Mary Chapin Carpenter - Party Doll & Other Favorites

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Music reviews of Party Doll & Other Favorites

Music Review: Sells MCC short
Rating: 3 Stars

Only four hits are found in their familiar studio format: "I Feel Lucky," "Passionate Kisses," "He Thinks He'll Keep Her," and "Shut Up And Kiss Me." Four more are represented by live versions. Of this lot, a frenzied "Down At The Twist And Shout" works best (with a verse by Carpenter in French - ooh la la!) while "I Take My Chances," "Quittin' Time" and "The Hard Way" pale in comparison with their studio counterparts.

Among the many hits not making this seventeen-track set in any form are her breakthrough record "Never Had It So Good," the tropically catchy "Tender When I Want To Be," nor anything on her previous studio album A Place In The World. Bonus points though for including the finely detailed and involving "This Shirt" (while never a single, it is easily one of Carpenter's best recordings).

A major advertising point for this collection is the inclusion of rare Carpenter favorites. "Dreamland" (from Til Their Eyes Shine...The Lullaby Album) and "Grow Old With Me" (from Working Class Hero...a tribute to John Lennon) are pleasant, but a tad too precious while "10,000 Miles" (from the film Fly Away Home) is terminally boring. Meanwhile, Carpenter's oft-requested, star-making performance of "Opening Act" from the 1990 CMA Awards (a natural to open this collection) remains unavailable on record.

Three new recordings conclude this eclectic set. "Wherever You Are" is a fine midtempo devotional ode, but Carpenter's slowed down version of Mick Jagger's "Party Doll" ends the collection on a snoozer. A shame, since its predecessor, the glorious single "Almost Home" raises the listener's spirits to unforetold heights.

Those on a tight budget and already possessing Carpenter's prior efforts may want to consider limiting their purchase to the "Amost Home" single. party doll and other favorites is for the fanatical MCC fan only.

Description of Party Doll & Other Favorites

Country CDs

• Music > Styles
• Folk
• Pop