RICHARD BARONE: COLLECTION: an embarrassment of richard

Richard Barone

COLLECTION: an embarrassment of richard

© 2004 RBM Special Editions (829757637228)

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From gut-wrenching emotionalism to cool chamber pop: 15 collectible tracks from indie pop icon Richard Barone.

tracks

1 River to River - Primal Cuts version
2 I Belong To Me
3 Forbidden
4 Nobody Knows Me
5 Silent Symphony
6 Flew A Falcon
7 Before You Were Born - Original lost demo
8 Clouds Over Eden
9 Miss Jean
10 River to River
11 To The Pure...
12 Standing in the Line
13 Numbers with Wings
14 I'll Be Your Mirror
15 Don't Open 'Til Doomsday - Previously unreleased

notes

Richard Barone
"COLLECTION: an embarrassment of richard"

PLEASE NOTE: Due to overwhelming demand, the entire limited edition CD run of "COLLECTION: an embarrassment of richard" has sold out. However, you may continue to download the album at the sites listed in the left column of this page, including CD BABY's MP3 site RIGHT HERE ON THIS PAGE, or at the Apple iTunes Store. THANKS!

* * *

"Is there a musician more deserving of the moniker Man About Town than Richard Barone?" asked The New York Times. And it's a good question!

Since leading 80s post-modern popsters The Bongos, Barone has forged an acclaimed solo career not only as a consummate performer and songwriter, but also as a producer (the B-52s' Fred Schneider, Jolie Jones, Johnny Rodgers and Liza Minnelli, among others), an in-demand co-writer/collaborator (whose compositions have been heard on television shows including The West Wing and Dawson's Creek), a formidable musical and theatrical director ("The Downtown Messiah"), and producer of such major concert events as his sold-out, all-star tributes to Miss Peggy Lee at New York's Carnegie Hall and Los Angeles' historic Hollywood Bowl.

"COLLECTION: an embarrassment of richard" is a unique, 15-song retrospective of tracks from Barone's previous, critically-acclaimed solo recordings, mingled with rare demos, live versions, and special bonus tracks. This special, limited edition import, with cover photo by legendary lensman Mick Rock, reveals the breadth of Barone's influential early work -- ranging from stark rock to lushly baroque chamber pop, while always keeping a firm grip on melodic, traditional songcraft and his passionate, personal vision. Truly, an embarrassment of riches... er... Richard!

Barone's previous solo albums include "cool blue halo" (Passport, 1987), "Primal Dream" (MCA, 1990), "Clouds Over Eden" (Mesa/Atlantic, 1994), and "Between Heaven & Cello" (Line, 1997). A boxed-set, "The Big Three," was released in Europe in 2000. His first book "FRONTMAN: Surviving the Rock Star Myth" was published by Backbeat/Hal Leonard Books in September 2007, an is available in stores and at online retailers such as Amazon.com. He is currently recording a new studio album with producer Tony Visconti (Bowie, T.Rex)

Check Apple iTunes for Richard's complete catalog, including his latest singles and iTunes exclusives. For more info, visit richardbarone.com.

You can also leave comments, messages, view pics, videos and hear exclusive MP3's at www.myspace.com/richardbarone.

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www.richardbarone.com
www.FrontmanBook.com
www.myspace.com/richardbarone

reviews

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  • Incredible lyrics, music, and soul.
    author: Alex R. (luxfero)

    The energy itself in Richard's music is enough to get one to listen to it, but then the lyrics go ahead and put a deep twist on it. Definately one of my most listened to albums. I can't wait to hear more from Richard. Keep 'em coming Rich, I know that your soul has a lot more to tell us.

  • A great, great songwriter and singer I would like to hear more from.
    author: grfan1

    I have pretty much everything Richard Barone has recorded. I started collecting his work in cassette back when it was coming out in the 1980s. I've been replacing my cassettes with CDs when possible and came across Mr. Barone's website and saw this CD being offered. I had to have it, if only for the cuts not previously avaialbe. It's an excellent collection of his work. I see he is working on a new record now and I will definitely be getting it when it comes out.

  • Such a huge talent deserves far more recognition
    author: Stephen Cope

    This compilation is a nice introduction to the works of Richard Barone although his four albums - Cool Blue Halo, Primal Dream, Clouds Over Eden, and Between Heaven and Cello - are all practically greatest hits compilations since Richard Barone is seemingly incapable of writing a less than perfect pop song or creating a perfect cover of someone else's classic. If you like this, and you will, pick up his complete catalog immediately. That being said this collection, like any attempt at a greatest hits collection from someone who had no actual "chart" hits, is necessarily subjective. Some notable tunes that could easily have been included - most notably Paper Airplane and Where the Truth Lies - fall victim to CD space. The new cut is tasty and makes this worth a purchase even for those who have the full collection already. My only quibble is using the live version of River to River to open the CD. The original version on Primal Dream (which is also included) is such a perfect song that the live version suffers in comparison. Moreover, if the live version were dropped, one of the aforementioned gems could have been added. But this is quibbling. Richard Barone has a gift for infectious pop hooks and a vibrant tenor voice that soars through his songs. It is incredible that such a talent has gone so many years in relative anonymity. Whether it was bad timing or lack of support from his record labels, I don't know, but after listening to Richard it is difficult to understand why he is not a household name.

