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Home > Stories > Cat's in the Cradle

I too, find my self reflecting upon Harry's songs as my life progresses. At this point in my life, Cat's In The Cradle is especially meaningful for me, being the mother of two young boys as well as working full time in a stressful job. I recently turned down a promotion opportunity because it would involve travel, and the words from this song "there were planes to catch and bills to pay, he learned to walk while I was away", were very influential on me. I do not want to miss any of the important moments of my children's lives. As it is I hear Harry's words echoing too often from my own mouth, "I said, 'not today, I've got a lot to do'" and too often the response is just like in the song "that's okay". Sometimes it is unavoidable, but each time it makes me stop and think. When my life starts to become too chaotic with outside pressures that take me away from my family, I just turn on some of Harry's music, and get back in touch with what really matters in life...the people I care about.

I am so glad I found this newsgroup! Saw Harry in concert four times (one time I saw him perform twice in one night -second time in the "cheap seats"). His music has touched my life, my heart and my soul.

Cori

"You can always count on the cheap seats"

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"Oh, if a man tried to take his time on earth and prove before he died what one man's life could be worth, I wonder what would happen to this world?" -- Harry Chapin, 1942-1981.

 

 


Harry's Music
Bottom Line Encore Collection
      [Amazon] [iTunes]
Dance Band On The Titanic*
      [Amazon] [iTunes]
Essentials
      [Amazon]
Gold Medal Collection
      [Amazon] [iTunes]
Greatest Stories Live*
      [Amazon] [iTunes]
Harry Chapin Tribute
      [Amazon]
Heads & Tales
      [Amazon] [iTunes]
Last Protest Singer
      [Amazon]
Legends Of Lost & Found*
      [iTunes]
Living Room Suite
      [Amazon] [iTunes]
On The Road To Kingdom Come
      [Amazon] [iTunes]
Portrait Gallery
      [Amazon] [iTunes]
Sequel
      [iTunes]
Short Stories
      [Amazon] [iTunes]
Sniper & Other Love Songs
      [Amazon] [iTunes]
Story of a Life
      [Amazon]
Verities & Balderdash
      [Amazon] [iTunes]

* = Highly Recommended

The Latest Release

Sniper & Other Love Songs

 
[iTunes]

In 1972, Harry released Sniper & Other Love Songs. Thirty years would pass before the album would ever reach the CD format. Sniper was finally re-released in June, 2002.

Originally given a working title of Sweet City Suite, the album tells the story of various characters one might run into in a city. The album features the original studio versions of Chapin classics "A Better Place to Be" and "Circle." But perhaps more importantly (as those songs are already well-distributed on compilation CDs), the album features seemingly lost Chapin stories, including "And the Baby Never Cries," "Burning Herself," "Barefoot Boy," and "Woman Child."

Sniper is for the seasoned Chapin fan. New fans would do better to check out Greatest Stories Live. But for Chapin fans who have reached the level of the Dance Band on the Titanic album, this is the next step. Slightly over-produced and having a little of the "forced" feel that some of Harry's studio albums possess, this album does not capture the powerfully live Harry Chapin. Nonetheless, it captures Harry's great iconoclastic songwriting--Harry takes the story song to new heights here. But the album works best for those ready for it; don't buy it until you are ready to appreciate it!