Selecting the material for a "Best Of" compilation of any
artist's work can be trying, to say the least. But for an
artist the stature of John Hiatt, whose numerous "best"
songs have been covered countless times and whose own
recordings have become classic, well, narrowing them down
to a single album would seem to be an impossible
undertaking.
But it would be hard to challenge the 17 song choices on
The Best Of John Hiatt. Such titles as "Cry Love," "Slow
Turning," "Drive South," "Angel Eyes" and "Thing Called
Love" - which are included - are truly representative of
one of the most significant and valued song catalogs in
contemporary rock music, though many of Hiatt's songs, and
many of those showcased here, have crossed over into
virtually all genres of pop m More...
Review about John Hiatt Baby Blue | Reviewer: Pam
------ About the song My Baby Blue performed by John Hiatt
I love nearly every single song John Hiatt has ever recorded. I discovered him a long time ago and have every album he has made. He tells great stories.He also has written some sexy and some sad songs i.e. Feels Like Rain and Riding The Blue Train and Have A Little Faith in Me.
This reminds me of teen age years and thinking back on those days to someone you loved then and wondering where that person is now. I included it in a story I wrote because the couple both have blue eyes.
I build and mostly fix broken guitars for a living, this song by john hiat is one of the most revealing, outstanding songs explaining in a few words, what exactly goes thru a musicians mind, and John Hiatt is so right on , its incredable. when I first heard the song, I wanted to write him a letter, saying is the most serious, yet playful tune ive ever heard about smashing guitars, as i have seen many artists distroy many guitars, for no reason other than the excitment of their show, but to someone who wants a good guitar, it seems like a crime, outstanding, viva, right on, Richard Beck at Becks guitars in Tempe, Arizona, 480 8299630 John Hiatt is outstanding!!!!!
Take What Down? | Reviewer: Anonymous
------ About the song Take It Down performed by John Hiatt
Junker Barlow's heartfelt response to Hiatt's Take It Down is clear, but perhaps misses the song's other dimension, in which some affinity or parallel is proposed between the broken love affair and the necessity for the old South finally to face the unpleasant truths about the Civil War, and finally take down the Confederate flag from where it flies on its pole fifty feet high........Jacques de Bovill
Straight to the Heart | Reviewer: NeNe
------ About the song Thirty Years Of Tears performed by John Hiatt
This song brings tears to my eyes. After hearing it on Crossing Jordan I had to find out more. I taped the episodes that played the song. It brings to my memory some many things good and not-so-good that have happened to me.
A haiku on alcoholism | Reviewer: Terry Parkhurst
------ About the song Paper Thin performed by John Hiatt
The spare lyrics to this song might indeed be too cryptic for the average person. But to anyone who has struggled with alcohol, trying to use it to shore up a sense of existential lonliness, the line "When you were out of luck, well, luck was doin' all right," will ring true.
The musical hook and driving beat of this song make it a true rock-and-roll classic.
Coming home from Hawaii in July 1957 on the Aultman(ship) to get my discharge,there was a guitar on board and we would go up on deck,play and sing to kill time.John Ash was the guitar man.I thought I would hear about him in the future but I never have.He could play just about anything we called up.He had this song.It goes/I got over Marie, I got over Cherie,but I'll never get over you. I'll keep trying to find a little piece of mind,but I'll never get over you. That's all I can remember of the song. I wrote it down in my note book,but a hundred or more moves has misplaced them.John was from the Carolinas or Va. somewhere.Have you got anything like that?Thanks,Bill
answer to question | Reviewer: Lindsay
------ About the song Thirty Years Of Tears performed by John Hiatt
Yes this was a song used in the TV series Crossing Jordan, twice, in the pilot episode and in the season/series finale this last year
and yes it is a very beautiful song
Take It Down..................... | Reviewer: Junker Barlow
------ About the song Take It Down performed by John Hiatt
I don't suppose anyone who isn't at least interested in John Hiatt, or thinks that he is the most visceral and truthful songwriter expressing human emotion and laying bare the wires of relationships, would be looking here.
