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It'll Come To You - Various Artists | |
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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
John Hiatt is a singer who mixes a lot of country and soul into his version of Rock and Roll. While most country fans have probably never heard of John Hiatt those who remember Suzy Bogguss' 1990's hit song "Drive South" have heard his words. John Hiatt is a legendary songwriter who writes memorable lyrics and songs that have been recorded by numerous artists. With his impact on his fellow singers and songwriters, Vanguard Records has compiled some of his previously recorded songs along with three new covers to make the new tribute It'll Come to You - The Songs of John Hiatt.
The Alt-country husband and wife duo Buddy and Julie Miller have covered John's "Paper Thin." Formidable songwriters in their own right, they take this uptempo rocker and make it sound strikingly similar to some of their own songs. Hiatt recorded this song, a top 20 hit, on his 1988 album Slow Burning, the same CD that "Drive South" first appeared on.
Patty Griffin, the folk/country songstress, recorded "Take It Down" for the album, and if I didn't know who Patty was I would have thought that it might be the Dixie Chicks singing the song. Alas, it is Patty singing this beautifully melancholic song and showing a strong vocal style that Hiatt first showed on his 2000 acoustic album Crossing Muddy Waters.
Bonnie Raitt checks in with her 1989 Grammy winning version of Hiatt's "Thing Called Love." Fourteen years after the song Bonnie recorded the song it still sounds fresh and unique with the wailing vocals and stellar slide guitar work. John Hiatt's version first appeared on his 1987 album Bring the Family.
Rodney Crowell is a stellar songwriter in his own right so when he records someone else's songs, you gotta know they're good. "She Loves The Jerk" is the song that Rodney recorded in 1986, and it appeared on his album Street Language. While the song wasn't a big hit, Rodney is in fine voice and Hiatt himself sings harmony vocals on this soaring ballad about a woman who loves the wrong guy.
Roseanne Cash recorded Hiatt's "The Way We Make A Broken Heart" in 1987 for her album King's Record Shop. It was the first of four No. 1 hits from that album, and with her personal marriage to Rodney Crowell suffering around the same time, the song resonates even more.
The great Willie Nelson covered "The Most Unoriginal Sin" for his Across The Borderline CD in 1993. Never a hit song, Willie sounds great and his guitar, called Trigger, is so distinct with its sound that it is instantly recognizable.
Nick Lowe and his Cowboy Outfit recorded "She Don't Love Nobody" in 1986, a full four years before the Desert Rose Band would take this Eagles styled country rocker to number 2 on Billboard's Country Tracks chart. Lowe's version is a wonderfully twangy sing-a-long song that could do well on the charts today if it were released.
Containing fourteen of the best songs John Hiatt has ever written, "It'll Come to You - The Songs of John Hiatt" is a diverse collection that shows how much of an impact John Hiatt has had on many artists. If you are a fan of heartland songwriting and blues, country and rock then you'll really enjoy this collection of songs.
Song List:
Audio clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble.
Album cover, used with permission of Vanguard Records.
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