The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered

Covered and the originals, an excellent way to do it given that most of the covers and most of the originals are probably somewhat difficult to track down individually, so, this is an great 2 x cd set for that reason. I had not yet heard Mr. Johnston. I'm a big fan of Half Japanese but often find solo and collaborative material by Jad Fair to be, uh, indulgent? way too much? somehow insanely attractive to my off kilter self... In this case it's like some pop artists discovered these simple tunes and couldn't help but do a cover, all of which I think are well done. I love hearing the essentially primitive use of just organ and vocals when Mr. Johnston sings. And his actual band is, uh, actually a band along the same general lines of Jad Fair, where he's excentric but there's some musicians who get the tunes, the melodies, the art of it and can back him up appropriately. I found several songs that were touching. I'm not sure I was able to sit through a single original song but several of the covers, with less, uh, startling vocals, I was able to enjoy the easy ride from beginning to end. I'm not sure I'm going to rush out and get more Johnston records but I will buy any I can get my hands on for a nice low price, which is what I usually do anyway. He seems to go a deeper layer lyrically than most including stuff that most of us would likely find to be too sensitive, too pointed about ourselves to include in a song lyric that we then release to the public. But, I get the feeling it's all healing and I know that some of his tunes really are so sweet and hit just right and his boy voice is really nothing like the, well, my 16 year old step son describes Jad Fair's voice as a singing cat. I'd be more fair than that but it certainly is excentric. While Johnston's is just plain startling. I'm glad I got the record and I'm going to be plunging further into it a few times more to find out my favorites. I'm not sure there's any that I just can't really listen to like happens about 1/3 of the time on Jad Fair's solo and collabrative stuff. Now, his work with Half Japanese is virtually always shockingly brilliant, a full band sound typically, that just works fantastically with his approach. I'm delighted to see that other artists were able to find this music and were moved to cover some of the songs. A delightful addition to the library of cds that seem to grow over the years around here. One thing, I don't wanna have cds in the home that I don't like. This one's gonna stay unless I gotta sell some in future years to buy groceries when I'm old. God bless.

I learned about Daniel Johnston through the documentary "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" a few years ago. His story is fascinating, but it wasn't until I bought this compilation that I really came to appreciate his music. Each and every song is a gem. I can't listen to "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Your Grieviance" without smiling from ear to ear or "Story of an Artist" without a little sigh.The dual CD with the originals and the covers is a great idea. I like the covers (especially "Dream Scream" covered by Death Cab for Cutie), but I keep coming back to the original versions. They are so visceral and compelling. Just buy it.

CD came brand new, as described!

It is really fun to hear Daniel Johnston singing his songs. His voice is somewhat childlike and innocent and his poetry is both funny and poignant. I love to hear him sing "I'm Walking the Cow" because it always makes me smile. I also like most of the covers, especially Beck's cover of, "True Love Will Find You In The End," Clem Snide's, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievience," and Guster's,"The Sun Shines Down On Me." Buy this CD. It will make you happy.

This has been a great purchase. One disk of Johnston, one disk of artists covering him ...

As you all know, Sir Daniel Johnston is the best singer/songwriter of our era. He makes the most beautiful songs and lyrics, however we all know his limitations as far as recording and performing goes. This CD has the best of both worlds. I'm a sucker for covers, I simply love them, and these are all unbelievable covers of some of the best songs ever written. On one side, you've got the covers - it's worth mentioning the mind-blowing True Love Will Find you by Beck and the beautiful Living Life by Eels - and on the other side you have the originals for some nostalgic walkabouts and rainy days. Everyone who's a fan of music should own this. I wish they had a vinyl version.-

A work to possess absolutely. Some songs are beautiful and covers as well.

We are using the song "Go" as the processional for our wedding.This album is packed with amazing artists doing awesome covers.

Don't believe the cover he isn't visiting the grave of his musical endeavours!!! This LP is great, it has two discs and the 1st one is covers by quality bands and the 2nd disc is the same songs by the master himself! Another great place to start if you're new to the Johnston! He has a massive back catalogue......

