| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| lemonade kid |
Posted - 31/05/2016 : 16:03:07
DAN FOGELBERG
Daniel Grayling "Dan" Fogelberg (August 13, 1951 Ð December 16, 2007) was an American musician, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist whose music was inspired by sources as diverse as folk, pop, rock, classical, jazz, and bluegrass. --wiki
Dan said many times throughout his career that Buffalo Springfield was his favorite American band.
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One of the more underrated and mislabeled artists to grace our hearts and ears. So often lazily called an M.O.R. artist by would-be reviewers who never delve into any artist's deep cuts (MOR-a label that should be reserved for the Barry Manilow's of the music world).
But Dan's love for Buffalo Springfield and 60's rock is evident in everything created. That inspiration and reverence for Neil, Steve and Richie is revealed in the first song he released and one that I mistook for CSN&Y the first time I heard it on my tiny Toyota Corolla am radio. I was pumped at the beauty and strength at what I thought would be a new Neil Yong penned classic...
LONG WAY HOME (Live In The Country) from "Home Free 1972
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAJPjPf9sLI
...of course I found out by the end of the tune it was by a new (exciting to me) artist. After getting his first LP, I was convinced Dan would have a long rewarding career.
And Dan could rock hard, enlisting multiple lead guitarist, sometime all one one song, much like his heroes did in the 60's.
Tullamore Dew / Phoenix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUgUcVnT3NI
"Tullamore Dew was written as an instrumental prelude to the "Phoenix "album, It is also the name of a very fine Irish whiskey that I used to have quite an affinity for. Phoenix is a hard driving piece that I wrote about resurrection. We all suffer the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" but the human heart is an amazingly resilient muscle." (Dan Fogelberg)
Special thanks to Bobby for typing Dan's liner notes from Portrait Booklet for me!
Tullamore Dew (Instrumental) ~ Dan Fogelberg
Phoenix ~ Dan Fogelberg (Lyrics)
9:34 minutes
A multi-instrumenallst Dan also brought in the elite among his friends and peers (for most of Dan's recording career, & many of these guys were regulars)
David Briggs-keyboards
Kenny Buttery-drums
Norbert Putnam-bass & cello
Buddy Spicier-Violin, viola
Joe Walsh-guitar
Al Perkins-pedal steel
Russ Kunzel-drums
Paul Harris-piano
David Crosby-vocals
Joe Lala-conga
Glen Frey-vocals
Don Henley-vocals
Randy Meisner-vocals
Graham Nash-vocals
Neil young Vocals
Richie Furray-vocals
J.D. Souther
Tim Weisberg
Tom Scott-sax
Mike Finnegan-organ
Emmylou Harris-Vocals
Joni Mitchell=vocals
Kenny Passrrelli
Michael Utley-keyboards
Tomthy B.Schmidth
Joe Vitale-drums
Jeff Porcaro-drums
Herb Peterson-banjo, vocals
Chris hillman-mandolin
Doc Watson-guitar
Ricky Skaggs-Violin, vocals
David Grisman-mandolin
Charlie McCoy-harmonica
Vince Gill-guitar, vocals
Jerry Douglas-dobro, guitar, vocals
and many many more!
And of course Dan could play a bit too...and picked up most of these himself at some point during the recording of every album.
Dan Fogelberg - synthesizer, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, bass, banjo, harmonica, percussion, piano, drums, electric guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboards, electric piano, organ, vocals, slide guitar, classical guitar, woodwind, vibraphone
Dan began his career with music inspired by the 60's and Buffalo Springfield. That love spanned his career beginning with "Home Free", recording a Springfield tribute at the apex of his career...
Innocent Age......with Richie Furray on backing vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uunU0Aoup_I
"My tribute to my favorite American band, Buffalo Springfield. Really went after the guitar and drums sounds from their records. It was a great touch to have Ritchie Furay (original Springfield member) sing harmony on it. Thanks, Rich!" (Dan Fogelber)
And knowing that he was not long for this world, Dan ended his final album with a Neil Young song, bringing in Neil on backing vocals...
Birdswith Neil Young
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_JVBPzau9M
Birds, words and music by Neil Young. Piano, lead and harmony vocals by Dan Fogelberg.
This is a quite heartbreaking cover by Dan Fogelberg of Neil Young's "Birds". The track "Birds" is on Dan Fogelberg's final album Love In Time, which was released on August 13, 2009 -- his 58th Birthday -- approximately two years after his death. He recorded the tunes in his own studio at his home in Colorado before his death and then put the recordings away - to be released after his death. After his death, his wife Jean sent them off to be finished and commercially packaged with a beautiful cover Dan Fogelberg's photo.
(Thank you Jean for such a wonderful piece of Dan's music to share with all of us.)
The last song of the album is dedicated to his wife Jeanie. Listening to someone who knows that he will soon die while singing the refrain 'It's over...it's over' is "unbelievably poignant".
At the end of the song, Dan added the tune of "To the morning" (his first written song in his first album), the end connected to the beginning, what a brilliant idea, it's a full circle, Dan will always in our heart, we thank you for your love gift, we find comfort in your music, may your legacy ever on....--JMEAGLE 101
Love In Time
Soft Voice
So Many Changes
Come To The Harbor
A Growing Time
The Colors Of Eve
Diamonds To Dust
The Nature Of The Game
Sometimes A Song
Days To Come
Birds
Produced by DAN FOGELBERG
All instruments and vocals by DAN FOGELBERG
To The Morning.... 1972
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxClQ_pInzc
The Last Nail
"A very cathartic song about finally letting go of my first great love. Never thought I'd use the word Pennsylvania in a song, but there you are." (Dan Fogelberg)
" The Last Nail " written by singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg, from "Captured Angel" album (1975), also included in "Portrait - The Music of Dan Fogelberg" 4-CD Box Set (1997) Disc 4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWH_nvLK7jc
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The actual writing of a song usually comes in the form of a realisation.
I can't contrive a song. Ð GENE CLARK |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| lemonade kid |
Posted - 31/05/2016 : 17:28:30
A great picking and grinning tune...
Morning Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAAZ1Exv6tI
Changing Horses in the Middle of a Stream
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5IK5RH-enU
Better Change...so much of Springfield in his soul & what is a definite Poco influence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b90ZVVq1hD8
________________________________________________
The actual writing of a song usually comes in the form of a realisation.
I can't contrive a song. Ð GENE CLARK
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| lemonade kid |
Posted - 31/05/2016 : 17:01:28
Souvenirs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bj3OgR7llU
What does your second album, Souvenirs, represent to you?
"That was my L.A. days, running with The Eagles. They were all over that record, we were buddies and we were touring. The thing that I'm most proud of with that record is that it opened the door to the people I wanted to work with. And Joe Walsh got me Russ Kunkel. I always looked up to Russell immensely from his James Taylor and Carole King work. And I was just drooling to work with this guy. And Walsh just called him and he came down, and here I had him and Al Perkins from Manassas and Graham Nash came in. So I got to work with a lot of my heroes on that record. And it opened the door for me in L.A. as far as not just being the kid anymore, but being one of the guys. So I remember that one as a real good time ... probably way too good a time. It's a miracle we survived that record." (Dan Fogelberg) - Interview by Lydia Hutchinson
..................................
River Of Souls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pXoTp9-6EI
"A track cut in L.A. and Colorado for the album of the same name. A strange song about the transition from this life to the next. Not exactly commercial fare but what can you do? Billy Payne (of Little Feat) played a marvelous piano solo live on the tracking date." (Dan Fogelberg)
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The actual writing of a song usually comes in the form of a realisation.
I can't contrive a song. Ð GENE CLARK |
| lemonade kid |
Posted - 31/05/2016 : 16:59:15
An interviewet shared here about life with the late great Dan Fogelberg...
Wild Child
Like many of us, Dan Fogelberg came up here to look for something. His wife, Jean Fogelberg, shares what he foundÉ
As The Raven Flies...with Joe Walsh on lead guitar--some fine twin lead guitars with Dan on electric lead too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byOELUWN7Rw
Interview with Jean Fogelberg
By Robert Witkowski
©Portland Magazine - Portland, Maine
What first drew Dan to Maine?
DanÕs first wife, Maggie. They were coming back from EuropeÐsheÕd taken ballet lessons in Blue Hill when she was young, and she said, ÔYou really need to see Maine.Õ He just fell in love with this place. Dan wanted an island. The realtor, Vance Gray [of Downeast Properties], told him, ÔYou donÕt want an island!Õ Then he saw the old sea captainÕs house on Deer Isle. It had grass coming through the floorboards, and he fell in love with it. He said, ÒWill you take a check?Ó
His spending so much time here was a secret, wasnÕt it?
Dan guarded it very closely. Our house looks out on Eggemoggin Reach. Fans knew he lived in Maine, but for 25 years no one knew where. It wasnÕt until after he died [on December 16, 2007, following a courageous and soul-searching battle with prostate cancer] that the Peoria Journal Star contacted someone on the island, and they accidently gave it away. ItÕs not a secret anymore.
YouÕd been a guitar player and vocalist yourself. Are you still performing?
No. That was another life.
What do you do these days?
