With the release of 'Heads And Tails' in 1972 Harry Chapin began a successful career of telling significant stories of contemporary times. That initial album contained the fan and early 70's AM radio favorite 'Taxi' which quickly became his signature song. He made a pyrotechnic rise to fame with 1974's 'Verities & Balderdash' which became his best-selling album , reaching number 4 on the American charts, easily becoming a gold record. It's success can be immediately attributed to the number 1 single "Cat's In The Cradle", a ballad about a neglectful and career-oriented father written by Chapin's wife Sandy. Actually, each song on this album (CD) represents Chapin working at the peak of his musical powers, it is an incredible and remarkable achievement - almost classifiable as a musical landmark. Not really a folk singer by definition Chapin's songs reflected that folksy, whimsical charm that nevertheless earned him that classification. He never really won universal acclaim from music critics, mainly because of his combining orchestral arrangements with a standard approach to ballad performances. They also accused him of overly sentimental lyrics and the inclusion of heavy-handed morality. Regardless of this criticism Chapin garnered a devoted following during the 70's, through his exceptional music and his tireless charity work, and still later as a social activist. Chapin was that rare celebrity who put his money where his mouth was, becoming one of the era's most dedicated and compelling forces in effecting aid to the hungry, raising well over 5 million dollars for the cause. Equal parts wistful, poignant, genial, caustic, literate, salient Harry Chapin made a deep impression on people that is still evident today. He made the statement, "Our lives are to be used and thus to be lived as fully as possible. And truly it seems that we are never so alive as when we concern ourselves with other people." In retrospect, for Harry Chapin a life lived was a life explained.