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The following is a complete list of Harry Chapin's studio work. I have put in bracket the format in which I own each album. I have also made note of the album's original release date, number of discs, hit singles, track listings, and certified album status. I have also included a rating system for each album, based on a 5 star rating scale. None of the official releases are for trade. They can be purchased at harrychapinmusic.com. All purchases help to fight hunger. "So I stride down sunny streets and the band plays back my song
They're applauding at my shadow long after I am gone" Harry Chapin
1972-1975 1972 - Heads & Tales - Certified Gold by the RIAA - 1 disc (store bought cd/cassette/vinyl releases) Rating 9/10 - This album includes Harry's first top charting hit "Taxi". Remaining tracks: "Greyhound", "Empty", "Any Old Kind Of Day", "Everybodies Lonley", "Sometime, Somewhere Wife", "Same Sad Singer", "Dogtown", and "Could you Put Your Light On Please" 1972 - Snipers, & Other Love Songs - 1 disc (Store bought CD/Cassette/Vinyl) Rating 9.5/10. Harry had a mini-turntable hit with "Sunday Morning SunShine". Though this album did not sell well in it's intial release, it has become one of Harry's more popular albums with die-hards. The other 8 songs on this album are Harry's anthem song "Circle", "A Better Place To Be", "Sniper", "Women Child", "Winter Song", "Barefoot Boy","And The Baby Never Cries", and "Burning Herself" 1973- Short Stories - 1 disc (store bought CD/Cassette/Vinyl) Rating 9/10. Harry hit the charts once again with "W.O.L.D.". The song was an international hit, as it became Harry's only U.K. charter. The album has yet be certified, but saw sales very simular to "Heads & Tales". The remaining tracks are as follows: "Short Stories", "Mr. Tanner", "Song For Myself", "Songman", "There's A Lot Of Lonely People Tonight", "Changes", "They Call Her Easy", "Mail Order Annie", and "Old College Avenue" 1974 - Verities & Balderdash - Certified Platinum by the RIAA - 1 disc (store bought CD/Cassette/Vinyl) Rating 10/10. Harry climbed to the top of the charts with his first, and only #1 hit song. "Cat's, In The Cradle" became a platnum selling single (selling in excess of 1.3 million singles). The album would peek in the top 5, and also receive platinum recognition. "I Want To Learn A Love Song" also hit U.S. charts in 1975. Other Tracks: "Vacancy", "Halfway To Heaven", "Six String Orchestra", "Shooting Star", "What Made America Famous?", "30,000 Pounds Of Bananas", and "She Sings Her Songs Without Words". 1975 - Portrait Gallery - 1 disc (store bought CD/Cassette/Vinyl) Rating 9/10. Harry's follow up album to "Verities" did not fair quite as well. There was no hit single to come of the album. But the song "Dreams Go Bye" became a main stay on the set list of a Chapin concert. There are many very good songs on this album including: "Bummer", "Tangled Up Puppet", "The Rock", "Babysitter", "Star Tripper", "Dirt Gets Under The Fingernails", "Stop Singing These Sad Songs", "Sandy", and "Someone Keeps Calling My Name". 1975 - Greatest Stories Live - Certified Double Platinum by the RIAA - 1 disc - *originally released as a double album. (store bought CD/Cassette/Vinyl) Rating 10/10. In the winter of 1975 Harry released his first Greatest hits album. The record was a big hit. "A Better Place To Be" snuck onto Billboards Hot 100. Previously released material such as "Cat's In The Cradle", "Taxi", "Mr. Tanner", "Circle", "30,000 Pounds Of Bananas", "Dreams Go Bye", and "W.O.L.D.", made the live album along with a few new songs: "She Is Always Seventeen", "The Shortest Story", and "Love Is Just Another Word". Also his brothers Tom, and Steve contributed with the tracks "Saturday Morning", and "Let Time Go Lightly" respectively. |
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1976-1980 1976 - On The Road To Kingdom Come - 1 disc (store bought CD/Cassette/Vinyl) Rating 9/10. This album did not spawn a hit single but does include some of Harry's best story songs "The Mayor Of Candor Lied", "Laugh Man", and "Corey's Coming". Harry's socialogical feelings were effectively expressed in "On The Road To Kingdom Come", and "The Parade Is Still Passing Bye". The remaining tracks "Caroline", "If My Mary Were Here", "Fall In Love With Him", and "Roll Down Your River" round this album out nicely. 1977 - Dance Band On The Titanic - double album (Store bought CD/Cassette/Vinyl) Rating 9.5/10. This is one of Harry's best collective works. Though the album did not produce a hit track, there were some glowing praises for Dance Band. The London Times called it "The best album of the year." This album is built on the foundation of the 14 minute long biographical epic song "There Only Was One Choice". Other tracks include: "My Old Lady", "Why Should People Stay The Same", "Dance Band on The Titanic", "Mismatch", "One Light In A Dark Valley", "Country Dreams", "Bluesman", "Paint A Picture Of Yourself (Michael)", "I Do It For You Jane", "We Grew Up A Little Bit", "Mercenaries", "I Wonder What Happened To Him", and "Manhood". 