The Austin Sessions

Amazon.com
When an artist rerecords the songs that brought him fame, fans have a right to be skeptical. After all, such moves are generally prompted more by a yearning to restore one's financial rather than artistic standing. This project by country maverick Kris Kristofferson, however, has one major factor in its favor: Kristofferson's original early-1970s recordings of the likes of "Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," and "The Pilgrim: Chapter 33" were significant, but less than definitive. Here he returns to the tunes that helped lay the groundwork for the Outlaw movement of the '70s, but in place of the stolid Nashville arrangements on the originals is more sympathetic accompaniment. While The Austin Sessions is star-studded (guests include Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, and Alison Krauss), the project really rests on the broad shoulders of Kristofferson, who fares well. Never a threat to George Jones as a vocalist, he nevertheless sounds comfortable in a largely acoustic setting rasping his way through songs he should be prouder than ever for penning. --Steven Stolder

Tracks:

Me And Bobby McGee
Sunday Morning Coming Down
For The Good Times
The Silver Tongued Devil And I
Help Me Make It Through The Night
Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)
To Beat The Devil
Who's To Bless And Who's To Blame
Why Me?
Nobody Wins
The Pilgrim: Chapter 33
Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends

Amazon.com

When an artist rerecords the songs that brought him fame, fans have a right to be skeptical. After all, such moves are generally prompted more by a yearning to restore one's financial rather than artistic standing. This project by country maverick Kris Kristofferson, however, has one major factor in its favor: Kristofferson's original early-1970s recordings of the likes of "Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," and "The Pilgrim: Chapter 33" were significant, but less than definitive. Here he returns to the tunes that helped lay the groundwork for the Outlaw movement of the '70s, but in place of the stolid Nashville arrangements on the originals is more sympathetic accompaniment. While The Austin Sessions is star-studded (guests include Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, and Alison Krauss), the project really rests on the broad shoulders of Kristofferson, who fares well. Never a threat to George Jones as a vocalist, he nevertheless sounds comfortable in a largely acoustic setting rasping his way through songs he should be prouder than ever for penning. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

RHODES SCHOLAR, U.S. ARMY VETERAN, MOVIE STAR, SINGER-SONGWRITER (Kris and some famous friends rework his greatest songs).......2007-07-02

Over the years, Kris Kristofferson has written some of country music's greatest songs. Me and Bobby McGee, Help Me Make It Through The Night, For The Good Times, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Why Me Lord, the list goes on and on. He was friends with Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin (more than friends, actually), Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and many more. A Rhodes Scholar (Oxford), a standout collegiate athelete (football, rugby), a war-era U.S. Army veteran, a helicoptor pilot, and a movie-star who's starred as a leading man in several major Hollywood productions, the guy is an American icon. Who doesn't know Kris or his songs and movies? This 1999 album finds Kris in Austin, Texas (his home state) re-recording his greatest songs with backing vocals from friends, Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Mark Knopfler, and Steve Earle, to mention a few. These recordings are for the most part done live in the studio with acoustic guitars, mandolins, harmonica, piano, some pedal steel guitar, and so on. The album is very well produced, and brings out the crispness of the acoustic sound. The performances are inspired, energetic, and focused. O.K.! O.K., already! I know Kris isn't the greatest singer, but that's not the point, here, anyway. Does anybody ever buy a Bob Dylan album, because they want to hear a great singer? Of course, not. Same with Kris. His songs are so real, so alive, and so human, that they are almost out of fashion, in this modern age of music, where self-serving arrogance seems to be the order of the day. As I listen to these songs today, I can remember when they were hits and winning awards (how can we ever forget the long-haired Kris in 1970, showing up wasted, at the CMA Awards show on TV, and staggering up to the podium to accept his award for best song, Sunday Morning Coming Down. Roy Acuff just about had a stroke over that one!). The world has changed tremendously since then, but the basic human condition that Kristofferson so penetratingly sings about in these songs is still the same. Kris can say it better than I ever could:

He has tasted good and evil in your bedrooms and your bars,
And he's traded in tomorrow for today.
Running from his devils and reaching for the stars,
And losing all he's loved along the way.
But this world keeps right on turning for the better or the worse,
And all he ever gets is older and around.
From the rocking of the cradle to the rolling of the hearse,
The going up was worth the coming down.

