by Franco

Eric Andersen - Violets Of Dawn (1999)





















Vanguard Records' 1999 Eric Andersen compilation Violets of Dawn differs in only four tracks out of 18 from its 1970 compilation The Best of Eric Andersen, and the selection is marginally improved. (The major difference is that Violets of Dawn contains two rare tracks, "Boots of Blue" and "Rambler's Lament," from the 1964 compilation New Folks, Vol. 2.) The sound, remastered from the original analog tapes, is much improved. Like its similar predecessor, Violets of Dawn collects the most impressive efforts from Andersen's '60s Vanguard recordings, including the title track, "Thirsty Boots," "Close the Door Lightly When You Go," and "Come to My Bedside." It also traces Andersen's musical development from acoustic folk to folk-rock and country, a development that shadowed Bob Dylan's progression during the same period. And it stops short of the excellent work Andersen did with Blue River (1972) on Columbia and Be True to You (1975) on Arista. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide


Eric Andersen - You Can't Relive The Past (2000)





















This umpteenth collection from veteran folkie Andersen is his most diverse and adventurous in years. Pairing Andersen with Lou Reed on the affecting title cut here may seem like a strange idea, but it makes sense when you hear it. There are also four excellent, recently unearthed tracks that Andersen co-wrote with the late Townes Van Zandt, and a couple of strong original ballads, the best of which -- the moody "Magdalena" about a close friend who died in a car crash -- may alone be worth the price of admission. Less successful are some of the tracks Andersen recorded with Delta blues musicians. The backup is excellent but as Andersen admits in the liner notes, he is not a blues artist, and these tracks fail to take full advantage of his strengths. They also seem tossed off, and indeed they were. Andersen says that since it took him eight years to record his last album, he decided to make this one "quickly and simply." He recorded the blues tracks in two days, and they may leave you wondering whether there might have been some good middle ground between two days and eight years. Overall, though, this is terrific stuff. Particularly if you're already a fan, you won't be disappointed with the lion's share of it. ~ Jeff Burger, All Music Guide

Franco