Mainly projects for caregivers. I work with the Blue Hill Memorial Hospital. I have a blog, dontloseheart.org [named for his song recorded December 1996]. IÕm working on a pamphlet for caregivers. The focus is on the patient; the person with them doesnÕt have support. I often hear, ÔWe donÕt know what to say to them.Õ
So you still live on Deer Island?
I could never move toÉwell, anywhere, really.
Tell us about DanÕs quest to find The Wild Places in his life, and in his heart.
He found them on the sea, in a series of boats that ended with his 36-foot Minstrel. He loved that boat. He was sailing her right up to a month and a half before he died. On a whim, he even sailed alone to one of his doctorÕs appointments in BostonÐall the way from Deer Isle. Did I worry? Yes. Did I tell him? No.
What coves and islands off the coast carry living memories for you?
Our last cruise together was incredible. I had a new camera, and Dan wanted to take a couple of weeks to visit all of his favorite places. We took our time and let the wind and currents decide which way weÕd go. We went to Seal Bay, Frenchboro, Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Holbrook Island, Isle Au Haut, and Vinalhaven. WeÕd set the anchor for a few days and go gunk-holing for hours in the dinghy. I was constantly shooting, from our feet in the cockpit to eagles and cormorants that seemed to be posing just for us. I didnÕt, however, take any photos of Dan. I promised not to, since the cancer drugs were taking their toll. It was a magical cruise, and for the first time I was the one who wasnÕt ready to go home.
Take us sailing with Dan.
This is from his logbook, in 1994: ÒAfter two nice days of daysailing to get my chops back, headed out to my favorite anchorageÐSeal Bay, Vinalhaven. Sailed wing on wing down Reach with NW breeze. Across Jericho. Motored through D.I. Thoroughfare (as usual) against light W. wind. Sailed across W. Penobscot and ran out of wind at 6 off Bluff Head. Motored to my usual spot and had a nice dinner of crabmeat pasta and salad. Never been here this early, but IÕll have a full six weeks of sailing before tour starts in September.Ó
Which of his songs speaks to you about his wild places the most?
ÒThe ReachÓ, although he wrote other songs specifically about his time in Maine: ÒThe Minstrel,Ó ÒIsle Au Haut,Ó ÒCome To The Harbor,Ó ÒReach Haven Postcard,Ó ÒMountains To The Sea,Ó ÒFor A CarpenterÓ (written for his friend Bryan), ÒWindward,Ó ÒMagic Every Moment,Ó and ÒSong Of The Sea:Ó
Soundings taken at the edge of darkness
The widest silences the heart can ever hear
You can steer to the stars along your lee
Set you bearings to the song of the sea
Tell us some of his very small and endearing (or infuriating!) traits.
Living with Dan was a joy for me. If I had to think of one ÒquirkÓ that bothered me, it would have to be his habit of sightseeing while driving. As his head turned, so would his hands, and weÕd start drifting toward the center divider. IÕd say ÒTack!Ó and heÕd steer to starboard.
I always accompanied him on the road; we just loved being together and couldnÕt even imagine being apart for days, much less months.
In Maine, our routine was totally different. WeÕd have breakfast and turn on his old Realistic Weatheradio and listen to the maritime forecast. Dan dubbed the new computerized voice ÒSven,Ó so Sven would tell us what kind of weather to expect, and weÕd plan our days accordingly. If Sven made any mention of sun, Dan would go to the store for provisions. IÕd help him carry everything down to the dinghy, then either row out to the boat with him for some cruising or a day sail or give him a kiss and a bon-voyage push.
In rain or fog, weÕd tack our way across Maine to go antiquing or run errands, or weÕd stoke up the wood stove and read. In the evening, weÕd turn on the radio and listen to classic rock, NPR, or baseball or football. We didnÕt have television, so when Princess Diana died, we heard it on the radio. By 2001 we had a phone, so on September 11 we were on the back porch drinking tea when my father called to tell us that a passenger plane had just hit the Twin Towers. We had no images flashing over and over on a screen, just the sun shimmering on the water, so we turned on the radio and then sat there trying to imagine the unimaginable.
He seems to have been enchanted by the eternals here Ð gulls, beauty, the sea, solitude, things you canÕt measure.
Dan refused to get a phone at the house in Maine for the first 15 years or so (and this was before cell phones), so when he was here he was totally cut off from the hectic pace of the music business. The only time the office in Los Angeles could talk to him was when heÕd drive to a pay phone and call them. He loved that, and being on the ocean only enhanced the feeling that he was out of reach. He was such an introspective, private person. That introspective nature allowed him to write the incredibly personal, philosophical songs he was known for. But the fame he gained from those songs meant that he would be in a different city every day, perform in front of thousands of people, and watch while the songs he poured his heart and soul into were either celebrated or torn apart by critics. So the time he spent Òout in the worldÓ was incredibly intense, and physically and emotionally draining. The time he spent Òaway from the worldÓ had to be equally intense, and physically and emotionally healing. And he could only find that in the wild places.
