Other Side

Chris Hillman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 21, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sovereign Artists
• ASIN: B0009MAPU4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,235 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chris Just Keeps Getting Better and Better, June 21, 2005

By 

Alan Rockman (Upland, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Other Side (Audio CD)

No, I am not going to compare Chris Hillman with fine wine - though like a fine vintage he does keep getting better and better. Then again, this legendary founding member of the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers (with Gram Parsons), of Manassas (as Stephen Stills' "second in command"), and leader of the Desert Rose Band has never recorded an album that has either fallen short of the superlative mark or turn out to be a disappointment in where it counts - quality.

In his first recording for Sovereign Artists, Hillman has gathered some of his best friends and great musicians together in the studio. People like Larry Park on guitar, Sally Van Meter on Dobro, Gabe Witcher on Fiddle, Skip Edwards on Accordion, the great Bill Bryson on bass, and last but definitely not least the also legendary Herb Pedersen on banjo, guitar, harmonies - and production chores. Not to mention Chris on mandolin, guitar, and lead vocals. The result is a wonderful recording of old turned new - and new Americana music that is delightful, thoughtful, spiritual, and real.

Hillman revisits "Eight Miles High" in a unique, captivating version featuring swirling fiddle and guitars,and a vocal blend (courtesy of Hillman and Pedersen) that not only sticks to the original Byrds harmony formula but soars beyond it. Also revisited - and brilliantly done are the versions of "It Doesn't Matter" from Manassas, and two wonderful Desert Rose Band tunes, a very nice, dobro-flavored "True Love" and "Missing You".

Even with all these great new versions of the "old", just wait till you hear the new Hillman-Steve Hill compositions!

"Drifting" is a wonderful, spiritual, and thoughtful song in which the singer-songwriter conveys his dreams and wishes of a better world to come. Then there are the title track which has been a highlight of Hillman's live shows in recent years. "Heavenly Grace" has an instrumental flavor that could grace a Cowboy movie feature but vocally and lyrically reflects Hillman's strong spiritual beliefs. "True He's Gone", an almost forgotten Folk\Bluegrass chestnut from the 1960s is given a new, shiny treatment here.

The sweet "Touch Me" and the beautiful, pensive (another reviewer elsewhere beat me to this word - but I like it!) duet rendition (with Jennifer Warnes) of the old Folk song "The Water is Wide" showcase Hillman's abilities to change from a strong, powerful singer to one who can also softly and capably sing a love song. "Born Again" has that rollicking flavor of a Desert Rose Band outtake, or of Hillman's more recent Rice-Rice-Hillman-Pedersen collaborations.

At a time when his old bandmate David Crosby seems to be content in churning out just another re-packaged (refried??) CSN "Greatest Hits" recording; and while the Eagles release their third or fourth or fifth "remastered, recopied hits" - and embark on their "Farewell Tour Number 189" or something like that, Chris Hillman not only will not be content nor willing to rest on his well-earned, well-deserved laurels, but instead has given Americana, Bluegrass, and Country Rock afficiandos something new and fresh to smile about.

Its time to come on over to "The Other Side"!

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chris Hillman keeps up to his highest standards, October 11, 2005

By 

Brgdr Charles Ritchie (Scotland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Other Side (Audio CD)

I first saw Chris Hillman in concert in Berlin in 1979 whilst I was spying in East Germany as a Member of BRIXMIS the British Military Liaison Mission to the Headquarters of the Group of Soviet Forces in Zossen Wunsdorf in the former DDR. His music kept me going during tedious rail way watches. I then saw him with Herb Pedersen in concert in Glasgow, Scotland in 2003. His latest CD 'The Other Side' shows that he has not lost any of his skills and talents and is as good as anything he has ever recorded.A must for all true Chris Hillman fans before he has to retire!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TRACKLIST for "The Other Side", February 1, 2011

By 

Jeff Feezle (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Other Side (Audio CD)

TRACKLIST:

1. EIGHT MILES HIGH 4:04
2. TRUE LOVE 2:22
3. DRIFTING 3:32
4. THE OTHER SIDE 3:03
5. HEAVEN IS MY HOME 2:22
6. TOUCH ME 3:54
7. THE WHEEL 3:13
8. TRUE HE'S GONE 4:27
9. HEAVENLY GRACE 2:44
10. IT DOESN'T MATTER 3:00
11. MISSING YOU 3:56
12. THE WATER IS WIDE 4:32
13. I KNOW I NEED YOU 3:09
14. OUR SAVIOR'S HAND 4:25

(C) 2005 Soverign Artists
Catalog # SOV 1959
UPC# 616948195922