Customer Reviews

Ports of the Heart

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

 

 

Ports of the Heart is Jimmie Spheeris' fourth studio album, and the band he put together between the early 1970's and 1976 when it was first released really shine on every track.

The music itself is reminiscent of the amazing and delightful first album, Isle of View; but the sound is more electric rock than the accoustic folk feel of their first outing. Years of touring and playing live to appreciative and attentive audiences really show in the band's chops--and it's a real shame the musicians (Bart Hall-drums, Geoff Levin-guitar, Johnny Pierce-bass, Jim Cowger-flute) aren't better known (Geoff Levin is one of the most underrated guitarists alive). An impressive number of session artists also worked on this album, including Chick Corea, Stanley Clark, John Guerin and Jackson Browne.

A surprising addition to the magic of the melodies and lyrics of the songs Jimmie crafted for this album are two covers: "It's All In The Game" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." Jimmie didn't write 'em, but these performances sure prove he owns 'em.

If you already have one of Jimmie's at-long-last-finally-released CDs (thanks, Rain Records!) and are looking to pick up a second, try Ports of the Heart. It's a great listen.

I never found this on vinyl. In fact I thought there were only three Spheeris discs. How wonderful it was to find out that I was wrong. While Jimmie's first three records kept a kind of similiar tone, Ports seems to have lost a bit of the 60's hippy flavor for more of a joyous heart. Each of Spheeris' discs are masterworks of musical art, but Ports is amazingly fresh. Even after all these years I found myself listening over and over to this disc. I previously thought my love for the old records was related to all my memories but after getting Ports I realized that it's not just me. This is some great music.

Of the Jimmy Spheeris "albums" this wasn't the best, but sometimes, anything by a great artist is better than nothing. Most people who listened to Jimmy thought "Isle of View" (aka I Love You) was his best, with "The Nest" and "I Am The Mercury" as the highlights. Even in the 70's it was in the cut-out bins(does anyone remember those?)... but a "real find" for those who knew what to look for. If you don't have this, it's worth a listen, and then cry out for the label release "Isle of View".

Sadly, he died long before more people could discover him and his talent.

Yes,I would agree that it is not Jimmy's best recording,I prefer "The Dragon is Dancing" and "Isle of View" better for different reasons.In trying to seduce the tall blonde who loved this artist I myself was seduced you might say by his wonderful voice and mystical songwriting.Jimmy Spheeris is really hard to catagorize much like Neal Young is as he is both hard and soft,he is both pop music and deeply mystical.He is someone I have to be in the mood for but once in the mood his Cd's play for hours.The two standards "I'm so lonesome I could cry" and It's all in the game" are my favorite versions of both songs as his deep,rich warm voice captures the songs as if he wrote them himself.Whirlpool is one of my favorite ballads ever and Nightingale always sooths me during rough or sad times.
Although I highly recommend this Cd I believe that Dragon is dancing is the place to start with Jimmy and them I assume that you will want the entire collection.

This is one of the best albums I own. It's truly bizarre that Jimmie Spheeris, despite the fact that he's, well, dead, is so obscure. Nobody's ever heard of him. And yet he's a great songwriter and a great singer, standing comparison with any of his peers in the mid 1970s, like Jackson Browne (who sings backing vocals on this CD) or Joni Mitchell.
The combination of Jimmie's voice and his incredible ear for melody makes this one of the few albums that can actually make my hair stand on end when I listen to it. His voice really is unique: effortlessly musical, whether soft edged and gentle, or extended with the trademark `edge' that makes him so compelling to listen to.
Most songs here are originals, with `Bayou Eyes' and `The Whirlpool' particularly good, but no track less than excellent. Some of these songs stop you in your tracks. I'm a great fan too of his versions of the 1950s song `It's All in the Game', which is far better than anybody else's. And he does a memorable version of Hank Williams' classic `I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry' to round of an album you'll want to listen to again immediately when it's over.
It's criminal this is so obscure and hard to get. But at least you can still just about get it. I'd be quick though if I were you. At least a certain online music download service has most of his albums if you can't stomach the cost of the CDs here. You know which one!