An alternative legend. Couldn't sing and couldn't play guitar but lyrics and songs that coax the angels from heaven. The cover CD is great too showing how good his songs are by could we say 'accomplished' musicians.

Grande autore "diverso" che ha iniziato la sua carriera con dischi tutti autoprodotti poi negli anni 90 e' stato riscoperto e nel 2004 usci' questa raccolta di covers con Tom Waits, Mercury Rev, Eels , Gordon Gano dei Violent Femmes e molti altri a rendergli tributo. Il secondo cd e' una sorta di compilation della sua carriera, non certo un greatest hits visto che di hits non ne ha avuti ma e' una grande introduzione alla sua discografia. Non e' certo una bella voce o dei testi prevedibile Daniel Johnston e' molto altro e molto particolare. Prima che le scorte finiscano e i venditori su Amazon lo vendano a cifre assurde vi consiglio di comprarlo in tempo.Se avete paura che non sia la vostra "cup of tea" ascoltatelo su youtube prima.

The first tribute album I picked up after hearing a couple covers online, from the likes of: beck, eels, m ward, and Tom waits.This whole album was a great buy as it includes a disc of covers and originals! If you are even slightly interested by Daniel Johnston I say do it!

Die Platte hat durchaus ihre Qualitäten. Vor allem ist sie ein hervorragendes Anschauungsobjekt, wie ein simpel arrangiertes, größtenteils unter schlechtesten Bedingungen aufgenommenes Stück durch geschickte, dezente Neu-Instrumentation und gescheite Studiotechnik reifen kann, ohne dass allzu viel von der Substanz des Originals verloren geht. Aber interessanterweise sind manche der Lieder auf CD 2 (Originale) trotz der beRAUSCHENDEN Störgeräusche durch schlimmsten Tape-Hiss (lower als dieser Lo-Fi kann es nicht sein, gilt zumindest für die Johnston-Songs der 80er) eine Spur intensiver, knuddliger, obwohl des bärtigen Mannes Sangesqualitäten phänomenal unterdurchschnittlich sind (in einem Song schafft er keine einzige Höhe und krächzt), sein Gitarrenspiel das einem talentierten Schüler nach zwei Monaten Gruppenunterricht (rythmische Verschleppungen in nahezu allen älteren Stücken) gleicht und viele Lieder - das sehen die Cover-Künstler wohl anders - melodisch und harmonisch sehr einfach strukturiert sind. Und trotzdem: Das viel zu hohe Stimmchen des jungen Johnston und die gereifte, tiefere der vergangenen fünfzehn Jahre rührt irgendwie. Aber Meisterwerke des Songwritings sind das nicht unbedingt durchgängig. Zwei Tracks sind nur mit Solostimme aufgenommen, keine Instrumente! Aus einem ("Devil Town") hat Conor Oberst einen phantastischen, im Grunde neuen Song gezimmert, zwar ohne Refrain, aber den braucht man seit Bob Dylan ja nicht zwangsläufig. Einige Covers langweilen. Sie deuten die Songskizzen Johnston zu sehr aus, machen aus zwei Minuten vier Minuten. Tom Waits klingt wie Tom Waits. Beck macht auf Bob Dylan oder Bruce Springsteen und ist der einzige, der Johnston im Booklet nicht zum Halbgott macht, indem er auf Lobpreisungen grundsätzlich verzichtet. Aber die schwache Magie des Materials ist nach dreimaligem Durchhören weit gehend entfleucht. Und Johnstons frühere Aufnahmen (es sind ja unzählige Kassetten und später CDs) sind kurios, interessant, sogar stellenweise anrührend. Leider sind die neueren Sachen von ihm - allesamt im Studio entstanden - überhaupt nicht relevant. Hier vermisst man das Persönliche, das Gebrochene. Nullachtfünfzehn-Rock eben.