Customer Reviews

Before the Rain

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wonderful slow, relaxing harmonica music. I originally bought the record (which dates me) and searched for years to find the music as a CD. It was worth the wait. I think ' Before the Rain' is the best of Lee Oskar's reissues and would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone.

Wonderful. Wonderful, Peaceful, and energizing. Jacqu

I think "Before The Rain" cd by Lee Oskar is his best cd ever. I find this particular cd relaxing and very spiritual.The way he plays the harmonica to these songs is breathtaking.It brings back good memories of my mom because this was her favorite cd.So what better way than to remember a loved one through there favorite music.

If you like Lee Oskar's harmonica from the WAR group try his talent in his own CD Before the Rain. It's a mellow jazz beat that stays with you. His music is memorable.

yes this is one of his great c.d.s brings back memories form my early teens

Una de las primeras composiciones instrumentales que recuerdo desde mi infancia es "before the rain".
Siempre me ha llamado de modo especial el sonido de la harmonica y Lee Oskar lo hace de una manera excepciona!.

In all honestly,despite this CD's rarity even while in print I always had a lot of preset expectations about this album. All of it comes from literature on Lee Oskar's solo career and it's place in the whole War cannon. It was even once said of Lee that his music was "like Al Jarreau with a mouth organ" and somehow I don't think that was necessarily intended 100% kindly. True to be said: despite the fact the Oskar's trademark blues harp sound is very much intact here,you would have a hard time hearing much if any of War in this music at all. Even though it does take some cues from things they did musically his overall approch is quite a lot different. And in fact that's a difference he revels in throughout much of the album. That would explain this albums generally happy atmospherics. All the same he does share his bands interest in breaking music boundries as wide open whenever he can. Even when that music is not what someone might expect from him.

Most of the cuts tend toward the elongated. The title song is a very attractive late 70's jazzy/soul melody. The string filled orchestrations are somewhat puzzling in parts but (perhaps unintentionally) occasionally have a mild avante garde flavor with burst of psychedelic chord changes. Using bagpipes (unheard in jazz and funk with the exception of Rufus Harley and Parliaments/Ruth Copeland's "The Silent Boatman") it gets busy with some heavy,bass driven funk right after. On "San Francisco Bay" Lee tells his own little "tale of the city" as it were in his ordinary but charming singing voice. While musically soul pop as opposed to disco,the honest to goodness polka beat of the finale of the song brings to mind one PARTICULAR type of that genre. Still NO ONE will mistaken it for I Will Survive. "Feelin' Happy",to some degree anticipates the driving dance/funk War would soon embrace on Music Band-ditto for the closing "Haunted House". There is also an EWF/Charles Stepney flavor in the arrangement too which goes well with that.

"More Than Words Can Say" and "Sing Song" follow the sound of the title track somewhat more in terms of the softer nature of the sound. But this rarity's big pluses are that even though not every song will be to everyone's cup of tea,it all ties together very well and emphasizes a strong soulful groove and melody on every cut. It's still very solidly in the tradition of the funk album. But one of the later 70's rather than the early part of the decade.It's a sophistifunk album. And if one was listening to War during the mid/late 70's one could see that was where the parade was heading for them as well. So those who hear negative things about this album based mainly on the fact that....well it's not War should be advised to look for it. True I did find the CD at a record sale in the $1.00 CD bin this year (yes that amazes me to no end) but don't let the rare aspect get you down. It's worth hearing and an enjoyable experience even for the hardcore funk fan.

My brother was the one that asked me if I had heard this man and his music. Of course I never had, he loves the song "Before the Rain". When I heard these songs, I just melted. So I purchased this CD and another one for my brother. Every time I speak to him, he thanks me for his CDs. I play the music sampler for "So much in love" and will purchase that one next for my brother and me, when it becomes available from Amazon. My brother is in prison, we both grew up listening to War. Thank you Amazon.

Sincerely,

Micki

I grew with his music. Listening to his music, it brings back such great memories. Now, it is mine to keep (the CD) forever.

The first album is a classic, and this one is as good as the first. If you are into War this a good album to have in your collection