I'm well aware as I write this review that our late, lamented colleague Duke Egbert expertly penned his opinion on Sniper And Other Love Songs, the 1972 sophomore release from Harry Chapin. But, when looking at Chapin's discography, one sometimes has to walk the path laid by others and throw their two cents into the well.

So, Duke - and Dad - this one's for you both.

It would have been simple to write Chapin off after his debut album Heads & Tales. Yes, it spawned a minor hit in "Taxi," but there wasn't much more to back that up. Also, Chapin was still trying to find his own style and voice; that was only going to be developed through time.

So, a scant few months after his debut, Sniper And Other Love Songs hit the shelves. And, it was obvious that while Chapin was still developing his style, he had definitely learned lessons from his first outing, and this disc marked a major improvement.

For starters, Chapin's storytelling prowess has definitely improved, most notably on "A Better Place To Be" - a song in his catalog which should be held up to the same light as "Taxi" and "Cat's In The Cradle". A tale about loneliness, lust and loss, if this one doesn't move you by the end, you've got Bosco in your veins.

Lesser recognized, but just as powerful, is "Sniper" - perhaps because its story rang too true, even in 1972, and certainly is a tough thing to listen to in an age where it feels like there's a mass shooting every week. With many different sides of the picture weighing in throughout the nearly 10 minutes this track spans, it's not one that I listen to often, but the more I do, the more I understand just how important this song has become.

Chapin's lighter side also comes to the forefront on Sniper And Other Love Songs. Another track that became a staple in his live shows, "Circle" is almost hypnotic in its simplicity, but latches the listener in quickly. "Barefoot Boy" and "Sunday Morning Sunshine" likewise showcase the level of growth Chapin experienced in both his songwriting and his performance style.

Not everything on this disc quite hits the mark - though the remaining songs can hardly be called bad. "Winter Song," "And The Baby Never Cries" and "Woman Child" are solid enough efforts, and might have been candidates to be stand-out tracks on a different album. Here, they just don't shine as brightly as they possibly could have - or they still sometimes feel stuck in the same style that made up Heads & Tales.

Still, Sniper And Other Love Songs is a major step forward for Chapin and his backing band. It's not the easiest of his albums to find anymore (though it's certainly easier than Legends Of The Lost And Found), but is well worth searching out and picking up.

Rating: B+

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