The Best Of Michael Martin Murphey

These are *not* the original version of these great songs. They're still the same songs, but they just aren't the studio versions I remember listening to -- they are sort of a "light" version of those songs. Have ordered the Ultimate Collection and hope it has the versions of these great songs I was looking for.

I have heard this album, but I have not purchased it from Amazon. At least not that my wife and I can remember buying. However, if you like Michael Martin Murphey's more contemporary oriented music, this is a great CD. I however prefer his "Cowboy Songs" series of true western music far better.

Michael Martin Murphy (who went by Michael Murphey back in the day) was one of the finest cowboy-style folk singers around in the seventies, and enjoyed a few years of fairly steady popularity, thanks to his album "Blue Sky: Night Thunder", which came out in 1975 with the smash hit 'Wildfire' and its signature guitar lick. I was lucky enough to see him in concert about 1978 when he was an opener for the group 'America'. I went to see 'America' but they gave a terrible show and most of the audience agreed. However, Michael Murphey brought the house down with his opening performance. His personal, folksy style was a huge hit with the Montana audience and he made many fans that night.

Then Murphey disappeared for a few years, only to resurface using his middle name and with a slightly different sound. Whereas before he had been a hippie/cowboy/folkie, now he was a Country-Western singer. I personally like his early work much better, but he strung together a bunch of good songs in the eighties such as "What She Wants", "Disenchanted", and "Will It Be Love By Morning". So in actuality, Michael Murphy was able to reinvent himself and be absolutely wonderful in both incarnations.

It is his early stuff that really sparkles. You have to have a heart of lead not to get a little emotional listening to "Wildfire", a song about a girl lost in a snowstorm with her horse in Nebraska. Yes, it is borderline corny, but so is 'Danny Boy' and that is one of the great songs of all time. 'Carolina in the Pines' is another song that takes you back to the days of LOVE in the late sixties and early seventies, though it will give you visions of Big Sky mudflaps and Ranier Beer. 'Geronimo's Cadillac' is a perceptive song about the destruction of Native American culture.

There are no weak tracks on the Greatest Hits album. This is one singer/songwriter/performer who deserves a second look. I'd love to see him again in concert someday. If you haven't heard Murphey, give him a try. You won't be disappointed. Great songs, great lyrics, some good licks, even some banjo.

One caveat---This CD version does not have the original songs or the songs are edited; for example, "Wildfire" is missing part of what makes it great--the piano intro and finish. This is still a great compilation, but you may want to find the original albums on vinyl to complete the set.

An earlier reviewer claimed that some of these titles were remixes on this particular collection. They are way more than that - they are RE-RECORDED!
And very pale compared to the originals.
Buyer beware!
A much better choice would be "The Ultimate Collection"
Twice as many songs and every one is original!

This CD has most of MMMs best work. Geronimo's Cadillac is poignant. Wildfire was a chart topper in the mid 70s. By the way, MMM has a web site where you can buy the original CD which has the version of Wildfire with the piano intro and exit. It is still hauntingly beautiful 30 years later. Reminiscent of Billy Joel's early work ("The Legend of Billy the Kid") and Dan Fogelberg's first album, "Homefree". They don't make music like this anymore....