Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws

Bruce Cockburn

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 12, 1991)
• Original Release Date: 1979
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002852
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #71,309 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This Canadian folk singer finally found a way to U.S. radio with "Wondering Where the Lions Are" in 1979, reaching number 21 on the pop charts. By the late '70s, Cockburn had been changing his music to meet the times. Tired of the quiet, fingerpicking approach, he explored third-world rhythms, added synthesizer, solid drums, and matched them with his spiritual and political concerns. His voice surprisingly has always sounded natural in all these different contexts and he would only get better throughout the '80s. But it's here where the seeds were planted. Tracks such as "Creation Dream" and "Northern Lights" benefit from his open-minded approach. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bruce's Masterpiece, October 20, 1999

By A Customer

Any one who has not listened to Bruce before, should start with this masterpiece.Next go with "Humans" and "Stealing Fire". This is Bruce at his creative prime.This is as good today as it was in 1979. I can't understand why more people do not know about Bruce Cock burn !

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, July 17, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

This record is a perfect introduction to the work of Bruce Cockburn. The CD sleeve note gives credit to the writing of Charles Williams for the inspiration of some of the songs, and is probably the reason that the lyrics have a poetic and dreamlike quality. The music on the record compliments the songs perfectly, with some excellent guitar playing by Bruce.

I can highly recommend this recording and have played it many times over the years.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Delightful Album!, January 12, 2000

By	Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I've been a Bruce Cockburn fan since I first discovered 1984's Stealing Fire. Upon hearing that album, I proceeded to buy all of Cockburn's back catalog I could find. (This wasn't always easy since his popularity outside his native Canada has unfortunately limited Cockburn to cult status stateside.)

Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws (originally released in 1979) still retains much of the folky feel of his earlier work since his self-titled debut in 1971. Cockburn's acoustic guitar playing is masterful and his voice is a perfect fit for his reflective, pensive lyrics, especially on the lovely "Badlands Flashback" (which is sung in French).

Other highlights include "Hills of Morning," "Northern Lights" and "Wondering Where the Lions Are," the latter being Cockburn's only foray into the American Top 40 where it peaked at No. 21.

This is a kinder, gentler Bruce Cockburn than the one found on Stealing Fire and beyond, but that doesn't diminish the treasures found on this album. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED