Customer Reviews

Breezy Stories

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I miss Danny O'Keefe. O'Keefe, along with a cadre of other early/mid 70s artists, forged individual catalogs of quiet - and sometimes raucous - masterpieces that never seemed to get enough air time or publicity. Their FM radio air play was sporatic, if any, and albums or bodies of work, such as O'Keefe's were best ferreted out at the local music store in the (illegally sold) Promo bin where for a few bucks one could take a chance on a nice album cover, interesting song titles, or a good selection of musicians. That doesn't happen today with CDs.

With "Breezy Stories" - and later "So Long Harry Truman" - O'Keefe put together unforgettable album sides that hold up today, shifting from dark rock and roll to country rock on each album.

I played my "Breezy Stories" album just last month, and marveled at the intensity of the arrangements of Side One, the poetic and often dark lyrics by O'Keefe.

"Angel Spread Your Wings" opens with O'Keefe's guitar work that says "this is different - have I been here before?" - and you are drawn into a joyful sexuality that was unlike anything else a band in 1973 put together. You move effortlessly on to "Magdelena", my all-time O'Keefe favorite, and savor the Hugh McCraken slide guitar and the Donny Hathaway backing vocals - and perhaps, the mysterious energy of Magdelena herself.

Side One finishes up with "Drive on, Driver," a literal driving, endless dirge of rock and roll. Indeed, all of Side One is untypical rock and roll for the time - or for any other. Which is perhaps why O'Keefe never "caught on" with the mainstream.

Side Two is O'Keefe's country rock side, as good as anything coming out of Nashville today. O'Keefe perhaps suffered from a country stigma in the early 70s, when country was "uncool" and few would admit to listening to it. His only hit, Good Time Charlie, was country-oriented, and I would guess potential fans were scared away from O'Keefe due ! to this.

O'Keefe was also a thinker, a rock and roll Leonard Cohen with a hard edge guitar. A unique and staunchly independent rock and roller.

"Breezy Stories" is one of my all-time favorite albums, and O'Keefe's work needs to be resurrected, but as with the early 70s, I'm not exactly sure who would give him air time. Such a shame, but do buy "Breezy Stories" - and try to hunt down "So Long Harry Truman" while you're at it.

When I purchased "Breezy Stories" in 1973, I confess to purchasing it on the lure of its cover graphics. In fact, on close inspection, the Danny served up aurally on this album fits the record sleeve graphics to a T. The session photos (tiny, but crisply printed) show Atlantic Records' best musicians of the day (Hugh McDonald, Airto Moreira, Donny Hathaway, Dr. John, among others) having a good old time making a new kind of cerebral country-folk music. Producer Arif Mardin recognized O'Keefe's unique musical idioms, but the handful of albums that would follow showed that Mardin and the producers that tried their hand later struggled with how to package O'Keefe. I have found respectable "covers" of Magdalena and Angel Spread Your Wings, as well as Good Time Charlie Sings The Blues, and this speaks to the esteem in which serious fellow musicians hold Danny. After Breezy Stories, I followed him, picking up So Long Harry Truman, American Roulette and The Global Blues (this last one released in 1979). They all deserve listening, as they capture one man's poignant musical journey through the onrushing cultural wasteland of the 70s. O'Keefe matured musically as the meter at Atlantic and Warner Bros. was running out. If you like Breezy Stories, seek out these other titles AS WELL AS his earlier, less polished (and purer?) works from 1970, "Danny O'Keefe" (Cotillion Records) and 1972, "O'Keefe" (Signpost Records.) I confess I don't know what ever happened to Danny. I miss him, too, having seen him last at Folk City in NYC early in the 80s, playing solo with a rhythm box accomp. He seemed really weary, but gave us a very intimate performance that ranks with my best experiences of my lifetime.

A friend of mine from Arizona visited me a few years ago carrying
this disc under his arm. "you've GOT to hear this!" he exclaimed
breathlessly. We listened. I was stunned by the complex, insightful, heartfelt, yet slightly twisted and ironic lyrics,
matched with the tight musical arrangements of every song. Session musicians do not usually play with such passion and
ferocity, either. I'll bet my last nickel that some transcendental experience occured while they were recording these
brilliant songs, the whole creative process meshed and rose up
to an artistic level higher than just rock, or singer-songwriter
folk/rock. This is simply a treasure,a desert island keeper.
Folks, Danny hit a grand slam with this one, not everybody is that good, or that lucky. Enjoy it.

