Love'S Been Good To Me: Songs Of Rod Mckuen / Var Love'S Been Good To Me: Songs Of Rod Mckuen / Var CD

UK collection. This installment in Ace Records' popular Songwriters series puts the spotlight on the late Rod McKuen. A born outsider, Rod McKuen was embraced by millions of fans who connected with the expressions of desire, nostalgia and self-acceptance found in his songs and poems. In the early 1960s, he began to visit France and gain entry into Parisian songwriting circles. By 1964 he was co-writing with a host of leading French chansonniers, most notably Jacques Brel, resulting in such international hits as 'If You Go Away' and 'Seasons In The Sun'. Frank Sinatra devoted his 1969 album A Man Alone to McKuen material, turning in suavely bittersweet renditions of such tunes as 'Lonesome Cities', 'Love's Been Good To Me' and 'I've Been To Town'. Meanwhile, McKuen gained even wider exposure by composing songs for the films The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and The Borrowers. Another creative avenue opened up when he collaborated with arranger/composer Anita Kerr on a series of thematic albums beginning with 1967's The Sea, a soft-pop landmark of it's era. This compilation offers a taste of the breadth and diversity of McKuen's output as a songwriter. The versions of his tunes gathered here testify to his versatility, craftsmanship and feel for a strong hook. From folk anthems to movie themes and French chanson ballads, these songs cover exceptionally wide ground. His death in January 2015 left some of his dreams still unfulfilled, but there was no denying the scope of his accomplishments over a 50-plus year career. Through ability, tenacity and sheer will, he overcame enormous obstacles to become one of the great pop culture icons of his time. Surviving poverty, damaged vocal chords and the sneers of the intelligentsia, he left behind a body of work that deserves rediscovery.

1. Doesn't Anybody Know My Name - Waylon Jennings 2. The World I Used to Know - Glen Campbell 3. Love's Been Good to Me - Tom Jones 4. Lonesome Cities - Frank Sinatra 5. A Single Woman - Nina Simone 6. Les Amants de Coeur - Jacques Brel 7. Children One and All - Mary Travers ; Rod McKuen 8. The Wind of Change - Petula Clark 9. Jean - Oliver 10. A Boy Named Charlie Brown - Rod McKuen 11. If You Go Away - Dusty Springfield 12. The Sea - the San Sebastian Strings 13. I Think of You - Perry Como 14. Hello Heartaches - Barbara Kay 15. Ally Ally Oxen Free - the Kingston Trio 16. Soldiers Who Want to Be Heroes - the Gateway Trio 17. The Importance of the Rose - the Limeliters 18. Ain't You Glad You're Living Joe - Michael Sarne 19. This Is Our House - Shelby Flint 20. Kaleidoscope - Nancy Sinatra ; Rod McKuen 21. One By One - Barry McGuire 22. I've Been to Town - Glenn Yarbrough 23. Because We Love - Rod McKuen 24. I'll Say Goodbye - Jimmie Rodgers 25. Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks