Customer Reviews

Song for Juli

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've worn this out in four formats-8 track, cassette, lp and finally cd. This is 70's california pop at it's best. Solid songs, solid rhythm section, a brilliant solist (Jim Rothmeil) perfect piano parts and one of the most distinctive voices in pop music. A little pop, a little jazz, a little country, just a great record.

The highlight is probably the jazzy Ridgetop, Jesse's ode to his Marin County home, followed closely by the title cut (a song about his then 6 year old daughter) and a cajun influenced Lafayette Waltz/Jambalaya

This cd is too sweet not to own it. Get it NOW

Its not very often that an album is issued that at least one song doesn't stink. "Song For Juli" is one of those rarities. This album is enjoyable from the first note to the last and shows the breadth of Young's stylistic talents. "Ridgetop" is probably the most played song from the album and like the fan from San Francisco I like to turn it up while driving across the Golden Gate on the way to my ridge (Mt. Tam). The best aspect of the album beside the quality of the music is the way each song flows effortlessly into the next. There are no disconcerting interludes here. You've got rock, jazz, country, and Cajun all smoothly rolled into one big piece of ear candy that sounds as fresh as the day it was issued. You just can't help but love it!

I have listened to this album more times than any other album in my collection. I have also given this album as a gift-as it is a sure winner with a song for eveybody. Every time I cross the Golden Gate Bridge, my mind starts singing "Ridgetop" and sice I started playing the CD now (my vinyl copy is pretty well played out) I realize just how great the music is and how it remains fresh to this day. A true classic from the mid-70's. This album has stood the test of time.

Since I live on a ridgetop in Wyoming, where it is windy all of the time, and sometimes foggy, there is nothing sophomoric nor immature about the lyrics to RidgeTop. There is a deeper message there. The lyrics on several of the songs are ballad-like, not pop music. The melodies are both peaceful and uplifting at the same time. I have listened to these songs since the day they were new and while I still love to rock out to other artists, the sounds on this album affect me in a way like no other music.

Having listened to the song samples of this album and liking what I'd heard of the Youngbloods, I decided to buy my first Jesse Colin Young solo album. It was every bit as good as I was hoping it'd be. The CD comes with a booklet complete with lyrics to all the songs, as well as a list of all the musicians who played on the album and the instruments they used. Pretty impressive for a CD reissue of an album 30 years old. I was expecting just a one sided paper insert with the album cover on the front.
The music is quite good. There's a lot of guitar, but there's harmonica, flute, clarinet, sax, trombone, violin, and piano as well, just to kind of give you an idea what the music sounds like. While it does sound like early 70's singer/songwriter rock music, the album definitely still holds up well after 30 years.
I've listened to it four times since the mailman brought it yesterday. It's not very long, of course, as most vinyl albums weren't, but what is there is outstanding. I'll definitely be getting more of his CDs.

This is my favorite Jesse Colin Young album. I like it even better now than when I first bought it twenty years ago. Great driving music. Crank it and go.

I first listened to works of Jesse Colin Young back in the very early 70's while stationed overseas. I found Jesse's music compelling and soothing. His music enabled me to at least temporarily escape from my sometimes maddening military duties and float freely back to America. Jesse's music remains clear & crisp even now, some three decades later. I continue to cherish his melodic lyrics.

try this album, you will not be sorry, jessie at his best full of quality songs great melodies,lyrics,about nature &life.Great drivingon long trip songs!

Having listened to the song samples of this album and liking what I'd heard of the Youngbloods, I decided to buy my first Jesse Colin Young solo album. It was every bit as good as I was hoping it'd be. The CD comes with a booklet complete with lyrics to all the songs, as well as a list of all the musicians who played on the album and the instruments they used. Pretty impressive for a CD reissue of an album 30 years old. I was expecting just a one sided paper insert with the album cover on the front.
The music is quite good. There's a lot of guitar, but there's harmonica, flute, clarinet, sax, trombone, violin, and piano as well, just to kind of give you an idea what the music sounds like. While it does sound like early 70's singer/songwriter rock music, the album definitely still holds up well after 30 years.
I've listened to it four times since the mailman brought it yesterday. It's not very long, of course, as most vinyl albums weren't, but what is there is outstanding. I'll definitely be getting more of his CDs.

Jesse Colin Young had many things going for his career: he was born in the right area, had a great voice, and an even greater backing band. The former leader of the Youngbloods ("Get Together", "Darkness, Darkness") changed his style from one of more folk to one of more full-bodied rich California mellow rock, complete with jazz improv's (such as the great sax solo on "Ridgetop", one of Young's most requested live songs for obvious reasons.)

I was a disc jockey in the 70's, and played 2 of these first four songs on side one in heavy rotation. We also played several songs from 'Songbird' (also heavily recommended.) The problem with the album is that side 2 is completely disjointed, and are average songs while EVERY song on side 1 is 100% excellent.

No-one has ever sounded anything remotely like his voice or style, and its one that has held up over the test of time, almost 30 years ago. Highly recommended, this cd will impress most of your jazz friends, your Jackson Browne friends, and your friends who live in the high country.