Rodney Crowell - The Essential Rodney Crowell

Rodney Crowell has enjoyed a long career as both a songwriter and as a recording artist/performer. He's long outlasted most of the generation he came to Nash Vegas with and has continued to be relevant into the 21st century. There are bona fide country classics in his album catalog including 1978's Ain't Livin' Long Like This, his self-titled 1981 album, Diamonds & Dirt from 1989, and Houston Kid and Fate's Right Hand from this new century. Add to this a slew of hit singles and solid should-have-beens and it adds up to a spectacular career. Legacy attempts to document the longevity and breadth of it on the Essential Rodney Crowell. The original Rodney Crowell Collection was stellar though it only covered his early years. This set comes full circle, but with only 15 tracks it feels incomplete. For starters why re-recorded versions of "I Ain't Living Long Like This" and "'Til I Gain Control Again" were chosen over the originals are inexplicable and inferior. Why "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight" is not here is puzzling as well. Thankfully "Shame on the Moon," and "Stars on the Water" are here. Also included are recordings of "I Couldn't Leave You if I Tried," "After All This Time," "The Last Waltz" and "Many a Long & Lonesome Highway." Also inexplicable is the inclusion of his version of "I Walk the Line." Having "Sill Learning How to Fly" and "Oh King Richard," on the same collection is a plus. The bottom line is that there isn't anything bad here, but the Essential Rodney Crowell should have warranted a double disc, or at least something as representative and comprehensive as Raven's excellent, 21- cut Small Worlds: The Crowell Collection 1978-1995. Here's hoping for either another best-of that goes further, or a box set -- Crowell's catalog and legacy deserve better than this. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Name Credits Albert Lee Vocal Harmony, Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Barbara Santoro Vocals (Background) Barry Beckett Organ, Piano (Electric), Piano Benmont Tench Piano (Electric) Beth Gwinn Photography Billy Joe Walker, Jr. Guitar (Electric) Billy Livsey Organ Booker T. Jones Organ (Hammond), Piano, Producer, Hammond B3, Organ Bridget McGoldrick Packaging Manager Chad Cromwell Drums Chet Flippo Liner Notes Chris Rodriguez Vocal Harmony David Roth Photography David Santana Design Dean Parks Guitar Don Henley Vocal Harmony Eddie Bayers Drums Emory Gordy Guitar (Bass), Bass Glen Duncan Fiddle Greg Morrow Drums Gregg Geller Compilation Producer Hank DeVito Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Harry Stinson Vocals Howard Fritzson Art Direction J.T. Corenflos Guitar (Electric) Jedd Hughes Guitar (Acoustic) Jerry Douglas Dobro Jim Horn Saxophone John Cowan Vocal Harmony John Hobbs Organ John Jackson Project Director John Leventhal Percussion, Guitar, Producer Johnny Cash Guest Appearance, Vocals Kim Richey Vocal Harmony Lari White Vocal Harmony Larrie Londin Drums Larry Klein Producer, Bass, Keyboards Linda Ronstadt Vocal Harmony Liz Reilly Photo Research Lynn Goldsmith Photography Marcia Ramirez Vocal Harmony Mark O'Connor Fiddle, Mandolin Michael Rhodes Bass Mickey Curry Drums Pat Buchanan Guitar (Electric) Paul Franklin Guitar (Steel) Paul Leim Drums Paul Liem Drums Peter Coleman Producer, Engineer Peter Nash Photography, Cover Photo Phil Kenzie Saxophone Preston Smith Harmonica, Vocal Harmony Randall Waller Vocals (Background) Randee Saint Nicholas Photography Randy McCormick Synthesizer Richard Bennett Guitar (Acoustic) Robby Turner Guitar (Steel), Dobro Robert Matheu Photography Rodney Crowell Vocals, Assembly, Producer, Percussion, Guitar (Electric), Compilation Producer, Guitar (Rhythm), Supervisor, Guitar, Guitar (Baritone), Bouzouki, Guitar (Acoustic) Rosanne Cash Vocal Harmony, Vocals Steuart Smith Guitar (Electric), Guitar Steve Nathan Keyboards Tony Brown Piano (Electric), Piano, Producer Vic Anesini Mastering Vince Gill Vocal Harmony, Vocals, Guitar Vince Santoro Vocals (Background), Vocal Harmony Will Kimbrough Guitar, Guitar (Electric Baritone), Guitar (Electric)