  • Unforgettable, compelling glimpse of life in Manhattan
    author: Natalie McDonald

    Long before tribute compilations became omnipresent, Richard Barone made a bold and visionary decision early in his career as a recording artist. He sprinkled his own albums of original material with some really striking and insightful cover versions, selecting carefully from among his musical idols of the ‘60s and ‘70s. For most fledgling recording artists catering to the indie/college market, this would have been a risky move, but not for Richard. His interpretations hit their intended target every time, and suddenly Richard found himself consorting with the inner circles of such legends as David Bowie, Lou Reed and Donovan, to name a few. The most notable example came out of Richard’s love for the music of Marc Bolan. Not only is Richard’s next album being produced by Tony Visconti (T. Rex/David Bowie), but Richard in turn recently produced tracks for Marc’s son Rolan Bolan. It’s this astounding artistic credibility that makes Richard’s own material so compelling. The songs on “COLLECTION” hint at the tale of Richard’s evolution as an artist but don’t tell the whole story. For that, you’ll have to purchase the entire Barone catalog. What you get here are tracks presented in such a way as to make them autobiographical to the listener. Don’t expect anything upbeat or cheerful like The Bongos’ music of yore, because the subject matter is much more complex. In “Miss Jean,” Richard tells the story of his childhood friend who came to New York City from their hometown in Florida, but it isn’t pretty at all. “The city sounds like the answer” to both of them at first, but Jean leaves because, to put it mildly, “the subway map was deceiving.” Despite the oppressive loneliness and isolation he chronicles in his songs, Richard doggedly stays on in Manhattan where “Nobody knows me, knows the way I feel/Nobody sees that I’m even here.” However, if one weren’t acutely aware of his real-life success, the images Richard portrays would make it seem as though he experienced a complete and unredeemable fall from grace. There are desolate train platforms, seedy rented rooms with eccentric neighbors, omnipresent social injustice, emotionally ambivalent relationships with narcissistic unfaithful lovers, and the desperation of “forbidden” anonymous encounters that are almost never gender-specific. Both angels and devils populate this bleak landscape of “buildings that reach to oblivion.” You can’t listen to anything this intense without getting a lump in your throat…and after experiencing the cruelty of urban life through Richard’s eyes, you’ll never be able to sit through another shallow televised rerun of “Friends” or “Sex in the City” again. It’s important to remember, though, that the “COLLECTION” album is only one slice of the delicious Barone pie. After you purchase this CD, you’ll undoubtedly want to discover the rest of Richard’s music, and you’ll find that his songs are not always such stinging indictments. “Love’s no afterthought to me,” he gently reminds us in “Silent Symphony.” Even the remorseful retrospection of “Before You Were Born” doesn’t stop it from being a lullaby with a killer hook. Be sure to start your own Barone “COLLECTION” today!

  • author: angryelf

    since the first time i saw mr barone on a music video channel on tv called u68 in hoboken....it was love at first sight....and sound.....to this day he continues to show me that there are still a few glorious and original talents left in the industry..........bravo barone!

  • leaves me wanting more
    author: Dean Harris

    This is a lovely collection of Richard Barone tunes. Having leaned more toward the Bongos and Primal Dream material for all these years, the consistent quality of this collection took me by surprise, this after the rare or otherwise unavailable cuts sold me on the disc in the first place (since I already had everything else in my collection, despite not having given most of it the attention it deserves). COLLECTION is a terrific introduction to Barone's post-Bongos music, with lush cello and dreamy vocal arrangements throughout. I can't help wanting to hear more of the bopping Barone of yore, but that's my own prejudice, and this collection is terrific just as it is.

  • Excellent versions from his catalog
    author: Rich.Spann

    Great to get some new Barone, since his new album seems to never come out. Great, different versions of some of his hits(some tracks are the original same vers.) I played it all weekend.

  • Great Melodies
    author: Pete Marcus

    This CD contains melodies rarely heard since the Beatles. Great vocals. And the songs R O C K even when accompanied only by an acoustic guitar and cello! (reminiscent of the Beatles Rubber Soul). The lyrics have a depth and message not often found in music today (or almost any day). Richard Barone is a rare talent...a philosopher with lyrics bursting with raw emotion (John Lennonesqe), and a melodic tunesmith blessed with a great voice. All of his songs have that catchy hook that just keeps singing in your head long after the song is over. This compilation is a reflection of an artist whose music should be heard whenever a radio is turned on. I really like the artistic photo on the CD cover, and the photo on the CD is priceless! I can play this CD over and over again, and am really glad "River to River" is on it. Richard Barone is one of modern musics' true originals!!!!!!!!

  • Richard, your CD is off the charts, it has so many hits that I see platinum in y
    author: eileen millan

    Each song is so amazing that it's so hard to pick just one, this CD has now become my favorite. I would highly recommend the CD to everyone and anyone. I keep listening to it over and over again. This CD is a winner and I'm sure that it will be a huge hit.

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