Customer Reviews

Fierce Heart

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

 

 

"That's Love" is the best composition as Jim Capaldi's solo work, to me. "That's Love" is the song that made me to play my keyboards to create my own recordings.

Some other brilliant songs are "Tonight You're Mine", "Bad Breaks" and "Runaway". Why Atlantic Records at the time decided to release "Living on the Edge" as the 2nd single? It should have been any of the songs listed above instead, to keep the AC audience momentum.

That's the album that first got me enjoying Traffic, even though it's terribly commercial and at times over produced that screams 80's. Much of it sounds like Steve Winwood's Arc Of A Diver as it came out around the same time. Also, Winwood plays on much of the record. It's got the underplayed A/C singles "That's Love", "Tonight You're Mine", as well as a short and sweet waltz-like version of The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys found only on the cassette version. Why not the CD I have no idea. I might give it an extra star if it did.

This a great work for a great drummer and a music legend. Sad last work but keep love it "Electric Nights": Please reedited this cd

This is an excellent album by Jim Capaldi. Other reviews have mentioned some of the best songs; I would add "Back at My Place". I've always loved that song! Jim Capaldi was always underrated, I believe. After all he only the drummer in Traffic right? He did help write many of their best songs though. On his own he had a lot of very fine recordings, even though they could come off kind of low key. His singing was always excellent, better really than many more popular singers. Just my opinion...

Lastly, check out the many many fine artists that choice to play on his albums. Too many to list, really. They knew what a great talent he was.

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

"Fierce Heart" (May of 1983) had an impressive cast of characters in the studio. Joining Jim Capaldi was long time friend and Traffic alumni Steve Winwood, Mel Collins (Once of King Crimson) and Van Morrison.

Unfortunately, the formula that worked so well for Traffic in the studio and on stage (Varied styles of music that would always mesh and the ability to showcase artistic abilities far beyond the radio tunes) did not come to fruition here.

The album possesses rock, adult contemporary, and even a funky sounding tune. There aren't any weak links that make up the nine compositions (all Capaldi) but the only standouts are the two that received radio play. I remember having the same expectations for his solo record as I had for Traffic. The tunes that received FM attention were terrific but often the lesser known songs were of equal or greater value.

The strongest cut is the rocker that received a good amount of airplay from 1983 until 1987 "Living On The Edge." The tune is engraved in the brain from the first listening. This is where the other compositions needed to strive for. "That's Love" the other song that would gain mass radio attention on the Adult Contemporary stations is soft but not sappy. The vocals sound sincere as if it is written from experience and not pre-fabed to enter the pop charts.

"Don't Let Them Control You" throws a dose of funk into the mix. While it is good to hear Jim's diversification the song isn't strong enough to warrant the exploration.

If you are deciding to purchase the record going in you'll have two songs already on the good list. The question becomes how many justify ownership?

Enjoy the music and be well,

Craig Fenton

Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

"Fierce Heart" (May of 1983) had an impressive cast of characters in the studio. Joining Jim Capaldi was long time friend and Traffic alumni Steve Winwood, Mel Collins (Once of King Crimson) and Van Morrison.

Unfortunately, the formula that worked so well for Traffic in the studio and on stage (Varied styles of music that would always mesh and the ability to showcase artistic abilities far beyond the radio tunes) did not come to fruition here.

The album possesses rock, adult contemporary, and even a funky sounding tune. There aren't any weak links that make up the nine compositions (all Capaldi) but the only standouts are the two that received radio play. I remember having the same expectations for his solo record as I had for Traffic. The tunes that received FM attention were terrific but often the lesser known songs were of equal or greater value.

The strongest cut is the rocker that received a good amount of airplay from 1983 until 1987 "Living On The Edge." The tune is engraved in the brain from the first listening. This is where the other compositions needed to strive for. "That's Love" the other song that would gain mass radio attention on the Adult Contemporary stations is soft but not sappy. The vocals sound sincere as if it is written from experience and not pre-fabed to enter the pop charts.

"Don't Let Them Control You" throws a dose of funk into the mix. While it is good to hear Jim's diversification the song isn't strong enough to warrant the exploration.

If you are deciding to purchase the CD going in you'll have two songs already on the good list. The question becomes how many justify ownership?

Enjoy the music and be well,

Craig Fenton

Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

FIERCE HEART is a one-song album. Besides "Living On The Edge", which I've enjoyed since first hearing it on the radio as a new song, FIERCE HEART has little reason to exist. "That's Love" may have some popularity as a single but it does nothing for me.