Phil Vassar

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Prayer of a Common Man
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List Price: $10.98
Amazon Price: $3.10

Album Description
Phil Vassar has gained much attention through his knack for hit songwriting and his compelling and highly entertaining skills on the piano. The Chicago Tribune writes, "Phil Vassar has the talent of a legend." He has sold millions of records both on his own and for other artists such as Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, and Colin Raye with his chart topping penmanship.

His first Universal Records South release is co-produced by Vassar with Universal Records South President and noted producer, Mark Wright (Gretchen Wilson, Brooks & Dunn, Lee Ann Womack). Vassar's heart-swelling embrace of life's richest blessings is also apparent, especially on lead single "Love Is A Beautiful Thing." At the same time, his writing has grown more introspective and personal, as "This Is My Life" and the title track can attest. The new album may show Vassar's serious side, but he hasn't forgotten how to have fun. "My Chevrolet," "Why Don't Ya" and "Baby Rocks" rank among his best toe-tappers and are already getting warm receptions at his heralded live shows. Even on the love songs, Vassar shows his uncommon charm, wit and playfulness, be it "Around Here Somewhere" or "It's Only Love." And he's not shy about taking strong emotions head on with "I Would" or on the stunningly raw "Let Me Love You Tonight."

His songwriting is fueled by his hard-charging touring schedule. "People ask me why I still do so many shows, but you work your whole life just to get to the point where people want you to come play," he says.

Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
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List Price: $18.97
Amazon Price: $4.97

CUSTOMER REVIEW:
hs
Love it! Love it! Love it!!. Had it. Relative "borrowed it" and never gave it back. Bought new one and haven't told anyone that I have it. The music and lyrics are great. You can't help, but sing and dance or, at least, tap your toes.

Shaken Not Stirred
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List Price: $11.98
Amazon Price: $4.00

Amazon.com
On his third album, singer-piano thumper Phil Vassar has made a couple of wise choices. He brought his own band into the studio while spending more of his own studio time tickling the ivories. With entertaining and insightful piano ballads like "Gone by Dawn," "Amazing Grace," and the stirring personal anthem "Black and Whites," Vassar emerges as something of a contemporary country-pop answer to Billy Joel. He's a little less convincing on evanescent chart fodder like "What Happens in Vegas" and the lusty "I'll Take That as a Yes," but when he lets his obvious pop-rock influences roam free on the keyboard he sounds masterful and built to last. --Bob Allen

Phil Vassar
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List Price: $11.98
Amazon Price: $6.25

Amazon.com
Songwriters who make the jump to recording artist often have a tough time--either their personalities are too introverted or their voices better suited for demos than major-label debuts. But the piano-playing Vassar, who's penned hits for Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw, and Alan Jackson, should be able to take the leap in stride. Stylistically, he's gleefully reminiscent of other favorites: "Joe and Rosalita" is dead-on Billy Joel, "Like I Never Loved Before" seems straight out of Michael Peterson, and doesn't that piano line on "Lucky as Me" remind you of Bruce Hornsby? But whether he's a talented imitator or a marketer with an eye for the Billboard charts, Vassar's regular-guy vocals and upbeat persona--undeniably infectious and feel-good, despite several forays into mawkish ballads--seems just the ticket as country meanders through its current identity crisis. --Alanna Nash

American Child
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List Price: $11.98
Amazon Price: $2.74

CUSTOMER REVIEW:
This is the revised version of the album
This former songwriter to the country stars (Tim, Alan, Jo Dee) may list Merle and Willie as influences in his bio, but it's Bruce Hornsby who comes to mind when one listens to the prominently-placed piano and mandolin on Vassar's first two releases. He earns his spot in country music, however, with his impressive ability to consistently merge life experiences with strong melodies.

Unsurprisingly, Vassar had a hand in writing all twelve tracks on this second outing. He takes his stab at post-9/11 patriotism with the "anything is possible in America" sentiments of the title track. Humor also figures strongly in the mix with the witty wordplay of "Athens, Grease" (think early Clint Black) and the commitment phobic "Houston (We Got A Problem)." Relationships are a dominant theme throughout, running the gamut from the rollicking remembrance of a high school flame "Forgettin's So Long" to the poignantly lovestruck ballad "Already Gone."

Recently, this album was re-released with two additional tracks which strengthen the cd considerably. One is the timely single "This Is God," which finds Vassar taking on the role of our heavenly father in order to question the chaos going on in the world. The other is a remake of the Huey Lewis & The News hit "Workin' For A Living" as a duet with Lewis himself. It's long been a highlight of Vassar's stage show and its frenetic tempo adds some much needed balance to the serious fare.

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