 | Hangin around the Observatory by John Hiatt
"Rose" and "Ocean" show the promise that Hiatt would eventually blossom into, and "Sure As I'm Sitting Here" became a hit for Three Dog Night. Hiatt's first is a songwriter trying to be everything.
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 | Overcoats by John Hiatt
Buy used from: $29.89 More country sounding than "Observatory," but again, Hiatt is stil trying to write "Hits" here. CBS dropped him after this album.
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 | Slug Line by John Hiatt
Buy used from: $2.86 Hiatt moved to Los Angeles and signed to MCA, where he made this "Angry Young Man" album. "Washable Ink" is great.
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 | Two Bit Monsters by John Hiatt
Buy used from: $2.43 Still making like an American Elvis Costello, but "Pink Bedroom" and "It Hasn't Happened Yet" show Hiatt in his best form yet. MCA gave him the heave-ho after this one.
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 | All of a Sudden by John Hiatt
Buy used from: $0.98 The fledgling Geffen records snatched John up and then tried to get an American "Armed Forces" out of him. This is the album where Hiatt finally finds his voice; "My Edge Of The Razor" is fantastic.
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 | Riding with the King by John Hiatt
Buy used from: $2.63 More acoustic and folky, this is probably the closest Hiatt came with Geffen to making a "John Hiatt" album. The title track and "She Loves The Jerk" are standouts.
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 | Warming Up to the Ice Age by John Hiatt
Buy used from: $1.50 Overproduced. But "The Usual" was worthy of Bob Dylan, and Elvis C came on board to duet on - of all things - a Spinners cover. It was bye-bye Geffen after this one sank.
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 | Y'All Caught? The Ones That Got Away 1979-1985 by John Hiatt
Buy used from: $0.97 Released shortly after "Bring The Family" started getting attention, this is a fair representation of the albums from "Slug Line" to "Ice Age."
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 | Bring the Family by John Hiatt
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.35 Signed to A&M, this is the watershed moment. His best band (Nick Lowe, Ry Cooder and Jim Keltner) and his most intimate songs. Hiatt's masterpiece.
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 | Slow Turning by John Hiatt
Buy new: $9.98 / Used from: $1.09 A step back from "Family," but "Tennesse Plates," "Drive South" and "Feels Like Rain" are all great.
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 | Stolen Moments by John Hiatt
Buy used from: $1.18 Hiatt went for a more soulful sound here and came out pretty good. "Child Of The Wild Blue Yonder" was a near hit.
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 | Perfectly Good Guitar by John Hiatt
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $1.48 Rocking pretty hard, but also has the outstanding "Buffalo River Home."
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 | Hiatt Comes Alive at Budokan? by John Hiatt and the Guilty Dogs
Buy used from: $2.89 Contract breaker and sounds it. The title is a joke, the songs were recorded at various US shows.
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 | John Hiatt - Greatest Hits: The A&M Years '87-'94 by John Hiatt
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $5.33 The meatiest period of Hiatt's carrer, well represented.
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 | 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of John Hiatt by John Hiatt
Buy new: $7.97 / Used from: $2.39 Passable: Released in 2003, but only 12 songs. "The A&M Years" has all of these and more.
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 | Little Village by Little Village
Buy used from: $0.01 Seemed like a good idea; reunite the "Family" band as a supergroup. Too bad it sounds so lame..... Best song is Hiatt's "Don't Think About Her When You're Trying To Drive."
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 | Little Head by John Hiatt
Buy used from: $0.97 Aside from "Pirate Radio," this disc sounded like it was rush recorded and written. Still, sub-par Hiatt is always better than most.
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 | Walk On by John Hiatt
Buy new: $11.94 / Used from: $1.49 Intimate and confessional, easily his best since "Bring The Family." "Cry Love" should have been a hit.
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 | The Best of John Hiatt by John Hiatt
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.66 While it was released before the A&M years collection, the rerecorded "Have A Little Faith in Me" made this one a stinker.
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 | Crossing Muddy Waters by John Hiatt
Buy used from: $5.81 Hiatt switched gears here. His songwriting became less showy and the result was folksy and strong.
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 | The Tiki Bar Is Open by John Hiatt
Buy used from: $6.61 A little looser than "Crossing," and actually a lot of fun. Hiatt enters the new century rejuvenated.
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 | Beneath This Gruff Exterior by John Hiatt & the Goners
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $2.94 Recorded in 8 days with his band The Goners, Hiatt rocks and makes an album as tough and tender as "Perfectly Good Guitar."
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 | Anthology by John Hiatt
Buy new: $14.97 / Used from: $8.77 Covering all the albums up to "Crossing Muddy Waters," and a bargain at 40 songs on two discs. If you can't buy a bunch of the single CD's then this is really a great set.
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