Harry Chapin

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Harry Chapin (December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer and songwriter. Chapin’s debut album, Heads and Tales (1972), was a success thanks to the single “Taxi”. His follow-up album, Sniper and Other Love Songs, was less successful; but his third, Short Stories, was a major success. Verities & Balderdash, released soon after, was even more successful, bolstered by the chart-topping hit single “Cat’s in the Cradle”. He also wrote and performed a Broadway musical, The Night That Made America Famous.

In the mid 1970s, Chapin focused on social activism, including raising money to combat hunger in the United States and co-founding the organization World Hunger Year, before returning to music with On the Road to Kingdom Come. He also released a book of poetry, Looking…Seeing, in 1977.

His fellow Long Islanders loved him for his support of local artists, as well. He and his wife Sandy raised funds for the Performing Arts Foundation, a now-defunct local theatre group. They also supported the Long Island Ballet. The band shell at Huntington’s Hecksher Park is named for Harry Chapin.

Chapin died on July 16, 1981 in an automobile accident on the Long Island Expressway at the age of 38. He was headed west from Huntington Bay, where he lived with his wife and three children, to perform a concert in Eisenhower Park in Nassau County when his car was struck by a truck.

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Verities & Balderdash
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Greatest Stories Live
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Legends Of The Lost And Found - New Greatest…
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Heads & Tails
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Top Tracks

1	Cat's In The Cradle	740
2	Cats In The Cradle	276
3	Taxi	142
4	I Wanna Learn A Love Song	78
5	Dreams Go By	47
6	Sunday Morning Sunshine	42
7	The Rock	38
8	Tangled Up Puppet	37
9	Flowers Are Red	33
10	WOLD	32
11	Corey's Coming	31
12	Mail Order Annie	25
13	Mr. Tanner	24
14	30,000 Pounds of Bananas	22
15	Dance Band on the Titanic	20

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hashcake77

I'm in the dance baaaand, on the titanic. Sing "Nearer, my God, to Thee". The iceberg's on the starboard bow, won't you dance with me?

September 2011
Karmageddonx

I am stunned by how few plays this amazing artist has. I had no idea he was so underrated. Kind of sad, actually.

July 2011
Stoosie

I like his music it's asshame he died so young

June 2011
Nagsworth

UNDERRATED HERO. One of the great American story-tellers, and an incredibly noble and charitable human being, I started listening when I was about 3 years old in my grandpa's car and I'm still listening today at age 24. His songs bring a chill to my bones.

May 2011
Early_Birds

Sniper is fantasticly haunting.

March 2011
Fitzer48

I was lucky enough to see Harry live twice on the U of Illinois campus during the 1970s. He said, they were Champaign-Urbana's house band...the campus loved him.

March 2011
bfmets

harry is the best ever telling stories with a horse voice and the acoustics behind him

February 2011
swollenappetite

Along with Phil Ochs, the finest protest singer of all time, although he specialised more in the loneliness and unconnectedness of humanity (There's A Lot Of Lonely People/Easy/Better Place to Be). He was the one who put me on to Phil Ochs, a now virtually unknown singer but - like Harry - one of the finest lyricists around. I too saw him live in England, where he sang Mail Order Annie absolutely unaccompanied and brought the house down. Favourite story about him: how he played Sniper at a concert where the father of the subject of the song was present and walked out; he made inquiries, found out who he was and went round to his house and said he would never play the song in public again... our loss, but what a sensitive man!

December 2010
Dirtguy4halos

Hell now i'm 50 and I like this song even more now that i'm a dad. Sorry had to wipe a tear, my young boys were calling!

December 2010
s_sourabh

He is undoubtedly under rated. *respect*

July 2010
Tr1xx

Surprised to see W.O.L.D isn't higher up the stats. It's just such a great song.

April 2010
buffalofan51

dwight and andy singing was a great scene.

March 2010
eriqk

thanks dwight

March 2010
pearleed

Cats in the cradle, the best version of that song ever.

March 2010
Adamska2326

by far THE most under rated artist of all time

February 2010
ExspectaMortem

Aaah, the original "Cats in the cradle" is much better than Ugly Kid Joe's cover.

January 2010
fbelmont

No words for my love.

December 2009
chalman

Saw him twice, as my all time fave he appeared in UK and saw him one night and had to see him again the next night, slightly different set each night and the usual 2 hours plus of pure emotion, particularly when he walked into audience playing Mail Order Annie on his harmonica. Also got to get his poetry book signed and shake his hand... magic time and I will always play his music regularly because of how it makes me feel.

November 2009
rustyrussel

Why can't I listen to any more of his songs on here, even on Harry Chapin Radio he never comes on.

November 2009
margotemk

I was lucky - got to see him live, bought an album, and got a kiss as part of a fundraiser. It was a great show - never forgot it. Cat's in the Cradle made me a fan.

August 2009