Favourite Bill Staines CD?

Subject: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 01:58 AM

Hi folks. For you Bill Staines fans - which of CDs would you recommend for a first purchase? I've heard "Sweet Wyoming Home", "Roseville Fair", and "Where Shall I Go?" sung by other people, and I'm sure I need to hear a bit more from him.

Thanks, Marion

PS Here's a link to a list of his records.

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: Peace
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 02:02 AM

You can't go wrong with any of Bill's work, IMO.

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 02:17 AM

I don't know which albums are available on CD, and which never made it there. I like the albums Whistle of the Jay, and Bridges.

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 02:25 AM

For a starter, I'd recommend The First Million Miles, a very nice collection of songs from his first several CD's.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: Peace
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 02:31 AM

Bill's discography from his site.

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 01:37 PM

My favorite CD of Bill's is "Whistle Of The Jay"

                                             SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: bbc
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 01:57 PM

I'm pretty fond of Rodeo Rose, Sandstone Cathedrals, & Bridges. Since you have none of his recordings, though, I'd agree w/ Joe's recommendation of the compilation--First Million Miles & First Million Miles, V.2. Bill's music is great!

best,

bbc

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 04:13 PM

With the exception of that Bruce Murdoch chestnut, Rompin' Rovin' Days'. (A song I have loved and performed since I bought The Singer/Songwriter Project LP in 1966) I am not overwhelmed with the new CD, Journey Home. It is good enough I suppose. It is just I expected more. But then it took awhile for October Hill to grow on me and now I think it is a fine cd.

But what do I know, I liked "WaterWorld"

Don

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 07:13 PM

"Tracks and Trails", "Bridges", "Happy Wanderer" are all great first albums. In fact, ANY of Bill's stuff would be great ones. Folk-Legacy has a couple of his earlier albums. I'm sure Sandy Paton would be happy to send them to you. "The Alaska Suite" would be least representative of Bill in concert. It's a fine album, but it is recorded with an orchestra and features Bill's melodies rather than his voice. Bill is one of the absolute best!

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 07:37 PM

I cannot decide which is the best since all these things are so subjective.   He is a brilliant poet who has set his words to music in the most wonderful way.   One thing I would say is that his best works are those that are just his guitar and his voice----not overproduced works.

I think that he is one of the performers that are even better to sit back and listen to on a CD---he is with you in a very personal way.   

I can listen to his song RIVER over and over. Wonderful!!   From his vinyl I would guess if I had to single out a particular one it would be WHISTLE OF THE JAY---but his OCTOBER'S HILL (on CD) gives a wonderful sweep of his music and style.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 08:01 PM

Hi Bill,
         I agree with you wholeheartedly that his pure voice and guitar alone is the best. I do not like it at all when the CD is over-orchestrated to the point where the performers voice is almost drowned out. Unfortunately too many performers have been going that route lately.
                                             Sol Zeller

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: C. Ham
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 08:50 PM

"The Alaska Suite" would be least representative of Bill in concert. It's a fine album, but it is recorded with an orchestra and features Bill's melodies rather than his voice.

Actually, that album is Bill playing like an orchestra on a synthesiszer.

My favorites of Bill's CDs are Miles and Sandstone Cathedrals.

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: Peace
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 08:54 PM

Beauty is in the ear of the behearer. It's clear that Bill's work is much loved for different reasons. Just shows ya can't really go wrong.

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: jaze
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 07:30 AM

Going To The West is a great one.

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: JedMarum
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 08:15 AM

You'll love 'em all, but I too think First Million Miles is a great place to start.

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 12:22 PM

The TWO albums Bill did for Folk Legacy Records are definitely my favorites. Nobody was able to capture the bitter and the sweet of being a folksinger ON THE ROAD as well as Bill Staines! I never wanted to get stuck in doing navel-gazing songs about my road experiences, so I just let Bill create and sing those songs for me. Then, I learned one or two of his best. Mainly, that left me free to sing American folk songs which, after all, was my musical mission then.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 12:49 PM

I don't think there is a song that tells the story of a musician's life on the road better than Bill's "Walker Behind The Wheel".

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 12:59 PM

Whistle of the Jay and Sandstone Cathedrals -- plus the song "Crossing the Water" which I really, really need to learn.

He's on the road so much we haven't seen him around for a long time.

Linn

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 01:19 PM

I've been fortunate to have been able to see him every year for at least ten years, including this past June. And I am priviledged to have had supper with him after the concerts. Also, I and my partners have had him as a live guest on our radio show. He's a heck of a nice guy, and his conversation is sprinkled with stories about his contact with multitudes of famous folk performers. (Even a couple about Seamus Kennedy!)   :-)
I got to read the first draft chapter of his book just after he started writing it.
I consider him a good friend, and if I ever decide to try to impress people by dropping names, Bill's will be one of the very first I'll drop---or am I doing that now?

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: bbc
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 08:39 PM

If you have a chance, I'd recommend that you read his book about his life on the road as a musician--The Tour   
I found it very interesting.

bbc

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 12:37 AM

His own "Missouri Road Song" and Bill's rendition of Elkin Thomas' song "Jolie Girl" --- those two were the ones that caught the pathos and excitement and the nostalgia of seeing old friends again and then leaving once more--yet again. Add to that the very real emotional pheromonic magnetism that mostly had to be denied to maintain any semblance of healthy practical reality in your own personal life. How very many good friends gave in to the smoke dreams etc. and left this mortal coil too young.

One night that stays with me; I'd played the Larned, Kansas 4th of July pig roast/celebration and had to get to Pennsylvania for a gig on the 5th. Heading east to the strains of "Missouri Road Song" the sky darkened and all the little towns in, first Kansas, and then Missouri, showed me their fireworks displays. I'll not forget that night.

Bill, thanks!!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Favourite Bill Staines CD?
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 05:24 AM

Thanks for your suggestions, all.

Marion