Product Description Newly remastered and compiled for the first time, Duchess Of Coolsville brings together 26 year's worth of the uniquely talented Rickie Lee Jones. With over three hours of music on three inspired discs (including one full disc of rare and unreleased tracks), this collection serves as the ultimate introduction to an essential artist. Rhino. 2005. .com Career overviews programmed by the artists themselves are generally inconsistent affairs, usually due to the musicians' own eccentricities. For Duchess of Coolsville, this long-overdue Rickie Lee Jones compilation covering the years 1979-2003, she decided to sequence most of the songs in alphabetical order. It's a unique, yet rather bizarre, concept that dispenses with all sense of continuity, either chronological or musical. While this randomness behooves an artist as willfully eclectic as Jones, it also makes for a rollercoaster listening experience. Selecting tracks from 10 albums that alternately focused on folk, jazz, pop standards, and even electronica makes putting together any compilation of Jones's work a tough assignment, especially since each of her records has a distinctive flow. The 34 selections on the first two discs hit most, but not all, of the highlights from her often patchy releases. Disc 3 unearths seven demos, some live tracks, and several collaborations, few of which are revelatory. Long in need of a sonic shining, these songs sparkle with fresh remastering, revealing production details most listeners will hear for the first time. While not the best or most coherent collection of Rickie Lee Jones's work that could have been assembled, this anthology provides a reasonably good overview of the Duchess of Coolsville's diverse, distinctive, and often dynamic career. --Hal Horowitz
J**S
Charlotte's Mom hits a Home Run !!
If you like RLJ, then you will love this compilation. Digital re-mastering is a big plus for some of her early hits included here. There are only a few songs which I hoped would be included but are not on this compilation: "Ghetto of my Mind," "The Real End," and, "Rainbow Sleeves." Also missing is RLJ's masterful renditions of "Walk Away Rene," and "Under the Boardwalk." Thus, I can only give four stars to this otherwise remarkable retrospective. The third disc is very interesting from a songwriters / arrangers' perspective, with early demo versions that, in some cases, bear little resemblance to the versions which were eventually released on vinyl/disc. RLJ is a remarkably gifted songwriter and performer -- if you are unfamiliar with her recordings, this is an excellent place to start.
P**N
A Fantastic Album!
I admit my own fault here: Based on one or two of Jones' radio singles, I never took her seriously as a singer/songwriter. My bad. Purchased on a lark, this compilation has turned me into a real RLJ fan. The scope and variety of her performances here is amazing. At times, I was moved nearly to tears from some cuts on this CD. As a bonus, Rino has done a stellar job of mastering this set, with sonics that really bring out the brilliance of RLJ's incredible voice, as well as the marvelous instrumentation backing her up. The sound is up front, clear and smooth, with all the tiny details abundantly clear.
G**M
What an Anthology should deliver
Remastering is pristine. Rhino outclassed themselves!!! Perfect balance between expected favorites, some demos which are interesting, some super live tracks and duets. I love the alphabetic sequencing vs the traditional chronological type. My question is, when will we get RLJ and Pirates in a Deluxe and/or remastered release? Highly recommended.
J**E
One of the great voices but
One of the great voices but, there was nothing new here that I found enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, she is one of great voices of my time but, I would invest in her other efforts before this one.
J**T
Five Stars
Chicago rocker
M**T
And as advertised if not better..
Quick service. And as advertised if not better...
K**N
I'm a fan
Rickie can do no wrong (well, little wrong) as far as I'm concerned. This has a lot of her best work in one package.
T**L
good purchase
Husband loves Rickie so this was a great purchase for him. He enjoys it and listens to it frequently. happy with delivery.
M**D
Great compilation and good remaster done by Dan Hersch of ...
Great compilation and good remaster done by Dan Hersch of Rickie Lee Jones isue on this tripple anthology. All songs are carefully choosenby the artist & Karen Ahmed who is also producer on behalf .So you have best collection available around with improved sound quallityover original albums.If you like Rickie Lee Jones composition, this album is just for you.I am glad of that purchase becauseDuchess of Coolsville helps me more to understand Rickie Lee Jones work and her great music.Thank you.
W**Y
Wonderful
Anthologies such as these rarely do justice to artists of the calibre of Rickie Lee Jones, whether the songs are selected by the artist or the record company. The Duchess of Coolsville, however, is an exception. It is an alphabetical not chronological collection of her work, yet the song order is surprisingly cohesive and rarely jarring. All the great songs are here and the third disc of demos, live tracks and other unreleased material is not just pop detritus, but truly great performances and relevatory interpretations. A superb collection from one of the most important songwriters of our time.
P**A
cool
I have always liked her, and this is another amazing album! her first album was brilliant for a debut album and I have only found one album I didnt really like. Best wishes paul cretella.
M**A
A very good selection of songs and the mix between old songs ...
Thank you. A very good selection of songs and the mix between old songs and new songs is surprisingly seamless, always a high standard of musicianship
C**.
Five Stars
A lot of stuff on here I've never heard - but also some of her classics.
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