Customer Reviews

Moments

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been looking for this on CD for awhile, and what a pleasure it is to come across it. Boz, though steeped in The Blues, has always seemed to me to be a 'crooner'--and he croons wonderfully on this one. I listened to this lp alot...35 or so years ago, and listening to it again reaffirmed why I liked it then, and still like it. Beautifully constructed songs, romantic arrangements--and man(!) focus on the piano player--gorgeous work! 'Sweethearts', 'Downright Woman', 'I Want To Be Near You' are certainly the highlights--however 'Alone, Alone' is as dorky as it gets. This is music for a romantic evening and for anyone who likes pop craftsmanship. Not all music from 'way back when...' stands the test of time, but 'Moments' shines on. The closing instrumental is so sweet, almost heartbreaking. To the gentleman who thought the production was off, I have to disagree--the sound is the same as I remember from the album. Turn this up (or, depending on your style)turn it down, and open a bottle of wine--you might get lucky.

My first taste of Scaggs' music was heard on San Diego station KDEO which put Near You and We Were Always Sweethearts on its playlist shortly after Moments was issued. I liked those songs so much that Moments subsequently became the first of many Boz Scaggs recordings I have purchased over the years and it remains one of my favorites today.
Over the years, my album became fairly well worn so when I started buying CDs, Moments is one of the first I sought. But I am a tech laggard, and CDs had been on the market for several years while I was still buying cassettes, so I missed the issue of Moments on CD and its brief life in the marketplace. So, when I tried to find it, I found it was unavailable not only in the US, but overseas as well. Then, as luck would have it, it eventually appeared on this site being sold by an amazon "partner" at a reasonable price so I immediately ordered it.
Glory be! When it arrived, I could not wait to put it on. And when I did, I was not disappointed! A flood of memories poured out as the CD progressed and I became mesmerized on hearing an old favorite I had not heard in many years.
I like the entire CD, but if I had to choose the "best" songs, I'd pick We Were Always Sweethearts, Downright Women, Near You, I Will Forever Sing (the Blues), the title cut, and the tasty instrumental that closes out the album.
Moments is a lot of things. It is soulful, jazzy, bluesy, and it oozes with the romantic sophistication that has become Scaggs' trademark when he is at his best. And Moments is one of his best.
Scaggs' vocals are in peak form and his band is outstanding.
I have no idea why this CD is out of print and has not been remastered then reissued. The asking prices of the remaining CDs on offer from amazon partners suggest that demand is high and availability scarce. But of all Scaggs' recordings, it is the one I would keep if I could only keep one.
Old-time fans already know how good this is. To those who became fans after the success of Silk Degrees I can only say you haven't really heard what Boz Scaggs is capable of until you've heard Moments. Five stars plus!

I've never been sure what it is about this album that causes one to play it over and over! But when I first owned it back in the early 70's I played it daily and then when friends came over, they wanted to play it...it got to the point where I had to remove it from my collection because I was totally burned out on it; everyone wanted to listen to this album! Well, it soon became worn out and scratchy because of all the play and I thought it was lost forever. But now, here it is on CD. The first night I got it, I played it 3 times! Why? I remember one side of the vinyl was better than the other with the exception of a couple songs...To me, the first three cuts are the weakest and sappiest; however, I noticed somebody else thought these were the highlights of the album?? So, go figure; we're all different. But, I pretty much like the whole thing. "I will forever sing (the blues)" is a classic sound that was always a favorite of mine and really, the only song that actually rocks. "Alone, Alone, Alone" on what was side one on the vinyl is also an interesting song sounding a lot like a Neil Young song...now, the rest of the songs are just outstanding, beautiful melodies (how often can that word be used for a rock album) and arrangements. The music is beautifully done! That's why everyone wanted to listen to it at a time when the going music was dominated by Led Zeppelin and other "heavy rock" groups...these people who visited and wore out "Moments" were rockers who really appreciated the melodic reprieve Moments offered to all the heavy rock we were used to hearing at the time...No other explanation: This is just really, really excellent, sometimes soothing, music that has just enough depth and bounce. The ending instrumental arrangement is one of a kind that I cant believe I listened to over and over with my rowdy friends when I was a 23 year old hippie! Just relaxing, dreamy, good stuff. I've waited for over 20 years for this to be re-released just because I was curious if it would demand as much playing time as it did many many years ago...it does. Oh, as far as the quality of the reproduction goes, I've noticed nothing negative...maybe the guy got a hold of a clinker or something. **WARNING! This album could be hazardous to your reputation as a rocker.

"Downright Women" and "Near You" are the tracks you'll play over and over again, won't be able to get out of your head (arrangements and all), but the rest of the album will grow on you too, especially when you have love on the brain and in your heart.

