Anthology

Disc 1
1	Sure as I'm Sittin' Here 3:18
2	Hangin' Around the Observatory 3:02
3	Down Home 3:09
4	Washable Ink 3:15
5	Slug Line 3:00
6	Radio Girl 2:55
7	Pink Bedroom 2:54
8	It Hasn't Happened Yet 3:23
9	Spy Boy 3:15
10	Doll Hospital 3:03
11	My Edge of the Razor 4:22
12	Riding With the King 4:19
13	She Loves the Jerk 3:38
14	I Don't Even Try 3:24
15	The Love That Harms 2:50
16	The Way We Make a Broken Heart 3:19
17	When We Ran 4:42
18	The Usual 3:47
19	She Said the Same Things to Me 4:01
20	Lipstick Sunset 4:12
21	Thank You Girl 4:07
22	Have a Little Faith in Me 4:02
Disc 2
1	Memphis in the Meantime 3:58
2	Thing Called Love 4:11
3	Tennessee Plates 2:56
4	Slow Turning 3:38
5	Drive South 3:55
6	Feels Like Rain 4:50
7	Paper Thin 3:36
8	Child of the Wild Blue Yonder 4:25
9	Real Fine Love 4:20
10	Perfectly Good Guitar 4:39
11	Buffalo River Home 5:14
12	Angel Eyes 5:01
13	Cry Love 4:20
14	Shredding the Document 5:03
15	Don't Think About Her When You Are Trying to Drive 4:33
16	Pirate Radio 4:28
17	Crossing Muddy Waters 4:04
18	Take It Down 3:58

Barnes & Noble

John Hiatt's near-three-decade career has not been marked by hit albums, but rather by many exceedingly good, and some indisputably great, original songs that have found their way into other artists' repertoires, and from there onto the upper reaches of the charts. This well-deserved, intelligently assembled two-CD Anthology puts the spotlight squarely on Hiatt's own work, and only deepens the mystery as to why his rootsy blend of rock, blues, folk, and country hasn't struck a deeper chord with the record-buying public. Spanning a 26-year period from 1974 to 2000 that found him bounced from label to label, Anthology collects Hiatt's versions of his landmark songs -- wonderful, deeply felt recordings of, among others, "Memphis in the Meantime," "Drive South," the Bonnie Raitt mega-hit "Thing Called Love," "Have a Little Faith in Me," and the exquisite duet with Rosanne Cash, "How We Mend a Broken Heart." Arranged in chronological order, this 40-song tour captures Hiatt's remarkable evolution from punkish rock 'n' roll (his early brash songs bear a striking similarity to Elvis Costello's, lyrically and vocally) to blues-rock to country and combinations thereof. As a lyricist Hiatt is by turns wry, sarcastic, idealistic, cynical, big-hearted, and even at times incurably romantic; and when he puts those sentiments to artfully crafted melodies, his work stands tall, a world unto itself -- vivid, picturesque, and singularly distinctive and American. David McGee

All Music Guide

As of its 2001 release, there are at least three other single-disc compilations of John Hiatt's prolific career available, but none truly does justice to his immense body of work. Until now. This intelligently collected, sequenced, and annotated double pack delivers 40 tracks covering 15 of Haitt's albums from his inauspicious yet refreshingly naive debut (1974's Hangin' Around the Observatory) to 2000's all-acoustic Crossing Muddy Waters, a return of sorts to his rural roots. Fans may quibble with the song selection, lack of previously unreleased material, and the inclusion of only one rarity ("Spyboy," his Jack Nitzsche-produced contribution to the obscure Cruising soundtrack), but this is as close to a perfect summation of Hiatt's career through 2001 as one could hope for without expanding to the box set he probably deserves. Hip-O thoughtfully licenses tracks from Sony, Capitol, Reprise (for Little Village's "Don't Think About Her..."), and Vanguard, in addition to including hefty chunks of his defining A&M years as well as the more spotty yet essential MCA and Geffen work. The overall effect is staggering in its stylistic diversity and sheer volume of ruggedly melodic singer/songwriter tunes. Whether it's his vaguely new wave rockers like "Doll Hospital," country weepers such as "The Way We Make a Broken Heart," the twangy pop of "Memphis in the Meantime," heartfelt, emotionally tugging ballads like "Lipstick Sunset" and "Feels Like Rain," or the Stones-y crunch of "Paper Thin," there are precious few clinkers here. Each disc maxes out at 78 minutes, the 16-page book is filled with an informative essay, quotes from the artist, and rare pictures (but surprisingly lacks specific track personnel, a major omission considering Hiatt has worked with a stellar assortment of talented musicians), and the 24-bit remastered sound is crisp, lean, and clean. As of its 2001 release date, the modestly titled Anthology is the definitive portrait of one of America's most talented, respected, and eclectic songwriters. Hal Horowitz