1978 - Living Room Suite - 1 disc (store bought CD/Cassette?Vinyl) Rating 8/10. This was a disappointing album for Harry. There were no top 40 hits, and the album sold just modestly. Track Listing: "Dancin' Boy", "If You Want To Feel", "I Wonder What Would Happen To This World", "Poor Damned Fool", "Somebody Said", "Flowers Are Red", "Why Do The Little Girls", "It Seems You Only Love Me When It Rains", and "Jenny" 1979 - Legends Of The Lost And Found - 2 discs/album (store bought CD/Cassette/Vinyl) Rating 10/10. "Legends" is also dubbed "Greatest Stories Live 2". This was Harry's last Live Greatest hits albums. The lack of promotion by Elektra records doomed this "Should be hit" album. Harry, and the band re-did a number of songs: "If My Mary Were Here", "Poor Damned Fool", "Flowers Are Red", "Mail Order Annie", "Tangled Up Puppet", and "Corey's Coming". They also added some GREAT new material: "Stranger With The Melodies", "The Day The Factory Closed Down", "Pretzel Man", "Old Folkie", "Get On With It", "We Were Three", "Odd Job Man", "Legends Of The Lost & Found", and "You Are The Only Song". Somehow without the glam of hit songs like "Cat's And The Cradle", or "Taxi", Harry managed to make a sequel to his original double live album, that was just as good. 1980 - Sequel - 1 disc (Store bought CD/Cassette/Vinyl) Rating 9.5/10. Sequel broke a slump for Harry. It produced his first hit single in four years. The song "Sequel" (an actual part 2 to "Taxi") hit the top 20, and the album was his fastest breaking. The song "Story Of A Life" also hit the billboard singles charts. The album has not yet been certified by the RIAA, but has most defiantly sold enough to be. The rest of the tracks are as follows: "Up On The Shelf", "I Miss America", "Remember When The Music", "Salt & Pepper", "I Finally Found It Sandy", "Northwest 222", "God Babe You've Been Good To Me", and "Remember When The Music (Reprised)"
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1981 - Present 1985 - Anthologies Of Harry Chapin - 1 album (Cassette- Never released on cd) Rating 8.5/10. This was the first of many albums to be released after Harry's untimely death on July 16th, 1981. Originally released on vinyl, and later cassette tape. This is a nice collection of Harry's work, though it doesn't include 'Sequel". The reason is, because Harry left Elektra after the shameless job they did with "Legends Of The Lost & Found". His final album would be released by Boardwalk Records. The track listing as follows: W*O*L*D*, Any Old Kind Of Day, Cat's In The Cradle, 30,000 Pounds Of Bananas, Taxi, She Is Always Seventeen, Circle, Sunday Morning Sunshine, I Want To Learn A Love Song, A Better Place To Be, & Song Man. 1987 - Remember When The Music - 1 disc (Store bought CD/Cassette)Rating 9/10. This was a re-release of the album "Sequel". It has the same 10 songs as the original release, with two previously unreleased tracks: "Hokey Pokey", and "Oh Man". This album has been discontinued. 1987 - A Tribute To Harry Chapin - 1 disc (Store bought CD/Cassette) Rating 9/10. This is a live recording of a tribute concert given for Harry (who received the Congressional Gold Medal). Bruce Springstein, and Pat Benatar join a list of music legends who came together to celebrate the life, and achievements of Harry Chapin. This disc is no longer sold, sorry it has been discontinued. 1989 - The Last Protest Singer - 1 disc (store bought CD/Cassette) Rating 9/10. This was the last album Harry had been working on in 1981. It was going to be the soundtrack for a movie Harry had written. The collection of songs include: "The Last Protest Singer", "Basic Protest Song", "November Rains", "You Own The Only Light", "Last Stand", "Word Wizard", "Anthem", "I Don't Want To Be President", "Sounds Like America To Me", "Quiet Little Love Affair", and "Silly Little Girl". 1990- The Gold Medal Collection - 2 discs (Store bought CD) Rating 9.5/10. Ceritified Platnum by the RIAA. This double disc collection has sold very well over the years. Selling over a million copies to date. Track Listing: Taxi, Sunday Morning Sunshine, Old College Avenue, I Want To Learn A Love Song, Cat's In The Cradle, Tangled Up Puppet, Dancin' Boy, Flowers Are Red, She Sings Her Songs Without Words, Shooting Star, Winter Song, Story Of A Life, There Only Was One Choice, Better Place To Be, Mail Order Annie, W.O.L.D., Mr. Tanner, Corey's Coming, Sniper, The Rock, Dance Band On The Titanic, I Wonder What Happened To Him, Remember When The Music, and Circle. This does not have the packaging of the later released box set but I think was a stronger effort.
