Customer Reviews

Street Dreams

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

 

 

I read the previous listener review and was curious to check out this music as I had honestly never before seen this album. The review had me interested but cautious because of some of the word choices and phrases used to describe the mood created. In addition, songs like "Classical Gas" didn't seem like "snuggling" music to me. I chose to check out an online site that has 30 second clips per song to review the music prior to buying this cd -- I'm glad that I did.

This is not Barry White music. It has no smoky, sultry sound. Not the gentle, emotional guitar touch that Chet is capable of. (If you're looking for that I might recommend "Sails" or either of the Chester and Lester CD's--although none of these are quite "snuggling" music either) You would have to enjoy "Swanee River", "The Streak" or maybe "Convoy" as lovemaking accompaniment to consider this music as "lower the lights after dinner and snuggle" music. This could only be romantic music for people who like feather boa laden women calling them "Big Boy" in a nasal tone -- GOT THE PICTURE? Again, CLASSICAL GAS? Electronic sounding drums. Bad, shrilly 80's sounding keyboard tone. Mood Music? I don't think so. It's more reminiscent of grammar school kids marching to an assembly.

I felt compelled to steer away those of you who might, like me, have been searching out that warm, soothing music that we think might exist out there but that we're unaware of. Needless to say, this is not that album. If you want that sultry, subtle, warm, non-generic smooth jazz sound I might recommend Earl Klugh "Late Night Guitar"(nylon string guitar with soft string accompaniment, some light percussion) or Ben Webster "Jazz 'Round Midnight"(Tenor sax with soft piano, some very light drums). I think you will be real happy with these albums for that after dinner mood music, or with a nice candle lit dinner, for that matter.

No feather boas. No Ray Stevens.

Street dreams cd is one of chet akins best love the music now i can do the two step which we enjoy very much

I had this CD back in the mid 90's and lost it in a move along with many other cd's. Forgot how good this and Stay Tuned cd's were!

After two somewhat slow sellers for Columbia, Chet struck musical and commercial gold with 1985's Stay Tuned, a meeting with several of the greatest guitarists of the '70s and '80s. The strong sales of that ablum helped Chet transform himself into what he left longtime label RCA to be in the first place: a contemporary jazz artist. Street Dreams was where the transformation became complete. (Indeed,a 12" single of "The Official Beach Music" had a sticker proclaiming Chet to be the label's "New Age Jazz King".)

Several great fusion musicians can be found here, including George Benson alumni Ronnie Foster on keyboards and production, Harvey Mason on drums and Lee Ritenour on rhythm guitar (Why wasn't he on Stay Tuned, I wonder?). The results are not advised for casual Chet fans looking for the sound of his older albums (which are awesome as well), but for the serious Chet fan and the 70's and 80's fusion buff there is plenty of fun here. "Spats 'N' Hats", the leadoff tune, is a bit goofy but features great playing from Chet and West Coast reedman extraodinaire Tom Scott while "(Like a) Crystal in the Light" and the title track are nice medium tempo grooves for Chet to play over. Mark O'Connor makes another appearance on "(If You'll) Stay A Little Longer", the only bow to Chet's country roots, although even this song has a very contemporary feel to it.

If there are any problems with this release, the main culprit would be that the songs have the weakness of taking a long time to get to improvised solos, although within the genre's style it fits perfectly- remember too that Chet, from his experience with being an A&R man,referred to himself as a "melody man". Finally, for the more traditionally inclined Chet offers "Honolulu Blue", which he and John Knowles wrote in the unorthodox tuning of E-A-C#-G-B-E. Overall, this is not Chet's best record but it's far from bad. 4 Stars.

Of all the cd's of Chets I possess, this one moves the listener closer to what orchestration does for mood music. Simple with subliminal runs that slows the conversation at any gathering with its movement from power to soft strains that moves your pulse. My wife, when feeling unusually 'sensitive', slips it on while 'putting on the silk', if you get my drift.... A mans music that women tune in to.