The Very Best of Kris Kristofferson

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2007-01-30 rating:
Magnificent songwriter but poor singer
Kris has written many beautiful songs and can be considered as one of
the top writers in popular music especiallly in Country. However when
he interpretes his own songs I feel there's something lacking which
prevents him from being a "tophit scorer". His voice is sad and can't
reach the depth needed. Just listen to the same songs sung by others
who made it # 1 hits. Their interpretations are so different from his
and still so much better. Here are some examples:
Help Me Make It Through The Night: #1 by Sammi Smith
For The Good Times: #1 by Ray Price
Me and Bobby Mc Gee: # 12 by Roger Miller
Nobody Wins: # 4 by Brenda Lee
Sunday Morning Coming Down: #1 by Johnny Cash
Stranger: #1 by Johnny Duncan
etc. etc. etc.
His own versions of these songs did not even chart
His songs deserve 5 stars, no doubt, but as an overall
qualification I cannot give more than 3

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review by: date: 2005-11-04 rating:
Simply the best
Excellent. Atmospheric, true to life and moving. You won't regret buying this CD.

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review by: isabel5049 date: 2005-02-20 rating:
The Very Best of Kris Kristofferson
Kris is a poet and it shows in every one of these songs. Listening to the warmth of his voice singing Loving Her Was Easier, the quiet desparation of Help Me and the pain in I'd Rather Be Sorry is a delight. I'm so glad I found this album

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review by: keithhp17 date: 2003-11-28 rating:
Next best to having the original LPs
When i first heard this i thought what have they done?
Then after listening to it for about the 5th time i
didn't compare it to the original vinyl LPs i have!
I really liked it Jody and the kid great song and
Sunday morning coming down and Pilgrim 33 i just kept
listening when it finished i thought this is great!
would never be as good as the vinyl but close enough
for me! and i say buy it! play it a few times and you
won't be disappointed.


review by: Pete the music fan date: 2003-09-26 rating:
Outstanding songwriter sings with conviction
Kris was never blessed with a great singing voice but his voice is good enough on his own songs, which he sings with a conviction and honesty sometimes (but not always) lacking in cover versions by others. In that way, he may be compared with Bob Dylan, another outstanding songwriter with vocal limitations. As somebody who regards the human voice as the most important musical instrument of all, I cannot say that Kris is one of my favorite singers, but he has just enough to make me want to listen to his music every now and again. Perhaps it is the desperation with which he sings Help me make it through the night, or his attempt to find spiritual answers in Why me lord.

So on this compilation you will find his original recordings of songs that have become classics across several different genres of music, including pop, rock, country, soul, R+B and reggae. The most successful song of all is Help me make it through the night, which has charted for several different singers. Sammi Smith was first, selling two million copies in the USA, topping the country charts and reaching the top ten in the pop charts. John Holt, a fine reggae singer, took it high up the British charts. Another popular song, For the good times, was a country hit for Ray Price and a pop hit for Perry Como. Among the other singers who have been successful with his songs are Janis Joplin (Me and Bobby McGhee), Johnny Cash (Sunday morning coming down), Waylon Jennings (The taker) and Brenda Lee (Nobody wins), but this is by no means a complete list.

This collection features several duets on songs that (with one exception) Kris didn't write. Larry Gatlin joins Kris on Help me. Dolly Parton is featured on Put it off until tomorrow. Joan Baez joins Kris on a live version of Hello in there. Rita Coolidge, who recorded a couple of albums with Kris, is represented by three duets.

This, then, is a fine collection of music by an outstanding songwriter who, despite his vocal limitations, is worth an occasional listen.

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