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The two-CD Essential Kris Kristofferson compilation isn't a balanced retrospective of his lengthy career, heavily emphasizing his 1969-1971 recordings, which in fact comprise all of disc one. And it doesn't represent many of his albums at all (particularly the ones not done for Monument or Columbia), including just one post-1985 track. On the other hand, for the vast majority of Kristofferson listeners who want a best-of that offers more than a single-disc greatest-hits anthology can, it serves its purpose well. His best-known songs are here, in the original Kristofferson-sung versions: "Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," "Why Me," and "For the Good Times." His earliest Monument records are sampled particularly deeply, with no less than nine of the 12 songs from his 1970 debut, Kristofferson, appearing. Still, there's no doubt that his early work was his most popular and best, and the disproportionate representation allows for the appearance of good songs from the era that escape skimpier greatest-hits collections. And there's no doubt that disc two, devoted almost entirely to post-1971 material, is less impressive and consistent, not to mention more haphazardly organized in its chronology, with the 1972 track "Why Me" appearing as the second-to-last cut. Room's also made for a few songs Kristofferson recorded with others, those being "I'd Rather Be Sorry" (a duet with Rita Coolidge), "Highwayman" (done with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash), and "How Do You Feel About Foolin' Around" (on which he paired with Willie Nelson).
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
(P) 1969 Sony Music Entertainment
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1970 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1970 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Fred Foster, Producer - F. Foster, Composer - F. Foster, Lyricist
Originally Released 1969. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1970 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1970 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1969. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1970 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally released 1971. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1971. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1969. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally recorded 1969 & released 2001. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1971. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1971 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1971 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
Originally Released 1971 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Fred Foster, Producer - S. Silverstein, Composer - S. Silverstein, Lyricist
Originally Released 1971. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Various, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - NANCY CARLEN, Producer
(P) 1972 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
DISC 2
D. Fritts, Composer - D. Fritts, Lyricist - T. Paul, Composer - T. Paul, Lyricist - Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - S. Bruton, Composer - S. Bruton, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
(P) 1972 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - David Anderle, Producer
(P) 1978 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - David Anderle, Producer
(P) 1974 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Dennis Linde, Producer - Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist
(P) 1972 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - David Anderle, Producer
(P) 1974 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Dennis Linde, Producer - Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist
(P) 1972 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Guitar - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Norbert Putman, Producer - Sammy Creason, Drums - Gene Eichelberger, Engineer - Donnie Fritts, Keyboards - Steve Gibson, Guitar - David Briggs, Keyboards - Billy Swan, Vocal - Billy Swan, Guitar - Stephen Bruton, Vocal - Stephen Bruton, Guitar - Tommy McClure, Bass - Glen Clark, Vocal - Glen Clark, Keyboards
(P) 1981 Sony Music Entertainment
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
(P) 1972 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Rita Coolidge, Performer - Fred Foster, Producer
(P) 1974 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Chips Moman, Producer - Chips Moman, Background Vocal - Chips Moman, Guitar - Johnny Rodriguez, Background Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Background Vocal - Paul Davis, Background Vocal - Paul Davis, Keyboards - Jimmy Tittle, Bass - J. Webb, Composer - J. Webb, Lyricist - Mike Leech, Bass - Marty Stuart, Guitar - Marty Stuart, Mandolin - Waylon Jennings, Background Vocal - Waylon Jennings, Guitar - Johnny Cash, Background Vocal - Johnny Cash, Performer - Bobby Wood, Keyboards - Reggie Young, Guitar - Michael Raphael, Harp - J.R. Cobb, Guitar - Willie Nelson, Vocal - Willie Nelson, Background Vocal - Willie Nelson, Guitar - Bobby Emmons, Keyboards - Gene Chrisman, Drums
(P) 1985 Sony Music Entertainment
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - David Anderle, Producer
(P) 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - S. Bruton, Composer - S. Bruton, Lyricist - M. Utley, Composer - M. Utley, Lyricist - David Anderle, Producer
(P) 1978 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - David Anderle, Producer
(P) 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - David Anderle, Producer
(P) 1976 Sony Music Entertainment
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
(P) 1982 Sony Music Entertainment
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - David Anderle, Producer - S. Silverstein, Composer - S. Silverstein, Lyricist
(P) 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Paul English, Performer - Tommy McClure, Performer - Greg Smith, Performer - Judy Clapp, 2nd Engineer - Willie Nelson, Performer - Bee Spears, Performer - Donnie Fritts, Performer - Larry Gadler, Performer - Mickey Raphael, Performer - Stephen Bruton, Performer - Larry Greenhill, Engineer - Billy Swan, Performer - Jody Payne, Performer - Stuart Taylor, Engineer - Stuart Taylor, Re-Mixer - Glen Clark, Performer - Bobbie Nelson, Performer - Grady Martin, Performer - Steve Appel, Performer - S. Bruton, Composer - S. Bruton, Lyricist - Sammy Creason, Performer - Craig Hull, Performer - Darrell Leonard, Performer - Danny Lawson, Co-Producer - Danny Lawson, Performer - Booker T. Jones, Producer - Booker T. Jones, Performer - M. Utley, Composer - M. Utley, Lyricist - Rex Ludwick, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Wally Traugott, Mastering Engineer - Bobby Arnold, 2nd Engineer - Steve Crimmel, 2nd Engineer
(P) 1984 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Kris Kristofferson, Vocal - Kris Kristofferson, Performer - Kris Kristofferson, Composer - Kris Kristofferson, Lyricist - Fred Foster, Producer
(P) 1972 Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
The two-CD Essential Kris Kristofferson compilation isn't a balanced retrospective of his lengthy career, heavily emphasizing his 1969-1971 recordings, which in fact comprise all of disc one. And it doesn't represent many of his albums at all (particularly the ones not done for Monument or Columbia), including just one post-1985 track. On the other hand, for the vast majority of Kristofferson listeners who want a best-of that offers more than a single-disc greatest-hits anthology can, it serves its purpose well. His best-known songs are here, in the original Kristofferson-sung versions: "Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," "Why Me," and "For the Good Times." His earliest Monument records are sampled particularly deeply, with no less than nine of the 12 songs from his 1970 debut, Kristofferson, appearing. Still, there's no doubt that his early work was his most popular and best, and the disproportionate representation allows for the appearance of good songs from the era that escape skimpier greatest-hits collections. And there's no doubt that disc two, devoted almost entirely to post-1971 material, is less impressive and consistent, not to mention more haphazardly organized in its chronology, with the 1972 track "Why Me" appearing as the second-to-last cut. Room's also made for a few songs Kristofferson recorded with others, those being "I'd Rather Be Sorry" (a duet with Rita Coolidge), "Highwayman" (done with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash), and "How Do You Feel About Foolin' Around" (on which he paired with Willie Nelson).
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 37 track(s)
- Total length: 02:07:29
- Main artists: Kris Kristofferson
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Blues/Country/Folk Country
This compilation (P) 2004 Sony Music Entertainment
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