You use Spotify? You heard of the unambiguously beloved Spotify Wrapped? (No, no worries, it’s not December yet!)
For years, I have been dedicating my money and data to Spotify and to balance the sheet, they created a tarot-themed card for me last year, which pats me on the back for being a person that will listen to albums front-to-back, no skips.
“Huzzah,” I say! “Accomplishment, accomplishment – someone update the LinkedIn and Wikipedia!”
But cynicism aside, I do want to show some love for the particular enjoyment of things that are fully considered and worked out, then mulled over again and again, until they’re finally finished. Things that aren’t random moonshots (looking at you, random filler albums in support of a one-hit-wonder success); things that are more meaningful in their context. A front, center, and end, as well as a narrative (literal or conceptual) guiding them.
And so, while “Best Of!” or compilation albums tend to be great for their bits and pieces, they are often lacking the cohesive whole (or as younger generations, I think, tend to put it: vibes).
Please, put your hands together in an above-the-head clap for a thing called ‘synergy’!
The “Greatest Hits” album, of course, is there to boil down the Best-Of for easy consumption by the who-ever. Still, for those that enjoy a listen outside of top singles, the mark can easily feel like it’s missed.
Yeah, a selection of the most commercially successful tracks has been made and slapped onto a disc, but Cui bono? (Latin: “to whose benefit?”)
>> What’s a Greatest Hits if it’s missing your favorite songs? <<
Anyway.. it is with this preface that I choose to share with you today the 1993 album, “Earth Songs” by John Denver. An album that, I would argue, does not constitute his best, but one that does encapsulate some of the key songs holding the most impact for (at least) my (egocentric) self. And surely some tunes that showcase John’s being, in writing or otherwise.
Either way, I have taken the liberty of browsing through eight of his Best-Of albums, all of which carry a selection of ‘bangers’, but none of which really match my expectations.
Funnily, “Earth Songs” is not even an actual Best-Of-compilation, because it has three originals (go ahead and guess! but none likely to be featured on future compilations, if you ask me). While we are at it – it being you theoretically asking me – “Earth Songs” was compiled as an effort to capture John’s love for our experience of the world that surrounded him/us: Mountains, Roads, Eagles and Sunshine … Country.
I have been struggling to find second-hand sources on this, but I have a first-hand source on one of the points:
“Thank God, I’m a Country boy!” – John Denver.
With Yosemite in my back, I am looking forward to being eaten by a bear somewhere west of Whitehorse and east of Anchorage.
…all my bags are packed, I’m ready to go!
Have a great week ahead, friends 🙂
The “Greatest Hits” album, of course, is there to boil down the best-of for the who-ever. Yet for those that listen outside of top singles, easily the mark will be missed.
Yeah, a selection of the most commercially successful tracks has been made and slapped onto a disc, but Cui bono? (English, from Latin: “to whom is it a benefit?”)
>> What’s a Greatest Hits if it’s missing your favorite songs? <<
Anyway.. it is with this preface that I choose to share with you today the 1993 album, “Earth Songs” by John Denver. An album that, I would argue, does not constitute his best, but one that does encapsulate some of the key songs holding the most impact for my (egocentric) little old self. And maybe some that showcase John’s being, in writing or otherwise. Either way, I took the liberty of browsing through eight Best-Of albums of his that all carry a selection of ‘bangers’, but none match my expectation.
Funnily, “Earth Songs” is not even technically a real Best-Of-compilation, because it has three originals (your guess! but not likely to be featured on future compilations, if you ask me). While we are at it – it being you theoretically asking me – “Earth Songs” was compiled as an effort to capture John’s love for our experience of the world that surrounded him/us: Mountains, Roads, Eagles and Sunshine … Country.
I have been struggling to find second-hand sources on this, but I have a first-hand source on one of the points:
“Thank God, I’m a Country boy!” – John Denver.
With Yosemite in my back, I am looking forward to being eaten by a bear somewhere west of Whitehorse and east of Anchorage.
…all my bags are packed, I’m ready to go!
Have a great week ahead, friends 🙂
Coryphe 