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"...Once I Was A Man
Alone...Time To Carry On…"
I purchased these superb
sounding Dan Fogelberg 2CD reissues 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.
UK released 12 December 2011
- "Twin Sons Of Different Mothers/Phoenix" by DAN FOGELBERG on Beat Goes
On BGOCD 1021 (Barcode 5017261210210) is Volume 3 in this series of Beat Goes
On 2CD Remasters and Reissues.
While "Phoenix" is a DAN FOGELBERG solo LP
- the "Twin Sons" set is credited to DAN FOGELBERG and TIM WEISBERG.
This British 2CD Reissue 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
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…” 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” or “Wired” but without the lead guitars. One of the three
vocal performances “The Power Of Gold” even became a minor US 7” single hit
(features Don Henley on barely perceptible backing vocals). Beautifully
produced - it was given a Half Speed Mastered Vinyl LP reissue in the Eighties.
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…
He would really open out with
“The Innocent Age” double in 1981 (featuring a rare duet vocal appearance by Joni
Mitchell on the track "Nexus"). In the meantime - this
beautiful-sounding 2CD reissue (along with the others) does his musical legacy
proud...