The Silver-Pilgrim-Bobby Mc Sunday Morning Devil.......2006-03-04

How can anyone not give Kris BIG KUDOS for revisting some of his signature songs. You know he's that Silver-Pilgrim-Bobby McSunday Morning-Devil! Well HELL! He's more than that. He's even Willie's good buddy and he's Johnny Cash's favorite songwriter. So roll on Kris I'm lovin' this great-great CD...And you keep on keepin' on good friend.

A must have for Kristofferson fans!.......2006-02-24

I have been a Kristofferson fan for many years but was never aware of this 1999 album until just recently (which must have been the world's best kept secret if I didn't know about it). Just about every song on this album represents an improvement over the original studio recording. The sparse, acoustic arrangements highlight Kris' voice- it has never sounded better. The guitar, accordian, mandolin and piano playing are superb. The harmony vocals add the icing on the cake (particularly good are Jackson Browne and Vince Gill). When I hear Steve Earle, a lifelong heroin addict, sing the chorus "on the Sunday morning sidewalks, wishing Lord that I was stoned" with Kris on Sunday Morning Coming Down, it's one of the most powerful collaborations ever recorded. My only minor complaint is that the harmony vocals are mixed down way too much on most tracks (you have to really concentrate to hear who's singing). I just wish that every track had a guest harmony vocalist (The Silver Tongued Devil suffered from no harmony vocal). The bottom line is that this is a must have for any Kristofferson fan even if you own all these songs from other albums. You won't be disappointed.

honest love songs.......2004-07-15

This is a great Kris Kristofferson album. These are all songs from the depth. By depth I mean the depth of experience and using that depth of experience to achieve some kind of unity of mind, body, heart and soul. The songs, and the singing of them, are a long way from the often narcissistic efforts of a lot of contemporary song.

These marvellous songs revisited are all sung with real feeling. There is no cliché here whatsover. They come from someone who has looked into himself with great honesty and arrived at some kind of self-acceptance. The feelings expressed in these songs are based on truth. Kris writes and sings songs that describe but also share in and empathise with the human condition. They are all really songs about living and loving. No easy task.

One of the all-time best singer/songwriters!.......2003-12-12

This album is definitely one of my favorites. Kris Kristofferson is a man who has been graced with many talents: singing, songwriting, and acting, just to name a few. To listen to this CD is to be amazed by one of the best country performers ever.

The songs on this album are timeless. My personal favorite is "Help Me Make It Through the Night," which is also one of my favorite country songs of all times. The desperation evident in its lyrics is moving; the same goes for "Sunday Morning Coming Down," a song you should be familiar with (Johnny Cash's version was pretty damn good, but no one sings it like the songwriter).

The haunting "To Beat the Devil" is another highlite--the only bad thing about it is that it might be true. "Who's to Bless and Who's to Blame" is a bit of a critical satire at how humanity catagorizes itself. "The Pilgrim: Chapter 33" has been given an edgier feel, while retaining the bitter struggle of a man on the edge of life. "Why Me?" is still as moving as the original; "Nobody Wins" is still as heartbreaking.

I left out some songs; I also didn't go into much detail with those I did talk about. I could go on and on raving about these songs; but the truth is, you simply need to hear them to believe them. Kris Kristofferson was given a gift: he writes what he knows, what he lives. You can hear it in his voice as he sings his memorable lyrics.

A multi-talented man who, in my opinion, hasn't aged a bit, Kristofferson is still the best singer/songwriter ever to grace country music. "The Austin Sessions" just might be one of the best country albums of all time.

Average customer rating:

Wow! EM doesn't disappoint! But wait till you see the NEW CD!

Austin Sessions

Edwin McCain & his band are EXTREMELY talented

Edwin McCain at his finest

Awesome work by Edwin

The Austin Sessions
Edwin McCain
Manufacturer: Atc Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Honor Among Thieves

Far From Over

Misguided Roses

Lost in America

Messenger [ENHANCED CD]

ASIN: B000089IY6
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Tracks:

Let It Slide
No Choice
Go Be Young
Little Girls
Sorry To A Friend
Popcorn Box
I Want It All
Alive
Ghosts Of Jackson Square
Island Song
Wino's Lullaby
Romeo And Juliet