1998 - A Better Place To Be - 1 disc (cd Official release) Rating 8/10. This was a sample release from Elektra records. It was not distributed. It is a collection of Chapin songs, with an unreleased track included. It is a nice piece, but it wasn't cheap. There were only 2,500 of these discs printed. Again there is nothing rare in this set.
1999 - The Bottom Line: Encore - 2 discs (Store bought CD/Cassette) Rating 10/10. This is a live recording of Harry's 2,000 concert at the Bottom Line in New York. A great show, and long passed due for a live release. Harry sings his hits "Taxi", "Cat's In The Cradle", "Sequel", "A Better Place To Be", "I Want To Learn A Love Song", and "W*O*L*D*". Other tracks include: Story Of A Life, I Miss America, Mercenaries, Mr. Tanner, Mismatch, Old Folkie, Let Time go Lightly, Remember When The Music, and 30,000 Pounds Of Bananas. The show has been remasted, and sounds great. 2000 - Behind The Music, Harry Chapin - 1 disc (Store Bought CD) Rating 7.5/10. From the VH1 hit series comes this collection of studio released songs. The album has been remastered. It does include Harry's Hits, and various other titles. But nothing new or interesting here.
2000 - Story Of A Life The Harry Chapin Box Set - 3 discs (store bought CD) Rating 8/10. A must have for any Chapin fan. The box set includes over 30 tracks, a 25 page color book, but on the disappointing side there is no unreleased material. It is just a very well packaged greatest hits album. Hopefully we will one day get another box set that has more to offer for die hard fans.
2000 - Story Teller - 1 disc (Store bought CD) Rating 7/10. This was just a re-release of Remember When The Music. Very disappointing that was nothing was added not even improved packaging.
2001 - Harry Chapin The Essentials - 1 disc (store bought CD) Rating 7.5/10. This is a nice collection of songs, but should have been a double disc. I good find for a casual fan, or completist like me. 2004 - Heads & Tales/Sniper and Other Love Songs - 2 discs (store bought CD) Rating 10/10. This is a GREAT release. It is Harry first 2 albums along with 8 unreleased tracks.This was sadly never released in the states.
2006 - Introducing Harry Chapin - 1 disc (store bought CD) Rating 8/10 A solid collection of Harry's songs.This is not a U.S. release.
2007 - Harry Chapin: Classics - 3 discs (Store Bought CD) Rating 8/10 Though this was somewhat cheaply packaged it is a very nice collection of Harry's work and again probably a better effort than the Story Of A Life box set. 2008 - Cat's And The Cradle & Other Hits - 1 disc (Store bought CD) Rating 7/10 a generic grouping of Harry's work. This is more just a cash-in for money release.
2011 - The Last Protest Singer - 1 disc (store bought CD) Rating 8/10 this re-release offers something different than the original Last Protest Singer release by Dunhill. With a different track listing it is totally worth the buy.Though I would have liked to see them add a bit more of the unreleased tracks from the original recordings.
2011 - Storywriter - 1 disc (store bought CD) Rating 9/10 This is fun release. Harry gives a lesson in song writing and there is a previously unreleased song Harry sings on this disc as well. A must own to me. 2012 - Dance Band On The Titanic/Living Room Suite - 2 discs (store bought CD) Rating 9/10 There is not much here out side of a re-releasing of Harry's last 2 studio recorded albums with Elektra. 2015 - Bottom Line Archive Series - 2 discs (store bought CD)Rating 10/10 this is a fantastic live performance of Harry at the Bottom line. It is not the same release as this 2,000 concerd. This was recorded the night before.
2015 - Chapin Music! (1966) - 1 disc (store bought CD/ and original Vinyl) Rating 10/10 For the first time The Chapin Brother's (Steve, Tom, & Harry) original 1966 record has been released CD. The original 14 tracks are beautifully remastered. This is an excellent long awaited release!
2015 - Cat's In The Cradle Live '77 - 2 disc (store bought CD) Rating 10/10 Another amazing live performance from Harry. I think this is a no doubt MUST own. This is yet another overseas release.
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