From Croydon to Cuba: An Anthology

See Larger Image	List Price: £19.99 Our Price: £13.98 Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Manufacturer: EMI Average Customer Rating:


Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0072438749462 Format: Box set Label: EMI Manufacturer: EMI Number Of Discs: 3 Publisher: EMI Release Date: 2005-03-28 Studio: EMI
Related Items Tropical Brainstorm Kirsty MacColl - From Croydon To Cuba - The Videos Kite Titanic Days [2CD] Electric Landlady
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Buy this not the best off Comment: This is truly a gem. Three CD's of an outstanding folk/rock legend. The "Best Off" is a single album. With this set you get all the hits and a lot more for only a couple of pounds extra. If there are a few tracks that don't immediately make you sing along, there are many others that do. Customer Rating: Summary: Too much talent, not enough time. Comment: It's difficult to remain unemotional when listening to this brilliant compilation. In this reviewer's opinion there has never been as exceptional an artist less well served by her various labels than Kirsty MacColl. That this collection finally, much too late, sets things right is a mixed blessing indeed. We longtime fans have most of this material already, and those not familiar will probably not be inclined to invest their time in an artist who tragically can never release new material. If only they could be made aware of what they're missing. From the perfect, effervescent pop of "They Don't Know" to the wonderfully assimilated latin rythyms of "Tropical Brainstorm" Kirsty MacColl produced music that has no real parallel in it's variety, scope, beauty, intelligence, honesty and accessibility. As every fan of hers has said several times at least, it's absurd that she wasn't better known and appreciated. If there's a prospective buyer out there for whom Carole King's "Tapestry" was once a favorite album, you need to buy this. If you have a soft spot for Joni Mitchell, Chrissie Hynde, Sarah MacLachlan et al, you should consider this. If I were to critique each song, I'd write a book. I'll just say that I can't imagine anyone being dissatisfied with this boxed set. It's worth twice the price. Customer Rating: Summary: A Rich Collection of a Brilliant Talent Comment: Kirsty MacColl's sound was something I grew up with, as my Mum was a fan. I'm now delighted to be coming back and listening again-and this anthology is the perfect way to do it! There are the popular tracks I rememeber as well as new gems to discover. For anyone who like MacColl, or wants one collection of her music, I would say this is an excellent purchase. I don't know enough about MacColl to say whether this is a good anthology for a long-time, very serious fan who already has other albums; but what matters to me is the brilliant tunes-and there are plenty of those here. Customer Rating: Summary: Pop music at its most diverse and brilliant Comment: People wondering whether to buy the Kirsty MacColl single CD "Best of" or this triple album "Croydon to Cuba" will have a hard choice. If you like a broad spectrum of pop, then you will surely be delighted with going for the full 3CD anthology. (She was born in Croydon, South London (1959), and ended up loving Cuba and its music, hence the title. Her untimely death came in December 2000 when hit by a speedboat whilst swimming in Mexico.) So many gems which didnt make the single CD are included on this triple set. She was one of the most under-rated artists of all time, and sadly missed by her loyal army of fans. Her progression from surfing sounds and teen-pops to "Terry" and on through "He's on the Beach" to mature "Soho Square" and country-tinged "Other People's Hearts" to the dance-style "Walking down Madison" and the Latin influence of later songs is a great musical journey. Superb lyrics, catchy tunes, her own magic backing-vocals - overall a great package. Although her career lasted only 22 years, and her ouput was limited, it seems like the last 40 years of music is represented here by one of the all-time masters of singer-songwriting. You will need to take time to appreciate some of the tracks, but after a few listens, they definitely grow on you. My favourite artist, as you may have guessed !! Customer Rating: Summary: Please, Sirs, may we have some more? Comment: I suppose an anthology is difficult to compile, however, it seems a no brainer that unreleased or not available on cd music should be included. There are wonderfully rare gems on this 3 cd set, but there are enough still out there to make a fourth cd, maybe more. Kirsty Maccoll was undoubtedly one of the most diverse and underappreciated artists ever. Her lyrics run the gamut from politically charged to down right silly. In between there are amazing moments of poignancy, sensitivity, deep reverence, and humilty. These works are balanced by others full of exceedingly clever, witty, sexy, tongue-in-cheek fun. There have been artists who have reinvented themselves and/or continued to record through various periods. Some have even ventured bravely into uncharted territory by releasing albums of a style they are not typically known for. However, none have expressed the true command of music as a whole like Kirsty Maccoll. This amazing woman from a London Suburb has successfully explored American Country, '60s Pop, Folk, Irish Traditional, Rockabilly, Electronic, Middle Eastern Rhythms, MOTR Pop, Adult Contemporary, Punk, Latin Rhythms from across the Americas, Zydeco, and at the time of her death was venturing into Broadway/West End Showtunes. Not only did she create textbook examples of these styles, she more often fused them effortlessly into her own sound. Sadly she was followed by a series of circumstances that made commercial success fleeting and sporadaic. For this reason, I think it unlikely that songs not released on this anthology will ever make it to commercial release. Kirsty fans are sometimes divided over which Kirsty they prefer; Early, experimental pop Kirsty; Middle, melancholy, thought provoking Kirsty; Later, funky, fun, back-on-top Kirsty tend to be the categories. However, all agree that her diversity is a trademark and validation of her talent. For that reason, I think it a shame that so many gems were left out of this collection when so much currently available work has been included. Regardless of the lack of rarities, there is, without a doubt, something for everyone on this compliation. Thankfully, pieces from the shelved '80s electonic pop album "The Real MacColl" have been included. It was also a pleasure to hear a selection from the last of her recordings; the work from her showtune collaboration. The inclusion of the elusive "You Caught Me Out" brought a huge sigh of releif to many longing for more classic Kirsty. It's hard to review the songs on this album by one standard, as there is such a variety of styles and themes, other than to praise them each for expressing some facet of Kirsty's vast talents. It is no wonder that she has worked with and inspired artists as diverse as Evan Dando and U2, or David Gray and Matchbox, or the fists-ready Pogues and the sugar-sweet Tracey Ullman. Some of these collaborations are included on this anthology as are other less commercially flashy but none-the-less brilliant works with the moving talents of Mark Nevin, Billy Bragg, Gavin Povey, and Pete Glenister. Certainly, the variety of styles suggests that, just as there is something for everyone, there are also some songs that will initially disappoint those who are looking for their favourite Kirsty production style. However, further listening often brings appreciation to music that at first seems unpleasant. Fortunately, it doesn't take too many passes at her songs to find some element of her talent that grabs you brusquely by the shoulders and whispers in your ear, "Hey, pal, I'm glad your here, I wrote this for you. Now, check this out!" More Reviews