Suffice to say that he's brilliant, melancholy and part of the music collection I've listened to for almost 30 years. My albums are in bad shape and I would love to get them on CD, but have only been able to find Breezy Stories - my American Roulette is so worn I hardly play it any more! Please put more O'Keefe on CD!

I am totally enthralled with this CD. From the quality lyrics to the smooth vocals; from the sweet acoustic guitar to the gentle piano; from the inviting picture of Danny sitting comfortably waiting to see what you think and even the intriguing picture on the front of the CD. Danny Okeefe takes you in and out of these beautiful ballads and bluesy tracks like a cool breeze on a warm summer night. It is refreshing and clearly one of my favorites! It is a "must-have."

I have been listening to Danny O'Keefe for years and this, in my opinion, is one of his finest. Put the headphones on, close your eyes, and be ready to venture into a story land with no boundries. It's really hard to explain the true "quality" of this album other than you have to try it... Once you have had one, you just can't stop there..

Danny O'Keefe's career peaked with this album and "So Long Harry Truman" and the single "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues". "Breezy Stories" is a major work in the canon of folf/rock. Atmospheric and heart felt, it's the work of an artist working at his zenith. Few popular albums of this time or since are as compelling today.

I regard this third Danny O'Keefe album as his finest and most consistent ever. I bought the US original Atlantic LP when it was released in 1973 and it has remained an oft listened favourite of mine, sounding today as fresh and compelling as it ever did.

For a long time, this 1992 CD reissue remained the lone available digital offering from Danny O' Keefe (although he released the rather confidential "The Day To Day" in 1985). Luckily, during the last months, everything he did has been reissued, either on straight reissues or on anthologies. The only missing CD, it seems, is ... his last!

This CD features two bonus tracks. The former is the second version of "Goodtime Charlie Got The Blues" (the one that was his lone hit, climbing to # 9 on the charts in 1972 and subsequently becoming a standard recorded by the likes of Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, etc). The latter is "The Road" which became a FM radio staple after having been recorded by Jackson Browne for his Top 3 LP " Running On Empty" (released in 1977). O'Keefe recorded both songs in Memphis with Arif Mardin for his previous LP. Placed at the end of the CD, they integrate perfectly with the natural flow of the CD, unlike what happens with so much bonus tracks.

Also produced by Arif Mardin and mainly recorded at Atlantic's New York studios, the original "Breezy Stories" features a star-studded cast of supporting players. The resulting sound is more polished than on O'Keefe's two previous LP's.

However, the main ingredients in the making of this masterpiece are, of course, O'Keefe's own manifold talents.
The first thing that strikes the listener is that fine, smooth yet assertive voice, effortlessly sailing on the impeccable arrangements.
The compositions are highly tuneful and loaded with killer hooks that, once heard, stick in your ears for good.
Finally, there are the words. "Angel Spread Your Wings" and "Steppin' Out Tonight" may be playful, even buoyant but, in most tracks, there are underlying elements of darkness, sadness, pessimism and aggressiveness. This is reflected in the unusual themes handled in many of his songs. Many characters in the songs are offbeat if not downright bizarre.
Finally, Danny O'Keefe is also a highly gifted guitarist (on his previous LP he played most of the lead guitar parts while he was supported by guitar gunslinger Reggie Young).

To sum it up, Danny O'Keefe is a songwriter's songwriter. To me, he belongs to a coterie of multi-talented artists including, a.o, Paul Simon, James Taylor or Randy Newman. Like the latter, he unfortunately could not come up with more than one hit single.
He thus became more of a cult artist.

This CD is a genuine masterpiece. Give it a listen and you will fall under its spell. Enjoy!

O'Keefe was one of the great poetic songwriters who exploded out of the jumble that was the 60s. But unlike Paul Simon and some others, he never had the sort of chart-topping single that cemented him in the front rank of popularity. Nonetheless he continued through the 70s and 80s producing a series of thoughtfuly, fun, funky, scary, blindingly effective songwriting. He'd tackle themes that nobody else would touch, making you see the human being behind the highest and lowest samples of humanity.

O'Keefe has returned to the studio more reguarly the last few years, and we're all lucky for that. Unfortunately most of his early work is still out of print, with the primary exceptions of this and the collections "O'Keefe" and "Danny's Best." The collections are fine, and I recommend them to you. But if you really want to see the full breadth and depth of this artist, "Breezy Stories" (with added tracks 'Good Time Charlie' and 'The Road') is your best shot.

this is a rare treat for me danny okeefe is a favourite of mine and this cd is a real journey through his musical talents and the all star list playing with him is pretty amazing