Love's Been Good To Me: Songs Of Rod Mckuen / Various

UK collection. This installment in Ace Records' popular Songwriters series puts the spotlight on the late Rod McKuen. A born outsider, Rod McKuen was embraced by millions of fans who connected with the expressions of desire, nostalgia and self-acceptance found in his songs and poems. In the early 1960s, he began to visit France and gain entry into Parisian songwriting circles. By 1964 he was co-writing with a host of leading French chansonniers, most notably Jacques Brel, resulting in such international hits as 'If You Go Away' and 'Seasons In The Sun'. Frank Sinatra devoted his 1969 album A Man Alone to McKuen material, turning in suavely bittersweet renditions of such tunes as 'Lonesome Cities', 'Love's Been Good To Me' and 'I've Been To Town'. Meanwhile, McKuen gained even wider exposure by composing songs for the films The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and The Borrowers. Another creative avenue opened up when he collaborated with arranger/composer Anita Kerr on a series of thematic albums beginning with 1967's The Sea, a soft-pop landmark of it's era. This compilation offers a taste of the breadth and diversity of McKuen's output as a songwriter. The versions of his tunes gathered here testify to his versatility, craftsmanship and feel for a strong hook. From folk anthems to movie themes and French chanson ballads, these songs cover exceptionally wide ground. His death in January 2015 left some of his dreams still unfulfilled, but there was no denying the scope of his accomplishments over a 50-plus year career. Through ability, tenacity and sheer will, he overcame enormous obstacles to become one of the great pop culture icons of his time. Surviving poverty, damaged vocal chords and the sneers of the intelligentsia, he left behind a body of work that deserves rediscovery.