Friends,
I recently reviewed some of Harry’s songs. Gosh, I enjoyed them. What are your favorite Harry Chapin tunes, and why?
For me: “Better Place to Be.” I’ve been the outcast, with the young lady, who disappears into thin air.
How do Harry’s songs speak to you, friends?
I like just about every thing Mr. Chapin did. I really like “I wanna learn a love song”," What made America famous" and “Six string orchestra”.
That’s just what comes to mind at the moment.
Cat’s in the cradle obviously, but even more Morning DJ of WOLD.
i enjoy mr chapin’s music. his songs are timeless.
cat’s cradle, flowers are red, mr tanner, why do little girls.
We got to say hi to him after a show one night, and he kissed my girlfriend on the cheek after she whispered something in his ear. She was 18 and walked on clouds for days after that!
“Taxi” is one of my favorites. Also like “Cat’s in the Cradle” (of course), and the quirky “Thirty Thousand Pounds of Bananas”.
“She is Always Seventeen” for capturing the blind optimism and harsh realities of an era.
“30000 lbs of Bananas?”
Its got a bad ending. 
Taxi / Sequel
Mr. Tanner
A Better Place to be
All are at the top of my list.
I highly recommend his live album “Greatest Stories Live”. One of my favorite concert recordings.
Golfing by myself at Montauk Downs more than a few Autumns ago, I noticed an older fellow a few holes back gaining on me. We were both walking and though I was trying to play quickly and stay ahead, he caught me at the fifth tee. He politely asked if I minded if he joined me, and I politely said not at all.
He introduced himself as Jim Chapin. Seeing a resemblance, I asked if he was related to Harry, and he said yes, Harry was his son. Although I usually enjoy playing golf with my brother, friends or alone, he was most enjoyable company. Although in his seventies at the time, it was tough to keep up with him. Not only was he was a better golfer than I, but an even faster walker and I’m no slowpoke. In the course of much very pleasant conversation, when I mentioned Cat’s Cradle was my favorite Harry Chapin song, he told me Harry’s wife Sandy wrote the lyrics.
The next year, I was again out at Montauk golfing, again by myself, and again I see a (now familiar) figure a couple of holes back and gaining. Of course I did not try to stay ahead of him, and was delighted to see him again. Jim was a well known and very talented drummer, author and teacher, a fine golfer and a very nice man. I was saddened to learn of his passing on July 4, 2009 at the age of 90. Google leads to much info and some youtube videos of his teaching.
I’ve never heard a Harry Chapin song I didn’t like, but my favorite is probably “Dogtown.”
Nice story; thanks.
Harry was one of my favorites, even some of the more obscure stuff like “Corey’s Coming” and “The Rock.” I still have an autographed program from a concert I saw him do at Smith College in Massachusetts. I met him briefly afterward and got him to sign the program. That and Bob Dylan’s *Rolling Thunder Revue *are probably my all-time two favorite concerts.
They make me want to get drunk off my ass and end up sitting in the dark in the corner of my room, beating my head against the wall for all the ways I have failed in my life.
So, I don’t listen to much Harry Chapin.
I love “Six String Orchestra”. Harry Chapin’s version, the Muppets’ version, they’re all good.
“Shooting Star”. I despise the man Harry is singing about, but is is a beautiful song, nonetheless.
“Danceband on the Titanic”.
Do you think he may have said - tongue in cheek or otherwise - Harry’s wife wrote the lyrics to get himself off the hook? The father figure in that song isn’t exactly the Ward Cleaver type.
Second a vote for “What Made America Famous”. One part of that song that really bothers me though is how none of the fireman, except of course the plumber, help the hippies. Perhaps it’s a reflection of the time and place it was written, and maybe in some places the hatred between citizens was so deep that a group of fire fighters would rather see children burned alive than risk smudging the chrome on their engine, but I doubt it. That part of the song just seems overly cyclical and contrived.
I know the feeling. 'Nuff said there.
Thanks for all the responses, folks. I’m enjoying them, and hearing about your favourite Harry songs. Keep 'em coming!
I thought he was giving proper credit for a very well regarded song. He was the opposite of egotistical or insecure.
From Behind the song
I saw Harry at the fair and just loved his show. I purchased a bunch of his albums and played them to the point of ruin.
I loved everything I heard him do.
Mr Tanner and Flowers are Red were favorites.
I don’t have a record player anymore. I’m not even sure if I still have the albums. I knew I was going to regret getting rid of those.