Customer Reviews

High Country Snows

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When singers record an album in a different style of music to what is normal for them, the results are not always great. A closer analysis shows that those doing it for artistic reasons are much more successful than those doing it for commercial or egotistical reasons. Dan recorded this album for artistic reasons. He always loved traditional music and he'd written some songs that didn't fit his normal pop-rock style, so the time came to make an acoustic country album. Nobody could accuse Dan of doing it for commercial reasons - I understand that this was the least successful album he ever recorded. Well, I did my bit, as I bought it on vinyl and again on CD.

Dan obtained the services of the best musicians around at the time - Herb Pedersen (banjo, harmony vocals), Ricky Skaggs (harmony vocals), David Grisman (mandolin, mandola), Chris Hillman (mandolins, harmony vocals), Al Perkins (pedal steel guitar), Charlie McCoy (harmonica), Russ Kunkel (drums), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Emory Gordy (bass), Jim Buchanan (fiddle), David Briggs (piano), Vince Gill (harmony vocals), Michael Hanna (synthesiser) and Doc Watson (acoustic guitar). Of course, some of these appear on many tracks, while some only appear once, but fans of bluegrass and country music who take an interest in the musicians will recognize many of these names.

Dan wrote most of the songs - and they are brilliant, but among the covers are Down the road (Flatt and Scruggs) and Think of what you've done (Carter Stanley). I cannot speak for Dan's regular fans (who should hear some of it before buying), but I can say that this is an album that will be appreciated by fans of traditional country music.

This album is a one off recording of bluegrass tunes recorded by Dan and some of his friends (David Grisman, and Doc Watson) to name a few. I remember getting this album and wanting to stick my thumb out and hitch a ride to the Telluride bluegrass festival the first time I heard it. I was never much of a bluegrass fan, but after this I realized that I had been missing something big.

I do not have the room to write about every track here, but I will say that `Sutters Mill', `Go down easy', and the title track are the best of a pretty good bunch of songs. If you are looking for an album to get aquainted with Fogelberg with, I recommend Home free. But once you familiarize yourself with his sound, give this a listen. It will blow your socks off.

A daring release back in 1985, indeed. After a string of charting rock/pop singles and albums, Dan Fogelberg followed his own ideas (probably much to the dismay of his label SONY) once again and recorded a fine, intimate album full of swinging bluegrass music. With a stellar bunch of musicians supporting him (Doc Watson or Herb Pedersen), Dan performs a few standards and a lot of original songs - sizzling instrumentals, moody ballads, haunting vocals... great stuff!

Having been an independent artist for the past few years, Dan Fogelberg goes on releasing some of the best music available on CD or tape. He plays a fantastic blues guitar (listen to his 2000 release "Something Old..."), records a truly unique Christmas album based on renaissance music (1999), records another fine jazzy album with flutist Tim Weisberg (1995's No Resemblance Whatsoever") - is there nothing Dan Fogelberg can't do to perfection?

After a visit to the legendary Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Dan Fogelberg was inspired to do an album of songs he must have had in him for a long time....the result is a great CD, not a bad song on it. Dan used the best in the business to back him up, Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson Jerry Douglas, Herb Petersen, Al Perkins, and a band (Chris Hillman's Desert Rose) was even created partly as a result of touring with Fogelberg to promote this CD in 1985. Not as "pure" as some blugrass purists like, still extremely enjoyable. I saw the tour in '85, and have owned the record since then..still not tired of it. Would like to see Dan mine this vein a little more.

This album, High Country Snows, has captured the heart and soul of American country music. Dan Fogelberg will be hard pressed to top this effort for songwriting ability and musical acccompaniment. The music is a breath of fresh air from some of the new wave country & pop music on the scene today. His stories are so simple on the surface but as you listen more and more you realize there are many layers to each song. Each time you listen to one song another layer is peeled away and before you know it, he is singing about you. If you don't believe me, buy this album.

I picked up this album in the mid 80's and was mesmerized by all of it, to this day, I consider it the best album ever made. His insight is awesome, he can make you laugh and cry, I can't imagine when we will produce someone this talented again, I love his music and envy his talent. God bless him and his family.

When this album first came out in the mid 80's, I listened to it apprehensively. I mean, Dan Folgelberg doing traditional-oriented country music? I had my doubts. But, I was lucky enough to work at a record store and was able to get a promo copy. Lord knows I would never have spent my hard earned cash on a Dan Fogelberg album. I took my country music seriously (still do). But one listen had me sold. From the opening notes of 'Down the Road' til the closing fade of 'The Higher You Climb,' I was mesmerized.
Country Music in the mid 80's was at a crossroads, with the "young country" drivel beginning to show and traditional hillbilly music starting to fade. So it was quite nice to hear an album done in the southern style with intelligent lyrics and, most importantly, SOUL! Not the R&B kind of soul that implies a style of music, but the soul that you hear when the artist sings and plays with conviction - from the heart.
I must admit, I never thought of Dan Fogelberg in that sense. I've always considered him to be a nice kind of singer songwriter mellow music man. But on 'High Country Snows,' this boy lets loose with all the vigor of any true country music singer. Top notch musicianship from top notch bluegrass and folk musicians accent Fogelberg's vocals and lyrics. My particular favorite is 'Sutter's Mill,' probably because I'm such a history buff, and this song tells the story (just like the old traditional songs used to) of old John Sutter, the man generally accepted as discovering gold in California in the 1840's and beginning (unintentionally) the infamous gold rush. Another wonderful story song is 'Go Down Easy,' creating perfect images in the listener's mind of what is happening in each verse of the tune.
Actually, there is not a bad cut on the album, and I'm sure Sony could put a couple of tunes on a re-release of this disc of music originally recorded for this album but, for some reason, never included on the original.
The sound quality is every bit as great as the individual tunes, by the way. The strings on the acoustic instruments ring true and clear as if they were performing in your living room.
A worthwhile collection to own, and would fit in easily with the Patty Loveless 'Mountain Soul' disc, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken' set, Emmylou Harris' 'Roses In the Snow, 'O Brother Where Art Thou,' and many other traditional CD's. Click around www.Amazon.com and take up their offer to allow you to listen to snippets of songs. Experiment!
By the way, when I call something "hillbilly music," I do not intend that as a durogatory slur against southerners. I mean it as about the highest compliment as I can give when it comes to country music. You will NEVER hear me call this current crop of country ... like Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, and Shania Twain (just to name a few), hillbilly music. That would be a sin in my eyes.
You done good, Dan!

