So Long Ago The Garden [20th Year Anniversary Edition]

Larry Norman (Performer)

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Original Release Date: 1973
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Phydeaux
• ASIN: B000M64T54
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #108,440 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This is the original European version from 1973 and it is now available on CD for the first time. The 20th anniversary edition of So Long Ago the Garden features a twelve page booklet with lyrics, song-by-song commentary, album background, photos, etc. These are the original recordings from the European version including, of course, favorites like "Nightmare," "Christmastime,"Be Careful What You Sign," and "Lonely By Myself" which are always heavily requested at concerts. The more haunting, enigmatic songs like "She's A Dancer," "Soul Survivor," and "Baroquen Spirits," plus the biographical "Same Old Story," and the melodic "Fly Fly Fly." We have included three Bonus Tracks: The full-length Garden demo of "If God Is My Father," and the non-Garden track "Dear Malcolm, Dear Alwyn," both released here for the first time. The third Bonus Track is the original 1973 MGM single release "Up In Canada." (this text is from the 1993 "Solid Rock/Phydeaux Newsletter" at the time of release)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The original version was better than Only Visiting This Planet!, February 29, 2008

By	NM Native "You bought what?!" (Fort Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews

I'm probably in the minority, but I like this album better than Planet. I just wish that it was presented without the remixes of Christmas Time, Soul Survivor and Nightmare (even though the last two songs are minimally affected) and the chopped-to-ribbons version of Baroquen Spirits. The Christmas Time remix is awful. If you haven't heard the original, you won't understand, but the original sounds like part of the album and rocks much better. I'm not sure why Baroquen Spirits got sliced and diced, but the original sounds like a proper piece of work. Still, Be Careful What You Sign is a classic piece of psych, and Fly, Fly, Fly (even if Larry did hate it) and It's the Same Old Story are two of the best songs he ever did (even if they are emotional polar opposites). The musicians are great, and the CD makes the production sound that much better. This and Planet were Larry's zenith, as far as I'm concerned, mostly because he wasn't at the stage where he thought he had to have total creative control over EVERYTHING, so the stuff sounded really professional. RIP, Larry. Have a great time up there.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great documentary on Larry Norman, May 23, 2009

By	Abdul Jamahl - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you wish to see a great documentary on Larry Norman, go to www.fallenangeldoc.com .

Thanks!