Amazon.com

Balladeer Edwin McCain revisits his Jurassic period with his sixth outing, eschewing modern technology to return to an almost all-acoustic format he became comfortable with while gigging in the resort town of Hilton Head, South Carolina. But this album is a little less joyful than McCain's usual offerings, as he spins tales of missed opportunities, bad timing, and failed relationships. Even his cover selections seem dour. Dire Straits' "Romeo and Juliet" never sounded so tragic, and Buddy Mondlock's "No Choice" seems brittle and hopeless. Even the previously recorded "Go Be Young" is darkened by regret, while the gritty "Let It Slide" asserts, "You know Elvis said only two things were certain: hookers and Coupe Devilles." Perhaps being dropped by his long-time label has caused McCain to view the glass as half-empty; he cautions fans on "Alive" that "life's roller coaster, it ain't got no safety bar." This stark and compelling collection is one of McCain's best. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

Wow! EM doesn't disappoint! But wait till you see the NEW CD!.......2006-01-09

Well, I guess I have to admit, I have NEVER heard a BAD Edwin CD. I just haven't. I LOVE good music; I have no patience for even mediocre music. This CD is one of Edwin's finest! ---

Austin Sessions is for ME... and for all of the people who truly enjoy his live shows. It is a true example of what you get LIVE. So, if you haven't had the chance to see a LIVE acoustic Edwin McCain concert, get Austin Sessions, turn the lights down loooooowwwwww, and just soak it in. You WON'T be sorry! ---

To go a step further, if you want to see how multi-talented Edwin McCain is, get Far From Over, too! I think what I love best about FFO is the fact that you can get EVERY STYLE of music there that Edwin performs. Jazz, Hard Rock, Soft Rock, Ballads, Folk, WHATEVER! BTW, anyone who has been touched in ANY way by adoption... given up a child for adoption, adopted a child or even been adopted... you need this CD. Edwin was adopted at birth by an amazingly wonderful and loving family. He does not know who his birth mother is. Listen to the song, "Letter to My Mother." It will just slay you. He is writing to his adopted Mom about how much he loves HER... and yet saying there is another woman out there that he loves... thanking her for giving him LIFE. AMAZING STORY, but an even more amazing song. Also, if you are a Christian, you will LOVE "Jesus, He Loves Me." It is a sort-of combination of Jesus Loves me and the Footprints poem. You can tell by listening that this is something coming from the depths of his spirit. He wrote and performed this song on the soundtrack, "Jesus: Music From & Inspired by the Epic Mini Series." This CD is also available on Amazon.com. Compare this song with the others, and tell me which one most openly tells about Jesus and His effect on a person's life. ---

Edwin is one-of-a-kind; a singer/songwriter like no other. Far From Over is one of the best EMB has ever given us. Just check out the sound clips above. Also go to the listing for the "Scream & Whisper" CD and listen to those clips. Couldn't Love You More is HANDS DOWN the most beautiful love song Edwin has ever written or performed. It surpasses "I'll Be," {{{I LOVE THAT SONG!!!}}} AND "I Could Not Ask For More." BTW, when Dr. Phil ran an online survey, announced on his TV show, asking for everyone's favorite WEDDING SONG, "I'll Be" not only won... [Dr. Phil had Edwin, Larry and Craig on the show to perform it.] it had more votes than ALL of the other songs COMBINED. Does that tell you something about the kind of music Edwin gives us? What an awesome talent! Scream & Whisper gives you a lot of insight into more than just his life over the past 30+ years... It also tells us what Edwin's personal life has been like the past couple of years... coming out of his recent past of drinking and usage of drugs, you can see the resulting clarity of him being clean; it shows in his songwriting AND his beautiful voice! ---

Now are you ready? The good news is there is a NEW CD on the way: "LOST IN AMERICA" is CD #8 for Edwin and his band. Anyone who attends his live concerts... hundreds of shows every year... has already heard him sing some of these songs. This CD is going to be even more amazing than the last. Scheduled release is April 11, so hopefully Amazon will be like Edwin.com and allow pre-orders so you can get one ASAP. This new CD will be Edwin's first since signing with Vanguard Records. It should be the beginning of many more great things to come! ---

Also, if you haven't already, go to iTunes and download "Hold Out a Hand," by Edwin McCain & Maia Sharp. Maia also performs, "Scream & Whisper," with Edwin on the S&W CD. They are together again on "Hold Out a Hand." All profits going to the victims of the hurricanes. It is a moving song... one of those typical Edwin songs that makes you look at your own heart and life by being painfully honest about his own. ---

