# Where should I start with Pat Metheny? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 8, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002 "2008-10-08T15:12:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/1 "2008-10-08T15:12:11Z")
After watching _Fandango_ a while ago I went out and got _As Falls Witchita so Falls Witchita Falls_. Tracks 2, 3 and 4 are my favorites (Ozark, September 15th, It’s for you). Does anyone have any suggestions to which CD of his I should buy next? Does he have a “greatest hits” CD or should I take each CD as a whole? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/2 "2008-10-08T16:09:12Z")
Methany divides his career into his electric albums, usually with the Pat Methany Group including Lyle Mays, and a variety of other styles, often acoustic and more traditional jazz. If you just want the Pat Methany Group, as with _As Falls Wichita so Falls Wichita Falls_, you need to watch out for what he’s playing and who’s on the album. That said, I’d recommend [Still Life (Talking)](http://www.amazon.com/Still-Life-Talking-Metheny-Group/dp/B000000OQD). “Last Train Home” may be the best song in jazz since Coltrane’s “Favorite Things.” ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/3 "2008-10-08T16:39:03Z")
Agree on **Still Life (Talking)** and I’d also add **First Circle**. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/4 "2008-10-08T17:02:33Z")
“Bright Size Life” is his first recording and gets great reviews, but I’m not sure it is representative of his other body of work. (I don’t have it.) ---
**Author:** ![kitemaker\_chuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e4f/32.png) [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/5 "2008-10-10T02:33:05Z")
I’d also have to recommend Still Life (Talking). ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/6 "2008-10-10T04:27:10Z")
Well, I’d have to recommend “The Falcon and the Snowman” original soundtrack album because of the David Bowie track, but since that’s actually the only Pat Metheny song I know, I’m probably not the person to ask. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/7 "2008-10-10T05:26:20Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > That said, I’d recommend [Still Life (Talking)](http://www.amazon.com/Still-Life-Talking-Metheny-Group/dp/B000000OQD). “Last Train Home” may be the best song in jazz since Coltrane’s “Favorite Things.” I wouldn’t go that far, but “Last Train Home” _is_ a very beautiful song on a very strong album. Somewhat more on the roots/folklore tip, I love Metheny’s duet album with Charlie Haden, “Beyond the Missouri Sky.” ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/8 "2008-10-10T15:59:20Z")
_The First Circle_ is one of my favorites as well. I dare you to listen to it and not feel like you’ve been transported somewhere. You really need the almost lullaby-like\* If I Could\* after it just to recover. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/9 "2008-10-10T17:35:25Z")
Start with seeing him live. I saw him in '78 or ‘79, again in the 80’s with Nano Vasconcelos, and again in the early 90’s. Every time he rocked. So much different than his albums, which have this sort of behind a screen sheen to them. In concert the veil drops and there’s just his incredible focus and energy. And the back of Lyle Mays’ hairy head. At least used to be… Anyway I thought his most accessible album early on was Pat Metheny Group with Phase Dance and San Lorenzo. Or maybe his most crossover album since it put the hooks in me, and I was more of a prog-rocker back then. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/10 "2008-10-10T19:52:16Z")
There’s the [Pat Metheny podcast](http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=129228134), which is pretty cool. Metheny is one of the few artists of whom I’ve never said a) his experimentation was a total failure that will alienate his audience nor b) he’s getting stale because he’s doing the same thing as before. Always innovative, and always coming from a sincere place. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/11 "2008-10-10T20:19:46Z")
The Pat Metheny Group has 2 live albums, _Travels_ and _The Road To You_; you can’t go wrong with either one for starters. As to _Still Life (Talking), Last Train Home_ is good, but is not even the best song on the CD. That honor goes to _Minuano (Six Eight)_. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-pat-metheny/467002/12 "2008-10-10T23:45:01Z")
Last time I checked, there were quite a few Pat Metheny vids on Youtube. Why not sample to see what you like?