Customer Reviews

Innocent Age

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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This incredible double album released at the apex of Dan Fogelberg's popularity in the early 1980s is an amazing tour-de-force by one of folk-rock's most under-appreciated artists. From the stirring opening instrumental on "Nexus" and its complex and quite accomplished lyrics describing today's contemporary cultural conundrum to the lyrical ballad "Innocent Age", this album showcases Dan's wide range of songwriting, musical, and arrangement skills. Fogelberg tends to favor a very full "wall of sound" approach to his music, and sometimes tends to somewhat overproduce arrangements by having too much going on simultaneously in his works. Yet here the songs are clear, crisp, and simply terrific, from "The Sand And The Foam" to "Stolen Moments" to a lovely accompaniment with Emmy Lou Harris on the memorable "Only The Heart May Know". A number of top-forty hits are included, from "Leader Of The Band" to "Run For The Roses" to "Same Old Lang Syne". My favorites here are the spare and haunting "Aireshire Lament" to the astonishing work on "The Reach". Dan paints a word picture here that leaves me imagining casting about on a lobster boat in the swells and eddies off the Maine coast. Perhaps it is due to its length, but I simply cannot understand why it was never released as a single. This is a wonderful album, folks, and a splendid treat to Mr. Fogelberg's considerable skills and talents. I highly recommend it. Enjoy.

The Innocent Age by Dan Fogelberg is not an album but as it is described in the booklet, a song cycle. This is an appropriate and accurate description. In fact, an even more appropriate description would be a song novel. The album unfolds like a book from the opening instrumental "Nexus" to the closing "Ghosts". In between we are taken on tale that goes to the sea in "The Sand & The Foam", a tribute to his father in "Leader Of The Band", meeting an old flame in "Same Old Lang Syne" and love in various stages in "Only The Heart May Know", "The Reach" and "Hard To Say". Along the way Mr. Fogelberg is assisted by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh & Timothy B. Schmidt from The Eagles and Emmylou Harris. Mr. Fogelberg reached his commercial and critical peak with this album as it made the top ten and spawned three top ten hits.

I was turned on to Dan Fogelberg by college friends who performed his songs. I remember the night I got "The Innocent Age"; it was my birthday and I had gotten the album and a new pair of headphones. I spent the evening marveling at the beautiful music I heard Dan make. It still totally blows me away - and I have the most diverse musical tastes of anybody I've ever met. Intricate acoustic guitar details, perfect and inventive arrangement of instruments, and Dan's voice at prime, from soft to piercing. "Ghosts" still gives me chills.

Dan passed away December 16, 2007. He was 56 years old. [...]

Before I comment on Dan and the album, I just wanted to say a couple of things about how Dan's music has been classified over the years. He always used to hate the 'soft-rock' classification. Dan wrote 'life' songs and 'mountain' music. Sure - it was 'folk/rock' by Dan's own admission - but if you lived in the Rocky Mountains in the late '70's - early '80's -- it was Mountain Music. And there was only (1) maestro of the Rocky Mountain Music brigade. (.. and it wasn't JD ) Now -- for the album notes ...

Innocent Age is the story of Dan Fogelberg's life ... written in 1981 .. but containing so many 'chapters' of his life beyond 1981 that you have to wonder how any human could have known so much about their future and captured so clearly the essence of one's life - long before it was lived? Dan knew ...

This album has always comforted my soul when I felt a need to 'make time stand still' for just a brief moment. When the news arrived, I couldn't help but reflect on my past life in Denver - when I was just a young man - about Dan's age at that time. We were young and free and our lives were all ahead of us -- yet, somehow, Dan wrote this album as if he knew that time would pass quickly?

He was living outside Boulder - and I had the good fortune to see him play many times in and around Colorado. The Innocent Age was literally the pinnacle of his career - and I can't tell you how many cassette tapes of this album that I wore out in my car(s) that I drove during those years in Denver. (and beyond) I can tell you that whenever I went skiing (which was alot - 40+ days each year on average), Dan was always on the stereo at some point during my trip. His music, especially these songs from this album - were designed to transport one's spirit, body and mind to another place and time. If there is any greater complement that an artist can receive (other than service to mankind) I don't know what it is? For Dan .. he was blessed to be able to do both through his thoughts, words, instruments and that incredible moving voice.

Dan was an activist -- in the truest sense of the word. He embraced life, and his songs all reflect that passion. There is a startling void in our world left by Dan's premature departure. He is irreplaceable ...

This album is not just a collection of tunes -- it's the memoires of a poet and a life force unlike any other... and this album is the tale of his life. Dan didn't want to write anything that he didn't feel came from his soul.

Eerily, 26 years have passed from those innocent days of youth in 1981 ... back in Colorado ...when Dan gave us this epitaph ...

By purchasing this album - you will be giving something back to the millions of people that were influenced by Dan throughout his career .. insuring that the light of Dan Fogelberg never fades away ... and no doubt, a good portion of the proceeds will eventually benefit the National Cancer Foundation -

When you close your eyes tonight -- and listen to Dan on any of these tracks -- say a prayer for him and his family --- and thank God for giving us such a human being as Dan Fogelberg --

Until we meet him again, rest in peace Dan.

I owe a great debt to Dan Fogelberg; he and specifically his tracks "Longer" and "The Leader of the Band" are what made me interested in picking up the acoustic guitar years back when I was a tween. It has been a hobby of mine that has made me love all kinds of music and guitar styles and hence opened up a whole new world to me. Because of his first "Greatest Hits" album which I had on vinyl, I was influenced to explore the field of acoustic/folk guitar in greater depth which eventually led me to names like the brilliant Jim Croce and James Taylor as well as Clarence White and even Paul Simon which further increased my repertoire.

