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"...Once I Was A Man
Alone...Time To Carry On…"
I purchased these superb sounding Dan Fogelberg 2CD compilations by Beat Goes On Records of England way back and have been meaning to review them ever since.
I've covered Volume 1 "Home Free" (1972) / "Souvenirs" (1974) and Volume 2 "Captured Angel" (1975) / "Nether Lands" (1977) in separate reviews. Here comes Volume 3 that covers his fifth and sixth studio albums from 1978 and 1979...to the details...
UK released 12 December 2011 - "Twin Sons Of Different Mothers/Phoenix" by DAN FOGELBERG on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD 1021 (Barcode 5017261210210) is Volume 3 in a Series of Beat Goes On 2CD Remastered Compilations.
While "Phoenix" is a DAN FOGELBERG solo LP - the "Twin Sons" set is credited to DAN FOGELBERG and TIM WEISBERG. This British 2CD Compilation plays out as follows...
Disc 1 (34:44 minutes):
1. Twins Theme [Side 1]
2. Intimidation
3. Lazy Susan
4. Guitar Etude No. 3
5. Tell Me To My Face
6. Hurtwood Alley [Side 2]
7. Lahaina Luna
8. Paris Nocturne
9. Since You've Asked
10. The Power Of Gold
Tracks 1 to 10 are his 5th album "Twin Sons Of Different Mothers" [credited with Jazz Flautist TIM WEISBERG] - first issued September 1978 in the USA on Full Moon JE 35339 and in the UK on Epic EPC 82774.
Disc 2 (42:52 minutes):
1. Tullamore Dew [Side 1]
2. Phoenix
3. Gypsy Wind
4. The Last To Know
5. Face The Fire
6. Wishing On The Moon [Side 2]
7. Heart Hotels
8. Longer
9. Beggar's Game
10. Along The Road
Tracks 1 to 10 are his 6th LP "Phoenix" - first issued December 1979 in the USA on Full Moon Records PE 35634 and in the UK on Epic EPC 83317.
Like the other reissues in this superb series - the 16-page booklet is excellent – all artwork reproduced, the lyrics to both albums, full credits - and comes complete with new liner notes in this case by noted writer JOHN O'REGAN. With the outer card wrap – it's a classy presentation. But the big news for fans is the fabulous remasters. ANDREW THOMPSON at Sound Mastering in London has done the deed (he's handled large numbers of BGO’s reissues) and his transfers on this 2CD set are beautifully handled. On to the music…
I can still recall the shock of "Twin Sons Of A Different Mother". Having done 4 albums of Eagles-type singer-songwriter fare – Fogelberg went Instrumental and probably scared the crap out of his loyal fans. Excluding an acoustic/string ditty here and there – most of the 7 instrumentals on the 10-track LP are Flute Driven Jazz Fusion of sorts – a little like Jeff Beck's "Blow By Blow" (1975) or "Wired" (1976) - but without the lead guitars. "Since You've Asked" is a Judy Collins cover version while "Tell Me To Your Face" revisits a Hollies song from their late 1966 LP "For Certain Because…" with a full eight-minutes-plus rendition (Don Henley of Eagles provides harmony Vocals). Number three of the vocal performances on the September 1978 LP even became a minor US 7" 45-single hit - the Fogelberg-penned "The Power Of Love" - also featuring Don Henley (on barely perceptible backing vocals).
Why the album reached No. 8 on the US Billboard charts is a mystery to me. But - beautifully produced - "Twin Sons…" was also given a Half Speed Mastered Vinyl LP reissue in the Eighties when Audiophile pressings became all the vogue. So it's not surprising that the CD remaster here is breathtaking. I only wish I could say that the album warrants it because for me "Twin Sons…" has always been a failed curio. Some of the tracks are interesting for sure (like "Intimidation") - but there are no real songs on here.
But if "Twin Sons..." is three stars, then Fogelberg more than made up for it when he returned in 1979 with what is easily his most accomplished all-rounder album - the five-star "Phoenix". Opening with a fantastic double-whammy of the pretty acoustic instrumental "Tullamore Dew" – it launches into the long rocking "Phoenix" (lyrics above). The trio of gorgeous soft ballads "Gypsy Wind", "Heart Hotel" and especially "Longer" were tailor-made for Radio and not surprisingly "Longer" became a hit single for him in January 1980 (reached Number 2 on the Pop charts). But I've always felt that the album finisher "Along The Road" is a true Dan Fogelberg masterpiece – haunting to this day. And having lived with the crappy Eighties American CD all these years – I can't stress enough how good this 2011 remaster has made the album sound. Wonderful…
Fogelberg would really open out with "The Innocent Age" Double Studio Album in 1981 (featuring a rare duet vocal appearance by Joni Mitchell on the track "Nexus"). In the meantime - this beautiful-sounding 2CD compilation (along with the others) does his musical-legacy proud...
