Customer Reviews

Lovin in the Valley of the Moon / Desert Horizons

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was first introduced to Norton Buffalo (literally!) and his music in 1987. This hip, extremely talented musician, best known for his rippin' solo on Bonnie Rait's "Runaway" and for his 20 year + stint with the Steve Miller Band, truly deserves more recognition than he has actually received over the years. Norton is a "musician's musician," and is by far one of the best living harmonica artists of our day, as well as an innovative songwriter. These albums were unavailable for years...all I had was a bootlegged copy on cassette, which I completely wore out. I am SO delighted to have access to this music again, and on CD! I really enjoy all of Buffalo's songs, but my favorites include "Nobody Wants Me," "Eighteen Wheels" and the infectious "Hanging Tree." Norton is also offers some of the most dynamic live performances you will ever see. His music is a real treat and comes highly recommended by yours truly.

We had the great pleasure of catching Norton Buffalo (with mighty guitarist Roy Rogers) in concert last night where I had the opportunity to ask about the unavailability of this classic album.
I learned that Capitol records won his trust over 3o years ago and were able to purchase the rights. Norton has been trying to get them back ever since. Capitol sold them to another (european) company which has now gone under, enabling the artist to re-acquire the rights to his own work- YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It will, once again, be available later this year.
We can hardly wait to hear this truly classic album again!

Nortons first two albums are just the greatest, covers a lot of styles on this double album set, My favorite is "Nobody Wants Me" but all the songs are good. If you don't know, Norton is one of the greatest blues harp players int he world, and he doesn't only play the blues. You will hear tropical (like Buffet) type sounds "Puerto De Azul", old west kind of western sounds "Hangin' Tree"&"High Tide in Wingo", even a truck drivers song! "Eighteen Wheels". DONT get me wrong, I love rock/blues not country, but Norton has a way of making anything sound good, with his Amazing harmonica riffs, and a pationate wide ranging, voice (With funny voices too!) Get this Album, it is a steal for all the good tunes, and look for the new one by him and his new band the Knockouts coming soon!

I was first turned on to Norton Buffalo in the 70's when he some work with Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen. I also went to see him at the Sonoma County Fair and at the Inn Of The Beginning in Cotati, CA. My LP's have gotten a lot of play over the years, and the music still stands up as some of the most original, innovative & infectious stuff I have ever heard.

HINT: If you watch the Bette Midler Movie "The Rose", that's Norton playing the harp in her band - in fact, the song "Midnight in Memphis" is her cover of a song by The Moonlighters (a band consisting mainly of Cody alumni), whose album (if you can find it) is also one of the best albums in my collection!

Sounds of Norton remind me of my father and I, Norton's music filled our house, and my ears through my childhood. One Kiss To Say Good-Bye is 77 all over again, and the nostalgia of it is overwhelming. Great lyrics and melody through the whole album, all the songs are great. I would recommend this to anyone who truly loves, and appreciates Good Music! No Teeny Bopper BS!

There just aren't enough words to describe the talent of Norton Buffalo. I've been turned on to him pretty recently, but, man, I'm hooked!

I first heard these albums in 1978-79 and have loved them ever since. Norton has an natural talent for playing the harmonica. His lyrics are related to a time long ago when Cowboys and then truckers ran the land and the law. All his songs relate to the San Francisco Bay Area and Mapa Valley. Just to let you know occasionally you can catch Norton at one of the local clubs, and alway playing with Steve Miller when he's in town.

I used to run a bar in Northern California that had live music 3 night a week from 1985 to 1988. When I found out Norton Buffalo was available and not out of my price comfort zone, I was stunned. I had discovered Norton back 1973 or 1974. His lyrics, his phrasing, his music, struck such a chord (pun intended) with me that I bought everything he had ever played on. It was a staggering amount of material! If any musician worthy of the name wanted a 'harp player, it would be Norton or no one. With his charm, music, enthusiasm, and easy going manner, (he answered the phone when I called!!!!) he completely tore the house down! He played for one hour and twenty minutes without a break and that lasted only twenty minutes. Second set, he played for almost two hours! The energy was so high, he said he couldn't stop! I saw him perform four more times before his death on October 30th, 2009. I wish I could have seen him forty more times! Every show, every performance, was so charged with energy and fun. The man loved his job and was the best at doing it. I was searching online for Lovin' in the Valley of the Moon in 1997 or 1998 and couldn't find it. There was a link where you could get more information so I went there. Imagine my astonishment when he answered my emails himself! I thought I would be dealing with a PR person of some sort but he answered my questions and even remembered what he had been wearing that night in my bar! (Hat, coat, pants, vest and even shoes were all done in in small black and white rectangular checks in a sort of wavy pattern. So cool with the shoes!) I've met a lot of celebrities in my time but Norton was the only one to ever make me feel like a blushing fan. It was sooo hard not to be tongue-tied while speaking with him at that old bar. Absolutely one of the best highlights of my life! I'll always miss him but at least he regained the rights to his music. It's a lot harder to replace my old vinyl but at least now I can.

Its time to get his whole musical library re-released.

Cd's that are of resonable price would be great!!!


Help us Amazon.......Who owns his library, anyone know?

Northern California has a long history of Country/ Western Swing influenced music. Migrant dust bowl workers from the '30's and South/West military WW11 vets of the '40's settled in the North Bay and brought their own vision of country/folk/blues.

It was no surprise,then,that bands like Asleep at the Wheel, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, and good gracious even the Grateful Dead found first popularity playing new wave Country Swing in the North Bay. Steve Miller too!joy

Norton Buffalo was/is THE harmonica player for the best bands of the area."Lovin' the Valley of the Moon" was released in 1977 and still is the best example of Northern California country/blues. + Who knew he sang with such a sweet trembly aching voice?

A treasure A classic An expensive but worthwhile find