The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter

Last updated
The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter
The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter.jpg
Compilation album by
ReleasedNovember 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
Genre Country
Length69:31
Label Columbia
Producer
Mary Chapin Carpenter chronology
Time* Sex* Love*
(2001)
The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter
(2003)
Between Here and Gone
(2004)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter is the second compilation album by American singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, released by Columbia Records on November 4, 2003. Unlike Carpenter's first compilation album, Party Doll and Other Favorites (1999), which comprised a mix of studio and live versions of her greatest hits, The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter features the original studio versions only.

Contents

Reception

The album reached No. 63 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. AllMusic rated the collection 4-out-of-5-stars, writing: "While the majority of these tracks are also included on Party Doll and Other Favorites , the difference is Essential contains the radio versions, not alternate takes or live tracks. Both discs are recommended to fans of Carpenter's modern folk/country hybrid." [1] Barnes & Noble stated: "It's a challenge to summarize Mary Chapin Carpenter's deep catalogue on one disc, but this Essential release does a fine job of surveying the impressive range and sophistication of the singer-songwriter's music over the past decade-plus." [2]

Track listing

All songs written by Mary Chapin Carpenter, except where noted. [3]

No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Stones in the Road"  Stones in the Road (1994)4:32
2."The Long Way Home"  Time* Sex* Love* (2001)4:54
3."Shut Up and Kiss Me" Stones in the Road (1994)3:41
4."I Take My Chances"
Come On Come On (1992)3:45
5."I Feel Lucky"
  • Carpenter
  • Schlitz
Come On Come On (1992)3:31
6."Almost Home"
Party Doll and Other Favorites (1999)4:37
7."Halley Came to Jackson"  Shooting Straight in the Dark (1990)3:10
8."I Am a Town" Come On Come On (1992)5:05
9."Quittin' Time" State of the Heart (1989)3:51
10."Down at the Twist and Shout" Shooting Straight in the Dark (1990)3:21
11."He Thinks He'll Keep Her"
  • Carpenter
  • Schlitz
Come On Come On (1992)4:03
12."Only a Dream" Come On Come On (1992)5:32
13."Late for Your Life" Time* Sex* Love* (2001)5:35
14."The Hard Way" Come On Come On (1992)4:23
15."Passionate Kisses" Lucinda Williams Come On Come On (1992)3:21
16."10,000 Miles"TraditionalFrom the film Fly Away Home (1996)6:10
Total length:69:31

Charts

Chart (2003)Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [4] 60

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almost Home (Mary Chapin Carpenter song)</span> 1999 single by Mary Chapin Carpenter

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References

  1. 1 2 Campbell, Al. "The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter". AllMusic . Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  2. "The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter - Overview". Barnes & Noble . Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  3. The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter (booklet). Mary Chapin Carpenter. Columbia. 2003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2023.