McKuen's complete 1960s RCA Victor recordings in this lavish 7 CD box set! He's worked as a rodeo cowboy, lumberjack, and B movie actor. 'If You Go Away' concentrates on 4 fruitful years of McKuen's recording and songwriting career. Since the 1950 s, he estimates, more than 200 albums have been released under his name and selections from his catalog of more than 1,500 compositions have been recorded by singers including Ray Charles, Petula Clark, Johnny Cash, and Frank Sinatra. This collection gathers Rod's six original albums for RCA released between 1965-'68, plus an incredible lode of unreleased master and alternate takes, demos and even a few 'live' recordings and an album-sized hardcover book that includes an essay by Todd Everett and track-by track comments by Rod himself, discussing the material on the album; plus quotes from past and present associates.
R**K
OWN A GREAT TREASURE
WONDERFUL.........I STALLED ON MAKING THIS PURCHASE DUE TO THE COST, BUT I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED ROD MCKUENS WORK AND DECIDED TO BUY IT; ABSOLUTLY NO REGRET, THIS SET IS INCREDIBLE, AND THE HARD COVER BOOK ENCLOSED IS AWESOME; IF YOU ARE A FAN, DO NOT HESITATE TO ADD THIS TO YOUR COLLECTION, YOU WILL BE SO GLAD YO DID. I GIVE IT TEN PLUS STARS!!!!
J**D
Outstanding!!!!
I have listened to and read Rod McKuen since the '60s. I have one of his recordings before his voice changed. This collection is just outstanding. This is the first CD of his that I have, the LP albums are worn out!
D**N
If you are a Rod Mckuen fan then you have to have this set. So much I had never heard before.
It was very well worth it. I am very pleased I spent the money for it.
D**W
Five Stars
Wonderful, wonderful. Makes me feel warm all-over.
A**R
a must-have for Rod Mckuen fans
The cds are great. The accompanying book is great. While it takes some getting used to, getting past his raspy (occasionally out of tune) voice, which is even more annoying than Bob Dylan's, once you've gotten past that, the box set is incredibly, artistically satisfying. I think Mckuen can be a wonderful songwriter, a much better song-lyric writer than a poet, for the music forces him to provide a structure for his lyrics. Also adding music to cliches, gives them more meaning and juice.His poetry, for the most part, tends to formlessness, and is more insightful, profound-musings about emotions etc. than poetry. I could make the same complaint about some of Charles Bukowski's poetry, though Bukowski is a greater artist being a part of the lineage of drunken Chinese mountain poets from centuries ago. Rod's writing is more vanilla because he had to hide his sexuality which would not be generally accepted at the time of his greatest fame. I recommend reading the recent biography, "A Voice of the Warm: The Life of Rod McKuen" written by Barry Alfonso. But the accompanying book that comes with the box set will suffice. Many great pictures are also included.
Trustpilot
3 days ago
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