Search - Peter Case :: Who's Gonna Go Your Crooked Mile

Case in Point

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 10/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Certain artists are so good that I feel compelled to get everything they do. The case in point is Peter Case, of course. Also obviously, one couldn't call this collection "Peter Case's Greatest Hits" since most radio doesn't play music this good, but "Who's Gonna Go Your Crooked Mile?" is an astounding collection of excellence. Case has put out CD after CD of classic sets, my favorite being "Flying Saucer Blues" represented here with tracks 8-11. "Two Heroes" is a rock shuffle about a fighter from Kentucky. "Blue Distance" is one of Peter's songs where you feel the ache of longing, "I've lost my direction; I've looked up & down & it makes no difference when you're not around." "I've got 13 children & 3 ex-wives with eyes like daggers & tongues like knives; All the big mistakes, I've made them twice, I'll make them again before they put me on ice," Peter sings in the toe-tapper "Coulda Shoulda Woulda," a great track. "Cold Trail Blues" always sounds to me like "Coltrane Blues" when Peter sings it with a slow plaintive delivery. Case completists will want the great new recording "Wake Up Call," a letter to Saddam Hussein, "You lay your bets on war & suicide, Either way you'll need a place to hide, Big ideas & a spider hole where you can keep all of the lives you stole." "Golden Handcuffs" are usually benefit stipulations that penalize management from early retirement or withdrawal from benefit plans. On "My Generation's Golden Handcuff Blues" Case sings about economic slavery that will have your toe tapping as you feel the sting, "We bought the Big Lie now the payments are due; Your personal freedom's a corporate tattoo." The five tracks from "Beeline" are also excellent including the sizzling, "Something's Coming" with its offbeat bongo percussion. "Crooked Smile" won't be startling because only 3 of the tracks are new recordings, but it is a sterling collection as Case moves from strength to strength. Enjoy!"

Original, Beautiful, Soulful, Intelligent, Magical

Steve Guion | Hampton, VA United States | 11/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Peter Case is one of those amazing artists who somehow manage to keep going year after year, staying well out of the spotlight, off the radar and, shamefully, ignored by the labels with the muscle to bring him to a larger audience. In a perfect world, Case would sell millions, be on every talk show ans magazine cover and be asked to be the musical guest on SNL (no lipsyncing necessary). Then again, perhaps if Case were that popular, it would screw up everything and he'd suck like most of the other mega-stars (Springsteen excluded, of course).



Peter, if you're out there reading this, thank you for so many amazing songs and thoroughly enjoyable albums (I'm one of the thousands who buy every one of your releases as soon as they come out). And thank you for doing such a great live show in 1987 opening for Husker Du at 1st Avenue and again at Jim Morrison's house in Norfolk, VA last fall. You are a true American treasure and your songs and recordings are timeless. Don't ever stop."

A case for case

Caslo Cranston | New Orleans, LA USA | 04/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been following and buying Peter Case recordings since Echo Wars.



Down to earth lyrics, simple but memorable melodies and the ability to produce great songs year after year.



I buy them all and have not been disappointed yet.



Particularly significant songs: Spell of Wheels and On the Way Downtown.



caslo"