The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter is the second compilation album by American singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, released by Columbia Records on November 4, 2003. Unlike Carpenter's first compilation album, Party Doll and Other Favorites (1999), which comprised a mix of studio and live versions of her greatest hits, The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter features the original studio versions only.
Reception The album reached No. 63 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. AllMusic rated the collection 4-out-of-5-stars, writing: "While the majority of these tracks are also included on Party Doll and Other Favorites, the difference is Essential contains the radio versions, not alternate takes or live tracks. Both discs are recommended to fans of Carpenter's modern folk/country hybrid." Barnes & Noble stated: "It's a challenge to summarize Mary Chapin Carpenter's deep catalogue on one disc, but this Essential release does a fine job of surveying the impressive range and sophistication of the singer-songwriter's music over the past decade-plus." Andy Gill summarized in an Uncut magazine review that "The mould-breaking Nashville singer-songwriter [got] a marvellous Best-Of.", noting in the review that "The largest part of this compilation comes from 1992's Come On, Come On, the album that broke her to a mainstream audience through Grammy-winning country hits like [Lucinda Williams'] 'Passionate Kisses'; the wry 'I Feel Lucky' and especially the anthemic instant classic 'He Thinks He'll Keep Her', about an ignored wife pining for affection."
Track listing All songs written by Mary Chapin Carpenter, except where noted.
Charts Chart (2003) Peak position
References
External links Mary Chapin Carpenter's official website