Anyone out there, in musicland, who knows,at all, of the LATE Jimmie Spheeris's mega-talent, will want this album!!!Here in England, i've been a fan of Mr. Spheeris's incredible talent for some30 odd years!!!Ican quite confidently announce that "Ports of the Heart" is not only Jimmie's finest work, but quite possibly my FAVOURITE singer-songwriter album --OF ALL TIME!!!!!
His early linkage with Jackson Browne, is interesting(check "The Barricades of Heaven" J B., a strong reference to Jimmie'e talented guitar playing is mentioned here!).Jimmie passed on JULY '84, and no-one has replaced him since!!!!!
His music & songs truly stand the test of time, all his albums were truly excellent(thankyou RAIN RECORDS )...this album ,"Ports of the Heart" was/is surely THE BEST!!Every track on this album is magnificent, and oh what an INCREDIBLE voice Jimmie HAD!!!I personally feel Jimmie S. was possibly the most talented songwriter/singer of the late 60's/early-mid 70's!!!
"cHILD from Nowhere" the opening song STILL blows my mind every time i hear it!!(Chick Corea's bass is awesome)The title cut "Ports of the Heart" is stupendous lyric writig ,as are ALL the songs on this c.d. re-release!Somehow Jimmie pulled all the right switches at the same time with this album.The musicians taking part on this epic album is one of the reasons!!(Jackson himself, Robin Williamson-I.S.B.) after 30 odd years, i still rate this as possibly the most outstanding singer-songwriter album-EVER!!!!for me the song "Bayou Eyes" is simply the greatest track he ever recorded-the musicianship is absolutely stunning!(Now, on c.d., it sounds fabulous) Before Jimmie passed away(a drunk-driver smashed into Jimmie's motorbike), i considered him a great, GREAT undiscovered GENIUS!, NOW I THINK IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO GET THESE ALBUMS ,ON C.D.!!Listen to "It's You They're Dreaming of" ,from this album-who EVER wrote such beautiful songs as these???If you're a lover of god song-writers, do yourself a REAL favour, get this c.d.-you'll NEVER hear better songs that scale the human heart, with a voice so beautiful, even now 30 odd years on...i SURELY miss you, Jimmie Spheeris!!!!!!!!Ports of the Heart", my singer-songwriter album OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!

Jimmie Spheeris "Ports of the Heart" astonished me 30 some odd years ago when I first heard it. I was extremely fortunate to get a promotional DJ advance copy and it quickly became one of my most played LPs. There's something very special about this music - but mostly, to me, it sounds still fresh... alive... hard to "date". And the recording quality and mix is astonishing. His rendition of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is the best ever IMO. A desert island disc for me.

I had the fortune to see Jimmie open for the Moody Blues too many years ago. after playing to a rude rocknroll crowd for several songs, and demanding that they shut up, he played an electrifying version of "I'm so Lonesome..." and received a standing ovation. the songs on this album cross the full spectrum of human emotion and do so with intelligence, great musicianship, and impeccable production. too bad the prices have gone obscenely high.

Jimmie's fourth album was wonderfully fun and nearly perfect! His mix of classic covers blended flawlessly with his playful melodies on this masterpiece. My two personal favorite records would be this one and his glorious debut album, "Isle of View". Jimmie was the kind of artist you loved to turn someone new on to and I have to thank Mike Purser for turning me into a Spheeris fan. Jimmie's music has timelessness all through it.

I wasn't sure I would like this as much as Isle of View, in fact the first time I listened to it I still wasn't sure. But after another listen or two, I was hooked. I found myself feeling relaxed and light of heart through the entire album. Even a sad song like "I'm so lonesome I could cry" was pretty and airy. Jimmy Spheeris' voice is such strong instrument in and of itself that everything else simply compliments it. Some of the song intros reminded me of Joni Mitchell's "Hissing of Summe Lawns" LP. If you like the feeling of floating on water in a pool of water, (like Jimmy does on the cover)you'll love this album. I highly recommend it.