REVIEW: Mary Chapin Carpenter, Party Doll and Other
Favorites
- Jon Steltenpohl
Although she's had a number of big country hits, it's hard to just lump Mary Chapin Carpenter in with the shameless new country drones who are more schtick than substance. Not so with Mary Chapin Carpenter. She has remained an independent singer songwriter who writes and performs great music. Since her debut, Hometown Girl, to hits like "I Feel Lucky" and "Shut Up and Kiss Me," Carpenter has been able to sound like true country while making serious music.
Now, 12 years since her first release, it's time for her to release a greatest hits album. Now, this isn't any old greatest hits compilation. Instead, not only do you get the required hits, but you get 6 live tracks, 2 new songs, and "Party Doll," a cover of a Mick Jagger song. The rest of the album is topped off with a few fan favorites like "This Shirt" and rarities like "Grow Old With Me" from the John Lennon tribute album, "Dreamland" from the Til Their Eyes Shine compilation, and "10,000 Miles" from the Fly Away Home soundtrack. Absent are any songs from her latest album, A Place In The World.
At 17 tracks and 72 minutes, it's a great collection, and Party Doll is just about perfect. All of the songs are relevant and a joy to listen to, and many are not available anywhere else. If anything, the live versions of some songs are so good that they outshine some of the slightly overproduced songs from her earlier days.
"I Take My Chances" from Come On, Come On was recorded live in November of 1998. It has joyous piano and acoustic guitar, full harmonies, and a crowd that eats it up. A live version of "Stones in the Road" features Carpenter's voice up front before an acoustic background of guitars, bass, and piano. And while it's understandable to keep the original versions of the hits like "Passionate Kisses," "Down At the Twist and Shout" is the one hit with a well deserved live version. It's from Super Bowl XXXI and features Beausoleil playing live with Carpenter. It's a real treat despite the slightly reduced sound quality. A missing live track is the acoustic version of "This Shirt" that was included on a Columbia sampler series sent to radio stations. Still, including the original of "This Shirt" was a wise choice.
The new songs, "Almost Home" and "Wherever You Are," are just what you'd expect from Mary Chapin Carpenter. They aren't as free spirited or silly as her biggest hits, but they will please the fans who know her more reflective side. Similarly, the new cover of Mick Jagger's "Party Doll" is soft and melancholy. Carpenter's voice, a slightly countrified breeze that is thankfully free of twang, is full of expression. Her acoustic guitar keeps beat while an electric guitar with a steel guitar voice adds counterpoint melody. There are slight breathless moments and regret in every corner. It's a beautiful rendition.
Being a greatest hits album, Party Doll and Other Favorites might be a no brainer. But, Mary Chapin Carpenter had other plans for her greatest hits package. As she succinctly puts it, "I thought, why not also collect all those songs out there that were part of special projects, soundtracks, live recordings, different versions, benefit tapes, whatever might give this album a broader perspective than what's usually delivered... and include that new song or two. So that is what I proudly believe we have done." And indeed, Party Doll and Other Favorites is an album she can certainly be proud of.
Track Listing: 1-"Can't Take Love for Granted (Live from Letterman Show in London," 2-"Wherever You Are (new)," 3-"Down at the Twist and Shout (Super Bowl Version featuring Beausoleil)," 4-"I Feel Lucky," 5-"Dreamland (Til Their Eyes Shine Compilation)," 6-"Passionate Kisses," 7-"Quittin Time (Live, 1994)," 8-"This Shirt," 9-"Grow Old With Me (Working Class Hero/John Lennon Tribute)," 10-"He Thinks He'll Keep Her," 11-"I Take My Chances (Live, 1998)," 12-"Shut Up and Kiss Me," 13-"The Hard Way (Live)," 14-"10,000 Miles (_Fly Away Home soundtrack), 15-"Stones in the Road (Live, 1994)," 16-"Almost Home (new)," 17-"Party Doll (new cover)"
