype of those "over the hill," is a stripped-down, comical number that appears early in the collection and boasts, "Hey you kids, this ain't no jive/But I've seen the Beatles live," and as if to rub it in a bit further he croons another benefit of being born a half century ago: "Best of all, I can't get drafted." The other two new tracks, "Just Today" and "Boston Eyes," close out the collection. "Just Today" is a playful, jaunty folk-pop number and "Boston Eyes" features a more subdued melody, but both are played with the easy, freewheeling confidence fans have come to expect from Morrissey and will, no doubt, be a big draw to this collection for fans of his work. ~ Gregory McIntosh

Professional Reviews

Dirty Linen (p.60) - "With a voice that one could believe was that of an ancient Delta blues singer instead of a comparatively young man, he is backed on this collection - which spans nearly 20 years - by some of folk's best musicians, including Suzanne Vega, Patty Larkin, John Jennings and the late Johnny Cunningham."

Album: The Essential Collection [Digipak]
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Barstow
2)	Inside
3)	Robert Johnson
4)	Fifty - (previously unreleased)
5)	These Cold Fingers
6)	Ice Fishing
7)	Just Before We Lost the War
8)	Avalon Blues
9)	Letter from Heaven
10)	Handsome Molly
11)	Different Currency
12)	Cold Cold Night
13)	Small Town on the River
14)	You'll Never Get to Heaven
15)	Birches
16)	Long Gone
17)	23rd Street
18)	Joe Turner Blues
19)	Just Today - (previously unreleased)
20)	Boston Eyes - (previously unreleased)

Album: The Essential Collection [Digipak]
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Barstow
2)	Inside
3)	Robert Johnson
4)	Fifty - (previously unreleased)
5)	These Cold Fingers
6)	Ice Fishing
7)	Just Before We Lost the War
8)	Avalon Blues
9)	Letter from Heaven
10)	Handsome Molly
11)	Different Currency
12)	Cold Cold Night
13)	Small Town on the River
14)	You'll Never Get to Heaven
15)	Birches
16)	Long Gone
17)	23rd Street
18)	Joe Turner Blues
19)	Just Today - (previously unreleased)
20)	Boston Eyes - (previously unreleased)