I've been a Fogelberg fan for more years than I want to think about (man, I'm getting old!), and while I have a deep appreciation of all his music, HIGH COUNTRY SNOWS remains my hands down favorite. My parents raised me on country and bluegrass music, and this has some of the finest of both. Wandering Shepherd, with Vince Gill on backup, is quite possibly the most beautiful song Dan has ever recorded.......and that is saying something when I take into account all the beautiful music he's made. If you are interested in Dan's music, make sure to add this one to your collection. You won't be disappointed.

I know my review title sounds pretentious, but I feel it to be true. Blue grass music is always a fun listen. I especially enjoy a good Christian based bluegrass record. So many artists throughout history have spent so much time perfecting their skills in this genre, and it has shown time and time again on so many great albums.
But here, on High Country Snows, Dan Fogelberg, who was first and foremost a pop/rock singer, has grouped together more than a hadfull of excellent Country and Bluegrass musicians to make create his magnum opus. Dan's voice, guitar, and songwriting lend heavily to this album, which also include some great instrumental passages from the other musicians.

Down the Road is an 1950 Flatt and Scruggs number, only featuring the vocals of Dan, Ricky Skaggs, and Herb Pederson. It seves as a great, non-musical into to the album.

Mountain Pass is the first of many Fogelberg compositions on this album. It is a fast paced, traditionl Bluegrass number, featuring a wonderfully played Dobro by Jerry Douglas as the lead musician.

Sutter's Mill is a slower ballad, also composed by Fogelberg. This one tells a terrific story of John Sutter and the California Gold rush, painted in a mournful way. Once again, Jerry Douglas' Dobro leads the way, closely followed by Dan's perfect acoustic guitar.

Wolf Creek, again written by Dan, features a wonderful harmony guitar part played by Dan and Doc Watson. An instrumental from start to finish, which holds it's own as a stand alone track, but also creates a wonderful build-up to the title track.

High Country Snows. Possible the greatest song ever composed by this masterful songwriter. Dan once again paints a terrific picture that leaves you feeling cold and sorry, and yet hopefull. More of a Country feel here, but the song does not lose, nor take away from, the overall Bluegrass feel of the album.

The Outlaw is the first musical track not penned by Fogelberg himself. Another fast bluegrass number. This one tells the story of a man named Jesse, who seems to be an outlaw, only for the purpose of getting the girl. A very good story.

Shallow Rivers is another Fogelberg composition, and another quick picked traditional tune. This one is headlined by a great fiddle piece by Jim Buchanan, and also features solos by David Grisman on Mandolin, and Jerry Douglas on Dobro.

Go Down Easy is a wonderful Country ballad. Written by Jay Bolotin, who also gave us The Outlaw. This song is a simple loved and lost classic in the style of Fire and Rain by James taylor, and I Need You by America. A very beautiful and sad story of a woman coping with the loss of her man.

Wandering Shepherd is a very simple tune from Dan, which includes only his acoustic guitar and harmony vocals from Herb Pederson, and the amazing Vince Gill. Slow and mournfull, but also cheerful in that the end is painted as simply a time to return home.

Think Of What You've Done by Carter Stanley is another good time up tempo number. Jimmy Buchanan's fiddle is on fire here again, and Dan, Ricky, And Herb sing this one full throttle. Amazing vocals throughout.

The Higher You Climb is the perfect end to this album. It feels like an overture, but somehow accomplishes that feat without sounding like any other track on the album. Dominated by David Briggs' Piano, this song is s lyrical mystery. While the music sounds so uplifting, the message seems to be that of Sysiphus. Kind of sad, but if you use your own interpretation, this can be a very positively powerful song.

Overall, like I said, this is the greatest Bluegrass album ever. Of course that's only my opinion. You will have to give it a listen in order to know of a certainty that i'm correct.

While this album was not one of Dan Fogelberg's best sellers, it is a hidden gem that contains some of his purest music. None of the tracks from this album are generally found on the standard "Best of Dan Fogelberg" collections, but these acoustic ballads and bluegrass tracks capture the joy and exhilaration he felt on his Colorado ranch. Dan was inspired by the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and he recruited some of the best bluegrass musicians in the business to record the album. I lived in Colorado when this album was released, and I loved acoustic ballad "High Country Snows". In addition to some excellent bluegrass tracks, there are other great songs, such as the historic ballad "Sutter's Mill", and the most popular single from the album "Go Down Easy". The song "Go Down Easy" was the most mainstream of the songs on the album, and it is easily recognizable as a Dan Fogelberg tune. There was a great video released to promote the song, and it shows a healthy, vibrant Dan skiing in the mountains. This album is a true hidden gem, and belongs in any record collection. Rest in peace, Dan. You were a great inspiration to me.