The two tracks that I mentioned at the very top I actually spent hours painstakingly listening to the lp trying to figure out just what he was doing. It wasn't enough to just sound like the lp I wanted to play exactly like the lp and so the transcriptions that were on sale at the time although they helped to guide me a little but at the time none of them were accurate and so were unhelpful. That type of discipline and work ethic that I went through to play those tracks exactly as I heard them held me in good stead later on when it came to learning other tracks on the electric and classical guitar and so I can safely say that Dan Fogelberg is the reason I'm an all-round guitarist today. Thanks Dan!

And now to the album itself: not only is the content presented in two discs a work of art but this version of the album in mini-lp replica sleeve design is a work of art too. It very faithfully represents the original lp down to the inner sleeves and includes an 8-page glossy booklet with all the lyrics as well as an additional 26-page booklet with all the lyrics again in both English and Japanese. The only gripe I have is that the cardboard is thin and so not as good quality as what I've seen elsewhere but still I guess I've seen worse. Most importantly for me though is the sound quality which has been remastered very well for a much improved sonic experience. If you are an audiophile, this will do justice to your expensive sound system.

In terms of scope and as a showcase to the best of Dan Fogelberg's unique style, this is the best album that he has done to date. Like any true classic, all the tracks have a nice flow and seem destined to be played in that order. There are no fillers on this baby and as a classic album should do you can only do true justice to this album by listening to it from start to finish.

Highly recommended for fans of great music ala the way only Dan Fogelberg can play and definitely worth the "upgrade"! For me, I'm just waiting with bated breath for a similar release of his first "Greatest Hits" album.

What can I say about an album that has impacted me for over 20 years. To say it is Dan Fogelberg's masterwork has been written in other reviews below. To say it contains four of his biggest hits (Another Auld Lang Syne, Run for the Roses, Hard To Say, Leader of the Band) is limiting the album's greatness. Truly some of Dan's best work is on this CD, but they are cuts that are unknown to the casual fan, but are certainly worth the purchase.

To me, "In The Passage" is among his finest songs. A hard moving piece with some great guitar and piano licks. Like always, his lyrics deliver a great message, this time on the journey of life and the decisions we must make. "Ghosts" is another personal favorite - with its haunting sound and typical Fogelburg words: "Down the aging corridors and through the gates of time, run the ghosts of dreams that we left behind." Who can't relate to that. Finally, "The Reach" is a beautiful homage to Autumn and the life of the lobstermen of New England. In a few short phrases Dan transforms us from our chair to experience the sites and sounds of being on the seas with the rugged traditions of these sailors. Masterfully orchestrated with horns it is truly a classic.

I could go on, but that should be enough. If you want to get a Dan Fogelberg album beyond the basic "Best Of.." This is the one to get.

When Dan said he wanted to make a double album,
of course the Record Company Freaked......
When he said He had more to say......
They wanted to release something Now!
We call Dan Fogelberg a true musical artist for
allowing himself to complete his work in his own way,
and not to just Dump his songs into the hands of a Label.
There are so many behind to stories to the making of Great Albums.
Eagles have "Hotel California"......Fleetwood Mac has "Rumours"
Dan has "The Innocent Age"....you get the picture.
I would love to hear the Story of "The Innocent Age"
in full.

But about the music........if your new to Dan,
or merely considering owning his library of Cd's......
first of all Every Cd Dan has put out is Stellar...But Unique
in its phazes......
We have Young Dan.....fresh and free from "Home Free" to "Captured Angel" and "Souvenirs"....
Then Dan exercises his Creativity with "Netherlands" to "Twin Sons.." and "Pheonix"....
When he got to "The Innocent Age"...I believe Dan Flexed his Defining Ablility to put his personal Stamp on his listeners.
To Sell his Heart and Soul......and from what I hear and understood.....Making this Double Album, that is exactly what He did and paid an emotional price for it.

You know the songs by now, but perhaps you don't.
There are of course the Four Singles......."Same Old Lang Syne"..
"Leader of the Band"..."Run for the Roses" and "Hard to Say".
But certainly these Four songs would be enough alone to sell this Album......after all....some people do buy the whole Cd for just one song....I do!
But for me......and hopefully to those who will in the future own "The Innocent Age"....you buy it for the Four songs,
but you Love it for the Rest of the Songs!!!
You Treasure it for the Title Song, and Glory in it for "Ghosts"
YOu listen to it again and again for "The Reach" and your desire to share it with others as I do now for "The Sand and The Foam".

Very few songs are able to bring tears to my eyes, but that is exactly what "Same Old Lang Syne" and "Leader Of The Band" did, when I first heard them at the age of 19 back in '87. Each and every song is great, though some of them not instantly. Dan Fogelberg's music is the kind that grows on you, if given a chance. I'm a fan for life!

Quintessential Fogelberg....a varied range of songs, covering a "lifetime" theme. Especially good Sand & The Foam....The Reach....and of course the hits-- Leader of the Band..Run For the Roses. A double album that deserves being double.

After many years of not being able to purchase this album in Australia, I finally was able to secure it through Amazon. The Innocent Age is a haunting album which touches in so many ways. Dan Fogelberg's haunting voice and lyrics bring to life so many emotions, feelings. memories and responses. A gem of an album.