In the City of Angels

Jon Anderson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000026CZ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,279 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

CD reissue of this 1988 solo album from Jon Anderson, who has been the lead singer for Yes from the start. He has issued a handful of solo albums over the years and In The City Of Angels has been out of print for ages. Fans have been screamin' for it, so here it is again. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Bag from Yes Vocalist Jon Anderson, September 29, 2005

By 

Kirk Lott "a strange and unusual person" (adrift on the seas of life) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the City of Angels (Audio CD)

"City of Love" is a good - but not great- solo album from Yes singer Jon Anderson. Half of the songs are terrific, mostly in the second half of the album.

The album was released in 1988, a challenging time for Jon. He was looking to quit his day job - as leader singer for Yes - and probably hoped to emulate Phil Collins' solo success by appealing to the adult contemporary crowd.

Nonetheless, at least half of the album is very good. "Top Of The World" is the closest to a Yes song on the album. It's an extended track with a dramatic, prog-rock feel. Another highlight is "New Civilization," which features a children's choir and bubbles with optimism. Hurry Home, with its timeless, world-music feel, could have been on Jon's solo masterpiece, "Olias of Sunhillow."

Three other tracks - "For You," " If It Wasn't for Love," and "It's On Fire" - are mellow, atmospheric tracks focusing on Jon's angelic vocals, reminiscent of Jon's 1980 solo release, "Song of Seven."

The downside to the album is that some of the tracks are easy-listening ballads. Members of Toto played on this album, so some parts sound a lot like Toto, especially "Hold On To Love," "Is It Me," and "In A Lifetime." And we're talking Toto ballads.

But while "In the City of Angels" isn't Jon's best solo album, there are enough good tracks to make this of interest to any Yes fan. Recommended.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mainstream Jon Anderson Album, August 5, 2001

By 

Kevin Caffrey (Fredericksburg, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In the City of Angels (Audio CD)

From interviews and press reports, one would believe that Jon Anderson was pretty much fed up with "mainstream pop" in the late 80's when _Big Generator_ came out. However, recorded and released around that time, _In The City Of Angels_ is a pretty mainstream pop album. Certain songs such as "Sundancing", "Top of the World", and "Hurry Home" are a little experimental and similar to what would come on _Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe_, but songs such as "Is It Me", "In A Lifetime", and "If It Wasn't For Love" are in the same mold of MOR late 80's love songs. However, with Anderson singing, these songs become bearable. The highlights on this album include a very tender "For You" (with Anderson playing the harp), a very energetic "New Civilization", and the uplifting "It's On Fire", "Hurry Home", and "Top of the World". Many of the musicians and songwriters on this album were members of Toto so there is an 80's Rock sheen on most of the songs. However, if you're a fan of Anderson even at his most "twee", this is an enjoyable album. If you're searching for something on the same level as _Olias of Sunhillow_, look elsewhere.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "So Much Love to Everyone"..............., October 28, 1999

By 

TIM CLEVELAND ([e-mail]) (Charlotte, North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the City of Angels (Audio CD)

I must say when I heard this Cd in 1988, I was delighted to hear more music about Love from a musician who has never been afraid to show his Heart........ The first song "Hold on to Love" is a great catchy song,the lyrics make you think about just that, Holding on to Love, in all forms..... 'If it wasn't for Love' is just dying to be re-done by JON, I hope to see it pop up on one of his CDs some day, it is beautiful!..... " Sun Dancing" is a wonderful song of electronic world visions that bring the Earth and you alive with delight....if you're not dancing with this one somethings wrong...... "Is it Me" is a song about hurt and sadness, its beautiful in that Jon takes you inside his heart and bares his soul...... "In a lifetime" is slow and rewarding with its gentle touch and lasting look at love.... " For You" is a beautiful love song that could bring tears to the eyes of anyone with an open heart. {This song is for you!!}..... " New Civilization" is wild and free, exploring many of Jon's past musical experiences. How could you not hear this song and not sing ...Oh the magic of it!...... "It's on Fire" another love song, revisted on the "Change we Must" Cd as "Under the Sun" fantastic! ..."Betcha" is a jazzy little song that doesn't quite fit on this album. Betcha like it though.... "Top of the world" is a spiritual journey into light and vibration, this song could go on forever it has a push about it that moves you, and always reminds you that it loves you..... " Hurry Home" also re-visited on "Change we Must" is a touching song that is not easy to forget, Moving throughtout your soul reminding you of love, and the warmth of your own heart.... All in all this is music that will be around for a long time. Jon made a album of Love Songs,its just that simple, and who better to do that than JON ANDERSON!!, Perhaps the CD should have been called " In the City of your Soul" For this music clearly takes you there. Buy it, and listen.....