Customer Reviews

Circles in the Stream

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Listening to "Circles" is an intoxicating grand experience. Cockburn amuses with "The bagpipes," draws you into the LIVE experience with the impressionistic renderings of "Star Wheel," and "Never so Free," Then the lyrics come full-speed from richly textured pictures of his own country's abuse of native populations (Red Brother,Red Sister) and his understanding of poverty of spirit (One Day I walk).

Circles is also a theological-poetic work. Although Cockburn makes no effort to hide his passion and wonder for his Christian faith, the poetry also is a stand alone project. "Love Song" transcends love for a human object - focusing to the Greater One. Cockburn assumes the role of a modern Psalmist. "In your heart where the world comes from, there you will find me."

And with "All the Diamonds" "...Two thousand years - and half a world away, dying trees will still grow greener when you pray." But not is all quiet on the path...Cockburn also confronts personified evil in "Dialogue with the Devil" Ultimately he calls attention from human strength to THE greater other...You don't fight a bully on his terms. A word of caution though this work has a lasting impact...the lyrics follow you and the melodies flow as musical mantras...In short it may profoundly affect your heart and mind...BUT that is the hazard of all great art.

Back in the wonderful days of vinyl I picked up a copy of this album. Because of the exquisite musicianship of Bruce's previous albums, I was anxious to hear how the music translated live. (At this point I had not had the opportunity to see him live.) Lets put it this way. I've worn out nearly three copies so far. This is without a doubt my favorite live album ever. When I heard that it had finally been released on cd, I had to have it!! (It's tough to wear out those suckers, thank God.) By the way, make sure that you get the copy with Bruce's comments. His very insightful and often hilarious commentary has always been a wonderful part of any live show that I have seen of his. On a parting note, I've purchased several live albums over the years. Most have a tendency to "date" themselves after a few years. This album, without a doudt, just gets better with age.

Although it is a daunting task attempting to remaster a tape remastered just 8 years ago (the technology hasn'y advanced that much), still there is a definition to the instruments here that positively sparkles. The music has more presence and dynamic to it than it has ever had in any format.

This was a threshold recording for Cockburn, and he must have known that he, Godfrey, Boucher had to deliver the goods. They did. Hockey Night in Canada has nothing of the whallop of this CD. Recorded at Massey Hall in TO, the concert summed up Cockburn's early Christian based folk and romantic music and launched him into a more jazz inflected, mystical and social activist stance that he has cultivated with commitment over the succeeding years. You can't really pigeon hole him well, thank God, but there is that sense that nothing will be the same after this disc. And it wasn't.
Nearly every major song of his early work is present along with his unique blend of historical and contemporary efforts. No. 1 with a cross-bow bolt as he intones on "Love Song" says it all. What you notice throughout is his masterful technique, at times recalling Mississippi John Hurt, at times the Burgundian author referenced, at all times uniquely Cockburn. His voice was a lot more confidant by this point as well. SUN, SALT AND TIME, had been a major advance in his compositional and singing style that was enhanced by JOY WILL FIND A WAY. Those records are well represented and the fact that Cockburn still draws upon them in concert today indicates the role they played in his development. I was fortunate to catch him at this gig and many others in along Bloor, Yonge, Spadina, back in the day. Listening to this CD brings back all the first thoughts I had about this amazing man.
So, having bought the re-issue a few years back, is it worth buying again? Absolutely. It sounds better than ever. There is a nice essay and some terrific photos, but it's really the music, and that just rings out!

This is Cockburn during a particularly passionate and energetic period, where the poetry and the texture were enormously varied. Not only a must-have for every Cockburn fan, but truly one of the classic recordings of this highly underrated artist. Probably in my top 5, period.

i agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer from sonora. very fine. circles was recorded in 1977 and captured the richness of cockburn's lyrics and rhythms. this import version of the live recording deleted all of cockburn's comments and interactions with the audience. the recently available u.s. re-release, is equally fine for all the music tracks and does include all the between song material, just as contained on the original lp. circles in the stream should be in the collection of anyone who enjoys cockburn, the musician and the man behind the music. another 1987 live album, waiting for a miracle, is available as a 2 cd set, and is equally fine.

