Songs From an English Garden

David Lanz | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 14, 1998)
• Original Release Date: July 14, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B000007TG1
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,298 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars from Wind and Wire, Issue 8, January 26, 2000

By 

Kathy Parsons (Florence, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Songs From an English Garden (Audio CD)

Let me preface this by saying that I teach David Lanz's piano music more than that of any other composer, so I know most of his music inside and out. I have seen him in concert five or six times, have interviewed him by phone three times, and was acknowledged in the credits of his instructional video, so my deep love for David's music, performing style, and humanity has a long history. I was looking forward to the release of his new album with great anticipation until I learned it was going to be a compilation of 60's British hits. I love David's previous covers of "Nights In White Satin", "A Day in the Life", and "A Whiter Shade of Pale", but a whole album? This on the heels of the four quickly-released CDs of covers by another hero of mine, Wayne Gratz (also a Narada artist), left me feeling more than a little queasy. This definitely isn't David's best work, but I had the opportunity to talk to him about the album in the course of a recent interview. This was David's final album for Narada, and he wanted the album to be very light, commercially appealing for more radio play, and fun. It is getting more airplay than his previous albums (sad!), so this marketing plan is working. David wanted this album to be a tribute to some of his musical roots and to attract new fans with the use of familiar music. David has moved to the Philips label, and promises that his future releases will be original compositions with a lot more substance.

The two original pieces on "Songs From an English Garden" are "Sitting in an English Garden" and "London Blue". Both are classic David Lanz, but "London Blue", a melancholy piano solo, is much truer to David's very personal piano style; I think it's the best cut on the album. "Sitting in an English Garden" is a little too pop - but then, this is a pop album, right? Accompanied by a varied assortment of musicians including Herb Alpert(!), Roy Bittan, and Matthew Fisher, some of these arrangements of 60's hits work better than others. "Conquistador", "Girl", "Strawberry Fields Forever", and the medley of "As Tears Go By" and "Ruby Tuesday" are the most memorable. I like the bouncy rhythm on "Bus Stop", and the bittersweet flavor comes through without any lyrics on "I'll Follow the Sun"; some of the others are just too light. The album as a whole is fun and entertaining, and it's a kick to hear David's take on some old moldy favorites, but .... I'm not sure how to finish that sentence, but maybe it's better to leave it hanging and see what's next!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Arrangements of non-original material pleasing, August 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Songs From an English Garden (Audio CD)

I too have a critical ear and have attended all his performances when he has come to town. Admittably, this CD was bought by my wife for me. She did so by the artist, not the content. I was disappointed by the contents initially and had high expectations of a new David Lanz CD. Only the first track is an original and it does stand out as the Lanz that I expect. David does a great job of transforming these songs to a solo piano format. No one else could have done this to these songs nearly as well. That aspect of it is enjoyable. This CD should be purchased with that in mind. Do not expect Skyline Firedance, but do add this to your collection.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine tunes, rich chords, make pleasant trip down memory lane, June 21, 2001

By 

Volkert Volkersz (Snohomish, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Songs From an English Garden (Audio CD)

While I will readily agree with the other reviewers that David Lanz has done better work--on solo recordings--than "English Garden," this album still works for me. Sure it borders on Muzak, but here David has proven that the music our parents complained about--in the 60s--really did have some fine melodies. Lanz builds on the foundation of these familiar tunes from the "British Invasion" with rich--dare I say jazzy?--chord structures and subtle rhythms.

I frequently play "English Garden" in the background at the school library where I work, and more often than not some teacher or parent will comment on it or write down the title. For those of us who spent countless hours with our ears glued to the hi-fi speakers listening to Beatles, Stones, Hollies, Kinks, Moody Blues, Chad and Jeremy, or Gerry and the Pacemakers back then, Lanz has created a pleasant and relaxing instrumental journey down memory lane.

By far my favorite cut--and the one truest to David Lanz's ethereal solo piano form--is his exquisite rendition of "Strawberry Fields Forever." While this album may not be for everyone, I think it hits the mark for aging Baby Boomers.