While you are looking for more and more Edwin, send an email to angelpaz at earthlink.net and ask for information on obtaining a sampler CD of Dois Gemeos. That is a new CD by Larry Chaney {lead guitar for Edwin's band} and Craig Shields {sax and keys for EMB}. The new CD will be available in the Spring of 2006... but email about how to get the 5-song sampler. It is a Jazz/Bossa Nova style CD and even has a track with Pete Riley playing and Edwin on the vocal track. The final FULL CD will have contributions of each of the EMB guys on it.

Enjoy Austin Sessions... you won't be sorry you bought it! AND WATCH FOR THE NEW CD, "LOST IN AMERICA" THAT WILL BE RELEASED ON APRIL 11, 2006!

Austin Sessions.......2004-12-14

Edwin Mccain shows he truly is talented beyond the studio and "fluff" today's musicians use to promote themselves. All of his music is good but this CD is exceptional. Why? Simply stated, it's acoustic and he is real. Someone commented about their disappointment that "the songs didn't sound like they do on the radio." Poppycock! They sound closer than any other "star" out there today. Edwin is down to earth and honest. His work shows it and his DVD's let you see it. I can only say, More, More, More! Please more!

Edwin McCain & his band are EXTREMELY talented.......2003-11-07

I'm one of those music fans that enjoys alot of different music....I simply appreciate talent, especially with all of the manufactured music and entertainment that goes on. I'm a HUGE fan of Edwin McCain, and in the course of listening to all of his music, and going to his shows, I've also realized how amazingly talented his band is. I simply love the Austin Sessions CD, perhaps because I am already a fan, but the sound, his voice, the songs.....I just can't say enough. I highly recommend Edwin McCains music, and the Austin Sessions is the cherry!

Edwin McCain at his finest.......2003-08-03

I've always liked Edwin McCain, and I have a couple of his early CDs. But until I picked up this CD, I had no idea how absolutely talented this man was. I buy a lot of CDs, and this is easily the best one I've picked up this year. From "I Want it All" to "Beautiful Day" to an absolutely fabulous version of "Go Be Young," there isn't a single bad song on this CD.

Just buy it, you will not be disappointed.

Awesome work by Edwin.......2003-07-16

I was lucky enough to catch Edwin McCain live in Boston earlier this year. Before that I wasn't very familiar with his music aside from his radio ballads, so I was really surprised how much he absolutely. rocked. the. house. Besides being an amazing vocalist, the music ranged from earthy roots-rock to his signature love songs. He is a sensitive, often hilarious, storyteller with his words and guitar. When I heard his latest cd was an all-acoustic set, I purchased it almost immediately. Since then it's quickly become one of my all-time favorites!

Highlights include "Ghosts of Jackson Square," "Go Be Young," a heartbreaking cover of "Romeo and Juliet" and the new hit "I Want it All." To top it off, there's a multimedia extra in the cd which includes some clips from Edwin's DVD (Mile Marker), and a stirring performance of "I'll Be."

Tracks:

Loretta
Mexican Blackbird
Why Do I Love You
Sometimes
Roadworn & Weary
Cornbread, Peas, and Black Molasses
Swan Song
Waymore's Blues
Coco Loco
Where the Beer Keeps Flowin'

Average customer rating:

40 Acres / The Austin Sessions

Manufacturer: Essential Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000AANXE0

Product Description

Very Rare Bonus Edition Release! "40 Acres" + the Bonus "Austin Sessions" CD!

Average customer rating:

Valley Sessions

Manufacturer: Dig It
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAG2ZU
Release Date: 2003-11-25

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Not for Highway Use: Austin Sessions 1988-1995

Average customer rating:

Not for Highway Use: Austin Sessions 1988-1995
Steve James
Manufacturer: Settlement Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005AVKA
Release Date: 2000-01-01

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Milwaukee Blues
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Amos Johnson Rag
Bachelor Blues
Blues in the Bottle
County Line Road
Spanish Fandango
Greasy Greens
My Last Good Car
Talco Girl
Hadacol Boogie
Midnight Blues
Grain Alcohol
Change
Ooze It to Me, Mama
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Music Album