As a Cockburn fan of 20 years standing, i must rate this recording at the top of all his 70s and even later recordings. This reording is taken from a live performance on April 7 and 8 in 1977. The full measure of the songwriter, musician and performer are available here. As some others have noted, the vinyl versions of this recording have been literally worn out by repeated listening. This reissue captures much of the original performance - unlike the rare Japanese CD which deleted the spoken introductions. I hope that for the forthcoming Rounder reissue, the orignal complete recordings will be reviewed and additional material added as well as all the spoken material

For those just "meeting" cockburn, I would suggest giving the following earlier albums a listen:
Dancing in the Dragons Jaws, In the Falling Dark, Humans, and Waiting for a Miracle (another live performance recording)

I know bruce is canadian only because my best friend is in Penticton. I'm a musician myself and I spend a lot of time in Key West and listening to Bruces "world music" is nice. He's very global in the concepts that he plays in the form of ragas. Bruce is a nominee for my award of Favorite Canadian guitarist. There will always be Ian Tyson, Chris Rea, Sylvia Frica, Gordon and Joni Niel, but what differentiates Bruce from these peers is a literary resonance. I'm sure a lot of people would find him deeply hypnotic, and some would want him to foretell their future; he has that kind of cerebral knowledge of what you're hearing when you listen to him, like Yogi Berra said: "Deva VU all over again...". Bruce is a very serious guitarist whe hasn't been invited (that I know of) to record with Chet Atkins yet. But hey, Chet Atkins probably hasn't been invited to record with bruce either. This is a terrific product!

Although a "live" album, none of the selections suffer the lack of studio recording capabilities. This remains one of my favorite albums for sheer feel and intimacy with the artist. You won't be disappointed by either the quality or arrangements found on this selection!!!

It seems to me that Bruce's pre-1979 work has been vastly underrated. This is due to a few things: 1. Bruce's popularity really only began to take off in 1979 with the success of "Wondering Where The Lions Are". Before that he was really only a big deal in Canada. 2. The consistently high quality of work from 1979 on, including some of his most popular material in the 80's like Humans, Stealing Fire and World of Wonders. 3. Bruce himself increasingly ignoring that decade as the years go by. He'll throw in a couple songs maybe in each concert. There are no retrospective cd or dvd box sets from Bruce; he ain't looking back. I can understand that, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. I personally think '74 - '80 is the high point of Bruce's art. The Rounder reissues were very welcome to those of us hoping to get a little bit extra from some of those lost years. This has been a missed blessing (you can see some more of my comments on this in my review of In The Falling Dark). Circles in The Stream is a great snapshot of Live early Bruce. This is a great concert. The songs and performances are wonderful - full and rich, and really unlike any other Bruce cd. Rounder does a good job remastering this cd. The sound quality is an improvement, but not a drastic improvement. But here's my complaint: This concert has been out on record forever and on cd for quite a few years. If you already have it on cd why should you buy it again? Frankly I can't see any reason why. There is no bonus material on the cd. If Rounder wanted to do this right they could easily have turned this into a 2 cd set. I'm sure this concert was longer than 80 minutes. Even if the original tapes were lost why not add some other live Bruce material from the mid-70's. Apart from Circles the whole decade is unrepresented in any official live recordings. This would have been a win for everyone. With all the live material officially released by artists much inferior to Bruce it is disappointing that we have to take whatever scraps come our way. But I guess that is why we have bootlegs.

Recorded during a live concert in '77, 'Circles In The Stream' is in my estimation the best live concert album/CD I've ever heard and an "ABSOLUTE ESSENTIAL" to any serious Bruce Cockburn collection.

Containing - 17 tracks - this highly original musical blending of folk-jazz-blues and rock influences along with a medieval melody or two, we are treated to a truly delightful listening experience featuring the very best of the early Cockburn years (which are by far my personal favorite). Filled with a compilation of songs from his first seven albums/CD's: 'Bruce Cockburn', 'High Winds White Sky', Sunwheel Dance', 'Night Vision', 'Salt, Sun and Time', 'Joy Will Find A Way' and 'In The Falling Dark', this CD is a wonderful trip down memory lane.

From the opening bagpipes to the finale; 'God Bless The Children' you will be in awe of the amazing musicianship, lyrical depth and soul of this French Canadian composer and musician. Much like the people dancing in the back spoken of by Bruce at the end of the concert, you too will continue to dance to this glorious music long after the concert's over.