Harry Chapin: Rockpalast Live--25th Anniversary

Hard to believe that more than two decades have passed since Harry Chapin died in a car crash on the Long Island Expressway. But while Chapin's personal legacy has lived on through such mega-happenings as “We Are the World” (produced by Chapin's manager Ken Kragen, who was partially inspired by Chapin's tireless efforts to relieve human suffering), it is his music, of course, that is best remembered, and this 1977 German concert, presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, offers a nostalgic reminder of his particular appeal. A consummate storyteller, Chapin wrote vivid, evocative, sympathetic tales about the common man, from farmers and their mail-order brides (“Mail Order Annie”) to disc jockeys (“W.O.L.D.") and would-be singers (“Mr. Tanner”), not to mention two huge hits--“Taxi” and “Cat's in the Cradle.” Chapin's style here can become a bit precious and wearing (or, in the case of the clunky “Blues Man,” borderline embarrassing) after a while, but overall the self-effacing singer/songwriter and his versatile band (which included brother Steve on piano) deliver the musical goods. The DVD includes a lengthy Chapin bio, a discography, and links to organizations designed to help the less fortunate. Recommended. Aud: P. (S. Graham)