Boz Scagg's pre-Silk Degrees have always met with varrying degrees of familiarity even among some fans. Over the years vinyl copies of these albums showed up in nearly every used record store I've visited over the years yet CD's of the same albums were'nt very common at all until now. For an artist such as Boz there was obviously a lot of time and care taken in terms of artist development and much of it had to do with the artist himself. There really aren't a whole lot of comparasins between this album and his debut Boz Scaggs-this sophmore release is very much a different animal and with the possible exception of the not entirely necessary C&W sendup "Alone Alone" there is actually almost no similarity at all. For one this this album is far more based in a jazz flavor than that of blues rock with musicians such as Coke and Pete Escovedo and pianist Ben Sidran along for the ride here. The more uptempo songs such as "We Were Always Sweethearts" and "Near You",both selected for singles are both spicy uptempo Motown/Chicago inspired soul-pop but you won't find these songs on Boz's Hits compilation album that was a common album of his for people to have for years;honestly I just don't think they were the kind of songs than associated with him. And that being the case Sidran's romantic,scaling jazz piano playing and the elaborate latin inspired persussive rhythms on songs such as "Downright Woman",the beautiful title song and the closing instrumental "Can I Make It Last" likely won't change the opinion of this for people who think of Boz less as an artist and more as a mid 70's blue eyed soul hit factory. With polished but somewhat more bluesy numbers such as "I Will Forever Sing The Blues" and "Hollywood Blues" this album is a lot closer to say Blood Sweat & Tears,Chicago and Edgar Winter's early 70's music than anything. One of the things that was making Boz stand out in the crowd in this strong creative environment was the fact that,as another reviewer pointed out he was a soul crooner as opposed to a blues shouter and was able to vocally coast in and around this music as opposed to belt out over them. So even with the bonus material consisting of live recordings and single edits this is a happy revisit to an all too unsung (and more than a little career defining) recording in the career of an all too often misunderstood talent.

Like many here, this LP takes me back. To my Junior Year of high school, to be exact. "We Were Always Sweethearts" was popular locally. I didn't actually get until 1973 on 8-Track. I found it still available a few years later on LP when 8-Tracks died.

I looked a long time for the CD & I found it several years ago as a Japanese import and picked it up. Sounds as great as ever...I never tire of listening to it. I agree with the reviewer that says he's at his best as a crooner. Great stuff!!

I recently put together a picture DVD of my stepsons' wedding and dubbed in my own music. One song I used is "Got To Be Near You". I've had several comments about that song (all positive). Had a couple say the voice sounds familiar. When I tell them it's Boz, there's an element of suprise; They remember the "Silk Degrees" days (I enjoy that CD also, though I'm anything but a disco fan).

I highly recommend this CD, especially for those romantic "Moments".

My favorite Boz album. Incredibly good writing, different, more romantic sound for his early stuff. This is NOT "Somebody Loan Me A Dime" territory. Wonderful keyboards!!

I still have this in vinyl and now that it's out in CD format I'm getting this and his (in my mind) best work...."My Time". Boz never got the credit he deserved (still deserves) and too many people picked up on him during his disco-era works which kind of left him catagorized in that genre since he was more monetarilly successful in those days. His early blues work, his foray into "Moments" with its beautifully orchestrated romantistic yet upbeat melodies (We Were Always Sweethearts) and rolling bluesy bits ("I Will Forever Sing the Blues"),stamped Boz as a force and then "My Time" came along to futher confuse who Boz really was musically
with the roaring "Dyna-Flow" and the power of "Full Lock Power Slide". These contrasted so strongly with the heartbreaking "Slowly in the West"
on the same side. I can't say enough about Boz...he's one of the most overlooked forces of music in the 70's. I must have for anyone who appreciates great music..........

I wish they would put this album along with (Boz Scaggs and Band) and (My Time) back in print. Or at least make em' available on Itunes. His first four Albums are four of his best. And only one is in print, So buy it...
Anyways, this is a great album. Not as good as Boz and Band or My Time but I really enjoy "I Will forever Sing the Blues", "Near You", and "Painted Bells". Make that every song, I'm listening to it right now. Everyone should Love Boz.
Boz I'm probably the only 25 year old that's been listening to you everyday since I was 18. You're the Best! Look me up when your in Tampa, We'll play Golf.

Love this album, I had it for years and then I got tired of hauling records all over the place. So now I'm paying for it and it's worth it even though being an import puts a steeper price on it. As far as the review goes, I like the whole album, not ever is there a dull 'moment', like the album's name. It has a tint of bosa nova and a jazz feel throughout and even though a premature Boz, not so much so since being with Steve Miller, but for solo effort, very much so, it's not Lido Shuffle or your Lowdown but just pure good sound like ' Downright Woman', almost sounding like lounge music but not too severe or even ' Painted Bells', 'Near You' another gem in this stretch. 'Alone, Alone', little bit of country into his mix, good though and even enough attempt and I always thought this would have been a good song to be used in 30's cliche movies with Fred Astaire and champagne glasses clinging each other with 'Can I Make It Last'. I have good memories of this album, so hopefully my poetic sense gave you somewhat an idea, if not, I'm sorry.