Lost & Found: Jeff Buckley Rarities
Sometimes good things come to those who wait. It would be unfair to talk about my love for Jeff Buckley without talking about my love affair, and apparent obsession with his only finished album, Grace. Ever since Grace has entered my life, I have been on the mission of spreading the gospel of that album, and the tragedy of its creator - who was taken far too early from this earth. But of course, that raises the question of if Buckley’s greatness is rather a result of the fact that he was taken so early, leaving us with the questions of “what if?” and “what next?”Would another album have spoiled the perfection? Could he ever have out done that which he did on Grace? I know many are already asking those same questions regarding another Jeff (Mangum), and his masterpiece In the Aeroplane over the Sea. If an artist reached his potential is there a reason to ever try and do it again?
In my opinion, I think there is a reason, for different periods come different experiences that shape and affect the way ones sees the world around them. I am a believer that the only thing a piece of art can be compared to is itself, and that its validity is only found in regard to how well the artist is able to translate that specific feeling, vision, or thought. Grace has achieved this in my eyes and it would be interesting to see how Buckley, if alive today would be 40 years old, would translate his art if he was around presently. With these little gems of non-album tracks it is only imaginable that it would be something we would all want to hear.
[mp3] Jeff Buckley & Elizabeth Fraser – All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun
[mp3] Jeff Buckley – Forget Her
[mp3] Jeff Buckley – Grace (Studio Demo)
[mp3] Jeff Buckley – What Will You Say (Live)
[mp3] Jeff Buckley – I Want Someone Badly (w/ Shudder To Think)
Has anyone seen the Jeff Buckley documentary Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley? I know it has been making the rounds at film festivals but I haven’t heard any first accounts. If you have had a chance to see it the Content would love to hear your thoughts about it?
posted by Anonymous at 10:09 AM
6 Comments:
There's pages you could write about Buckley's music. All great things never do seem to last. I loved Grace the moment I bought it - was so disappointed when I heard he'd died.
I got Sketches as well, and there's some great songs on there as well - especially New Year's Prayer and You & I. Looking forward to checking out these later tonight!
I've been waiting for that documentary for about a year now, still eagerly awaiting it.
Thanks for the tracks. I managed to find his St. Annes performance the other day and a few rare covers (two Elton John ones amongst them).
I'm not sure it matters whether Buckley would have lived up to "Grace" with subsequent releases. Plenty of artists hit a peak relatively early in their career, but their later work can still be interesting and valuable, even if it can never live up to Astral Weeks (Van Morrison), Forever Changes (Arthur Lee) or Pet Sounds (Brian Wilson). Of course some artists can even surprise us with another peak effort later in life, like Blood on the Tracks nine years after Blonde on Blonde - sadly we'll never know if Buckley would have been capable of that kind of growth.
Oh my gosh, i love that Jeff Buckley & Liz song! Thanks for posting it! Do you know anything about when or where they recorded it?
Jeff Buckley is one of the most popular singer in the 90's, I think that we miss a lot when he died, I have listened some of his albums and he is really good!!22dd
nice blog.. very nice to know about this topic...
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