Was he a night person? Did he write at night? Tell us about seeing him Òon the phoneÓ with the universe he was so sensitively trying to understand up here.
Completely a night person. We were never in bed before 2 a.m. At night he liked to read and listen to music. HeÕd lie on the couch with a book and listen to classical music on the radio and take notes about pieces he liked and was going to order.
Tell us some examples that illustrate just how ridiculously talented he was.
Ridiculously talented is very apt. Dan played a one-man show at Carnegie Hall when he was 27. He loved all kinds of music, and wrote and recorded songs in many genres: ballads, rock, blues, folk, bluegrass, Latin, jazz, country, and medieval. He played acoustic, electric, lead, rhythm, slide, and bass guitars. He also played piano, electric keyboards, banjo, hammer dulcimer, mandolin, bowed psaltery, sitar, and autoharp. On his last two CDs, he sang every part and played every instrument. He sold millions of recordings: one triple-platinum, four double-platinum, three platinum, and two gold albums. He was a talented portrait painter, illustrator, and photographer, as well as an amazing chef. Oh, and he did a James Mason impression that would slay me every time.
Tell us about his favorite public sailing destinations and waterfront restaurants in Maine, so we can feel him with us when we stop there.
Dan sailed single-handed as far south as Boston, and as far north as Nova Scotia. But his favorite places to sail were the waters between Tenants Harbor and Englishman Bay. You could be cruising in any of these waters with him and point out a small island and he could tell you the name of the island, why it was named that, and its history.
His favorite anchorage was Seal Bay, Vinalhaven. He also loved Roque Island Harbor. For dining, he liked mooring in Burnt Coat Harbor on SwanÕs Island, where Kevin Staples would come out in his dinghy with his dog standing in the bow, and take DanÕs order for lobster dinner. TheyÕd talk for a while about life and music. Most of the time, Dan cooked onboard. HeÕd make meals like linguini and clams with a green salad and a glass of red wine. It was amazing what he could create in that little space.
For special occasions, weÕd get gussied up and go to Arborvine in Blue Hill, where Beth would always welcome us warmly. In Camden, The Waterfront, or CappyÕs for chowder, then down the hill to their bakery for coffee and pastries. On Deer Isle, the old FishermanÕs Friend; then in later years to LilyÕs Cafe.
Tell us the most courageous and inspiring thing he said, toward the end, that we can learn fromÐwhether itÕs life, music, health, spirit, love, or beauty.
The most courageous thing he said towards the end? That would have to be the songs he sang on Love In Time. He started recording the album right before the cancer diagnosis. The courage and determination it took to return to the studio over the next two years and finish the album, despite discomfort and drug side-effects, and knowing they were the last songs he would ever record, is astounding to me. The CD ends with a hauntingly beautiful chord thatÕs eerily similar to the chord that opens the first song on his first album, To The Morning. Ask any long-time Dan Fan and theyÕll tell you, this is Dan telling us, life goes on. That, ÒThere is really nothing left to say but come on morning.Ó
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The actual writing of a song usually comes in the form of a realisation.
I can't contrive a song. Ð GENE CLARK |
| lemonade kid |
Posted - 31/05/2016 : 16:44:26
When Dan recorded his last album, which he recorded after he learned of his terminal cancer, Dan chose to record it in his home studio, play all the instruments, & sing all the vocals, save one...a lasting tribute to his lifelong inspiration Buffalo Springfield, and he brought in Neil Young for the only backing vocals of the sessions- so once again here is Birds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpP4n49gT8I
A surprising and brilliant track on this last album is a bluesy number that recalls Steve Stills at his bluesy best...but like every Fogelberg number, it's all Dan in the end.
The Nature Of The Game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0IeZsbPptk
......................
Dan with his Deer Isle, Maine island home behind...Dan said that when he was in Maine he wrote about Colorado, and when he was in Colorado he wrote of Maine...
The Reach
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEL_qqXGjHU
Dan Fogelberg ~ The Reach "In 1978 I purchased an old sea captain's house on an island in Maine. I became (and still am) completely enraptured with the sea. Summer in Maine is always special but in autumn when the tourists retreat and an island returns to its quiet, isolated existence is when I find it most endearing. I dearly love this song." (Dan Fogelberg)
...........................
Colorado...
Go Down Easy-extended version & video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvnO43MRgeA
________________________________________________
The actual writing of a song usually comes in the form of a realisation.
I can't contrive a song. Ð GENE CLARK |
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