I saw him perform live twice, and I have rarely seen a performer relate so well to his audience. I felt as if we were sitting in a friend’s living room while he told stories.
I think I’m the only person in the world who HATES “Cat’s in the Cradle.” I can’t turn the radio station quickly enough when it comes on. I hate the music, the lyrics, the schmaltz. However, I love “Taxi.” It’s the song that reminds me of my freshman year in high boyfriend.
While Harry wasn’t an angel, and would have told you so himself, I don’t know if there’s ever been a performer who devoted so much of his time to worthy causes.
I mean, when I was a teenager in New York in the Seventies, it seemed as if he was doing some kind of charitable benefit concert every week. He was a rare guy who put his time and money where his mouth was.
I’m a fan of Chapin’s in general, but “Mr. Tanner” is my personal theme – and my deepest fear.
A vote for “If My Mary Were Here.” (Probably because I was breaking up with a girl named Mary at the time.)
I only saw Mr. Chapin live once. He performed solo and, as DrFidelius said, related extremely well to the audience. I was sitting close enough that I could hear some of his off-mic comments and when he asked the front row for the name of a local radio station I knew that “W-O-L-D” was coming. Too bad the call letters they gave him were WDKX. Go ahead and try to rhyme “X” in the context of the song. He made a joke out of it when he couldn’t (seem to) come up with one.
Then I moved out of NY State and his touring schedule never seemed to be in synch with mine. I bought the Greatest Stories album and love it. I will always regret never having had a chance to see him perform with his band.
My mother is a huge fan of Harry’s. So his music always makes me think of her.
I’m partial to Shooting Star. I can’t think of a song of his I don’t like though.
Update:
As some of you know, I was a radio host in Toronto years ago. On a visit to Toronto a couple of months ago, I caught up with a former radio colleague, who invited me to co-host his evening show. (He is still on the air.) I did, and had a great time.
He reminded me of the respect we both have for Harry Chapin, and that’s true enough; but he further reminded me this week, when he sent me a DVD of Harry’s final Hamilton Place concert. What a treat!
I know Harry died in 1981, but his music, and its messages, sounds as fresh as ever. Just had to say that.
My sister was at a Harry Chapin concert once and he played until the venue kicked them out, then he went into the parking lot and kept playing. He really loved his audience and playing.
StG
The rest of the firemen were going to go they just were in no hurry to get there. “Let 'em sweat a little, they’ll never know” sounds to me that way. They weren’t taking the situation as urgently as the plumber not that they wanted anyone to die. That’s how I took that part.
I’m a pretty big Chapin fan too. My favorite is probably “Story of a Life”.
So you settle down and the children come
And you find the place that you’ve come from
Your wand’rin’ is done
And all your dreams of open spaces
You find in your children’s faces
One by one
That’s a nice bit.
I also like “Sniper” for its imagery and the great extended metaphor comparing the shootout to a conversation. “Pointed questions” and “final fusillade” were some of my favorite turns of phrase.
W.O.L.D. is just fantastic. Driving, tragic…just great. That and Taxi are just great ‘what might have been’ songs.
Dale - Have you heard Mr. Tanner?
StG
I picked up appreciation for Harry Chapin from my dad’s copy of Greatest Stories Live on vinyl. I have a copy on cd and this album reminds me of him every time I hear it.
I wanna learn a love song is one of my favourites…although the whole album is stellar.