Customer Reviews

Phoenix

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This incredible album helped to propel Dan Fogelberg's popularity in the late 1970s, and represented an announcement of his arrival as a major figure in the folk-rock pantheon. This was the follow-up album to a string of successful efforts that started with "Souvenirs' and went on to "Captured Angel" and "Twin Sons Of Different Mothers", leading up to this instant smash release. All in all, it provides terrific testimony to his talents, and proof positive of the incredible talents of one of folk-rock's most under-appreciated artists. From the stirring and dreamy opening instrumental of "Tullamore Dew" to the pulsating segue into the complex and quite accomplished lyrics of "Phoenix" describing Fogelberg's near submersion in a negative relationship and his rise above its pain to recreate himself, this album showcases Dan's wide range of songwriting, musical, and arrangement skills.

Of course, the album was also helped along to the top of the charts by the inclusion of the hit single "Longer", which was a number one song. 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. In this case, however, the songs are clear, crisp, and simply terrific, from "Gypsy Wind" to "Last To Know" to a terrific performance of "Face The Fire", Fogelberg's personal contribution to the "No Nukes" anti-nuclear power movement. My own personal favorites here are "Face The Fire", with its intricate, amazing, and powerful electric guitar arrangement, "Along The Road", a dreamy recolelction of life on the run, and "Wishing On The Moon". This is a wonderful album, folks, and a splendid example of Mr. Fogelberg's considerable skills and talents. I highly recommend it. Enjoy.

I remember hearing "Longer" on the radio back in the early 80's and thought, What a beautiful song! I know a lot of folks consider it a sappy song, but when you're in love, the words fit perfectly. I liked the song so much that I had to pick up the album to see what the rest was like. I wasn't disappointed.

It seems this is an album Fogelberg fans either love or hate. "Phoenix" has Dan venturing outside of his more acoustic based songs into more fully orchestrated and polished pop/country songs. For me, this musical direction is really appealing. This is one album that I can listen to from front to back without ever skipping a song. You know how music can trigger memories? For me, "Phoenix" evokes memories from warm, care free Spring nights back in my teens -- a good feeling.

After this album, I made it a point to get a hold of Dan's other albums and found him to be a highly versitile artist, exploring lots of musical styles. This album of his, though, is my favorite. Highly recommended. Enjoy!

This album is a collection of the best songs Dan Fogelberg has ever written. It has been one of my favorites since first released some 20+ years ago. I bought it on vinyl when it originally came out, cassette to listen to it in the car as a teen-ager, and finally CD, as it is a must have. Fans will recognize it as being his finest work, a masterpiece, and truly timeless. Being as old as it is, it is not at all dated.

This is one his best, after Souvenirs and Captured Angel.. Innocent Age, etc. But some of the best tracks on this album are those that didn't make the Top 40 - Gypsy Wind, Beggar's Game, Last to Know and Along The Road. All fantastic lyrics and orchestrations. One of the most underrated songwriters of our time.

Phoenix was the album which began what has developed into a 25 year (give or take a few) love affair between myself and Dan Fogelberg (his music that is). Longer was the first song that I heard from this collection. No matter how many times I hear it, the perfect wedding of words, music, and Dan's youthful clear voice never fail to move me. Countless times over the years, I have mentioned his name in passing to someone who responds with a blank stare of non recognition. However, when I begin to sing the tune, no one ever fails to recognize it. Additionally, songs like Along the Road, Beggers Game, and Heart Hotels help to make this a wonderfully varied tale of rebirth and renewal. An early signature touch of Dan's is reflected in his tendency to open with a brief instrumental cut (Tullamore Dew), then to move quickly into the first vocal (Phoenix). Finally, Dan frequently manages to speak his mind on current social/political issues, within the context of pretty good music. Such is the case with Face the Fire, in which protests the use of nuclear power,taking up the cause for the development of Solar power.

Another Fogelburg winner! Second only to the unbelievable "Innocent Age" in his collection of fine albums.

Everyone has hear "Longer" on the radio, but I believe both "Beggar's Game" and "Along the Road" are better songs and give you a full appreciation for the artist's talent. He uses non-traditional instruments (from a rock standpoint) to present more than just a beat to the listener. And for heaven's sake, listen to the lyrics...

'Joy at the start, fear in the journey, joy at the coming home. A part of the heart gets lost in the learning somewhere along the road.'

After the success of ` Power of Gold' people anxiously awaited Fogelberg's next release. `Phoenix' released in 1979 did not disappoint. Radio jumped on this album, and the top twenty "Heart hotels" and the #2 `Longer' which may be Dan's best known song. This gave Dan his biggest seller to date, and began the years where more people knew Fogelberg than did not.

As he did on `Captured Angel' he began with an instrumental. `Tullamore Dew' is a nice electric instrumental that segues into the title track. These two were staples of Dan's late 70's early 80's concerts. `Tullamore Dew' was often stretched into quite a lengthy selection live, and is worth tracking down. ` Beggars game' as said by Fogelberg "is about chasing a ballerina around Nashville" It is a standout cut lyrically, and is still performed by Dan today. `Face the fire' you may remember from the attention it received during the nuclear crisis (no nukes) of 1979. It was also a popular concert favorite for many years.

`Heart hotels' is the lesser of the two hits on this one. Where `Longer' is in a sense timeless, `hotels' does a better job of bringing you back to 79 when you hear it. Whether that is a good thing or bad is up to the listener!

The album ends with `Along the road.' From 'Home free' almost 10 years prior each album contains a classic Fogelberg song that defines the album With `Along the road' we get a feeling for where Dan has been and what he has seen thus far. Where the journey will go from there is answered in his next album.

This album received a lot of airplay when it was released, out where I was living. I absolutely loved it: the diversity of songs, melodies, and words in "Phoenix, "Face The Fire," "Wishing On The Moon," and even those put down by others like "Longer," show a depth of songwriting and playing that adds up to Talent. This and another album I reviewed tonight are two of my favorites of all time, bringing back great memories of some not-so-great times, but then that's part of what music is all about, isn't it? Make some of your memories with one of the finest albums that you'll ever latch onto.

trying to find the cd's are hard enough for us 70's kids so when i found it here at amazon it was great. I love dan fogleberg. thats all i have to say.

I love all of Dan Fogelberg's albums, and, in my opinion, three of them are masterpieces:
1) The Innocent Age
2) Nether Lands
3) Phoenix
Dan is the real deal. Enjoy!