Most of these tracks come from Kristofferson's classic Me & Bobby McGee album from 1971 and they're all masterpieces with numerous cover versions. Songs like Sunday Morning Coming Down, For The Good Times and Help Me Make It Through The Night demonstrate his unique compositional skills and ability to capture universal feelings and moods. Me & Bobby McGee was beautifully transformed into a soulful rock song by Janis Joplin whilst Gordon Lightfoot's flowing folk rendition also remains a classic. The gospel song Why Me was probably Kristofferson's greatest hit as it stayed on the Billboard Hot Hundred for months in about 1973/1974. Although there are more comprehensive best of collections from this sadly neglected singer and composer, this collection contains most of his best work and is a pleasure to return to again and again.
I am a big fan of Kris Kristofferson's music. He is and always has been my favorite songwriter. The songs are great.
The 11 songs include his most known: Loving Her Was Easier, For the Good Times, Help Me Make it Through the Night, Sunday Morning Coming Down, and Why Me. Me and Bobby McGee is here but is probably more remembered for Janis Joplin's version. More gifted as a songwriter than singer, his gravelly voice seems to reverberate between a bass and baritone range.
But the songs expose a soul tired of life. On one live number he tells the audience he wants to thank "Joni Mitchell" then says no, he wants to thank Lilly Tomlin and some others. Kris K humor? Or...?
