Still undeservedly underappreciated outside of country circles, Kris Kristofferson at 80 is still one of America’s great songwriters. This collection of his 11 very important albums (along with 5 others of extra, bonus and unreleased material) contains his halcyon days of influence from 1970-1981.
Similar to Bob Dylan, Kristofferson has a personal composing style that works well with his own voice if you’re in a certain down home mood, but other times works better with someone else at the mic. Having said that, it’s hard to think of a more powerful debut album than his, as well as the apotheosis of The Silver Tongued Devil & I, Border Lord and Jesus Was A Capricorn, all from 70-72. His duet albums with Rita Coolidge, Full Moon and Breakaway are equally enduring. And if you thought that he’d passed his prime after his film A Star Is Born, check out his 1981 To The Bone, which is as good a return to form as any in the music industry.
Extra pleasures include the 1972 Live at the Philharmonic, a fantastic 1970 concert at the Big Sur Folk Festival and a captivating show in the RCA studios in 1972. Tones of outtakes, alternatives, and concert snippets.
Kristofferson’s strength was, and still is his ability to make you feel about things and people that you didn’t know could be addressed. He is one of the few people (Tom Waits comes to mind) who is able to spin a yarn about characters that are positively Dickensonion. “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” “Me and Bobby McGee” “Sunday Morning Coming Down” and “For the Good Times” are simple sign posts of the road that Kristofferson takes you on. It’s a journey worth taking in this box set, with the mixing of life, lyrics and voice almost a song in itself.
Sony Legacy