He does this without the stylistic complexity of imagery of Bob Dylan nor the bombast or slighty self conscious invention of some of Steve Earle's songs, (though some of his songs are up there with Hiatts best "Christmas in Washington", "Fort Worth Blues", "Can't remember if we said goodbye", and more, hit it).
But this song, "Take it Down" says it all, in fifteen lines and a chorus, about an explosive end to a relationship, with all the implication of trust and betrayal, loss and pain, without judgement or blame. It's also one of those very few songs, "Waterloo Sunset" by the Kinks being a remarkable example, which seems a perfect synthesis of words and melody.
And the killer is, it speaks volumes to anyone who has truly been there, whether or not you were the doer or the done by.
If the folk/blues of 100 ago has a place in the 21st century, then it's living in the heart of John Hiatt.
Question | Reviewer: Sherry
------ About the song Thirty Years Of Tears performed by John Hiatt
Was this the same song used on an episode of the TV series, Crossing Jordan? If it is the same one, it is a very beautiful song.
A perfect picture of a moment | Reviewer: BJShredder
------ About the song Icy Blue Heart performed by John Hiatt
Perfectly complemented by the sparse, moving accompaniment, how wonderfully succinct this song is. You get just enough detail to totally "get" what the protagonist is feeling, without having to know all of the sordid histories involved. Yet you want to know. And you can picture anything you want happening at the end ... sadness, acceptance, redemption ... this song works for so many moods you may be in when you're listening.
This song really hits home | Reviewer: Anonymous
------ About the song The Way We Make A Broken Heart performed by John Hiatt
I hadn't heard this song in quite a while. Then one Friday evening - my husband and I went out to dinner - and he told me out of the blue of his affair and wanting a divorce. Needless to say my heart was "shattered" as I considered him the love of my life, my best friend. As I got in my car to leave (we met after work) I turned on the radio and it must have been faith because there was Roseanne Cash on the radio - singing this song. I still love this song - because it's so true.
Cry Love captures wide range of emotion | Reviewer: Sandy
------ About the song Cry Love performed by John Hiatt
I heard this song for the first time today and couldn't wait to get home to research the lyrics and read about the artist. For sure, I'll be buying John Hiatt's "best of" album in the very near future so I can hear more of what this gifted artist has to offer.
I sometimes wonder if song writers realize that what they write about and how they write about it can greatly influence some individuals. The lyrics of this song capture the whole emotional range experienced in the breakup of a marriage. The first two verses hit a painful nerve but the last verse delivers a message of hope - that a new love may be out there waiting to rekindle the flame of desire.
I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you, John Hiatt, for the poetry set to music. I'll be listening for more.
"my old friend" | Reviewer: Shaun Whalen
------ About the song My Old Friend performed by John Hiatt
"one of my favorite songs to keep going back to,never get sick of it,a good song to lift your spirits from what i consider the best song writer of the last 20 years and possible of all time"
My Baby Blue by John Hiatt | Reviewer: Mike
------ About the song My Baby Blue performed by John Hiatt
I almost fell out of my chair when I first heard this song. The intro slide guitar is so reminescent of George Harrison that I had to look in the liner notes to see if Harrison had played the slide (he didn't - it's Sonny Landreth at his best - plus GH had probably passed away by the time the song was recorded).
The lyrics too are eerily similar to something Harrison would write. The song harkens back to the early 1970's and I can easily picture Harrison, Clapton, and Badfinger in the studio mixing it for All Things Must Pass!
But alas, it isn't GH. It is however, one of John Hiatt's best songs (in my humble opinion). I've been a Hiatt fan since way back (waaaay, way back!) and anxiously await and thoroughly enjoy his releases as they come out. Beneath This Gruff Exterior (on which My Baby Blue is included) brings Hiatt back to the forefront of Americana-Blues-Country-Rock. Word play, tongue twisters, melancholy, hysterical - they all apply to his songs on this release.
My Baby Blue is probably over looked on the album buried as it is in the middle of the song list, but listen to it a few times, he really performs it to the very best of his abilities (which are numerous). Acoustically performed, this song would shine as one of the great blues tracks of the 2000's!
My hat is off to you John, keep up the great work!
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