Best of Cowboy Junkies

by Cowboy Junkies

Overview

Like so many of their '80s contemporaries, Cowboy Junkies have never quite broken into the mainstream, yet their music has seeped into movies, television, and alternative radio. Despite their lack of fame, they still made great music that persevered through trends and imitators, and the best of that music is found on this compilation. Their early covers of "Sweet Jane" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" highlight the first third of the album, featuring Margo Timmons' whispered vocals over the lazy shuffle pumped out by the rest of the band. The up-tempo country lament "Sun Comes Up, It's Tuesday Morning" and the cheery "To Live Is to Fly" show Timmons' vocals shaping into a strong croon reminiscent of Natalie Merchant. Even their '90s work, which critics were never very kind to, still has strong representation with "Anniversary Song" and "Hard to Explain." Fans may wonder why no songs from any album past Pale Sun, Crescent Moon are included, as so many great songs -- from "Common Disaster" to "Dragging Hooks" -- could have rounded out the album. Although these albums may have been financial disappointments, they still could have included some of the stronger tracks. As it is, this is still a good retrospective of the strongest years of a band who made good albums long after the compilation's cutoff date. ~ Bradley Torreano

Product Details

Release Date:	08/21/2001
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0078636805221
Rank:	38498

Tracks

1. Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis)
2. Sweet Jane
3. Misguided Angel
4. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
5. Rock and Bird
6. Sun Comes Up, It's Tuesday Morning
7. Escape Is So Simple
8. 'Cause Cheap Is How I Feel
9. To Live Is to Fly
10. Murder, Tonight, in the Trailer Park
11. Southern Rain
12. Cowboy Junkies Lament
13. Anniversary Song
14. Cold Tea Blues
15. Ring on the Sill
16. Hard to Explain

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Cowboy Junkies   Primary Artist
Buzz Ravineau   Sequencing

Technical Credits

Michael Hill   Liner Notes
Lorenz Hart   Composer
Lou Reed   Composer
Michael Timmins   Composer,Producer
Ray Agee   Composer
Hank Williams   Composer
Bill Lacey   Mastering
Margo Timmins   Composer
Townes Van Zandt   Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Peter J. Moore   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Martin Lee   Assistant Producer
Tom Henderson   Engineer
Bob Cobban   Mixing
Jeff Ham   Assistant Producer
Vivian Ng   Design
Paul Williams   Compilation Producer
Tracy Boychuk   Art Direction
Bob Doidge   Engineer
Cowboy Junkies   Mixing