Customer Reviews

There Is a Breeze

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
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This LP was a revelation to myself and many others here in the Twin Cities when it was released in 1973. It served as a guidepost to those of us who were trying new ways to go accoustically, without falling into the folk, country, blugrass thing that was popular at the time. His guitar stylings were intricate and different...and i spent many hours ripping him off. The lyric content of "There is a Breeze", is at times wistful, poignant, introspective (without being too special) and Michael's voice pulled it off. The production on the LP is great. His backing musician's add alot to each piece without overwhelming them. He even uses a couple of local boys..Leo Kottke and Gordy Johnson's group at the time ...Petrus. There are two albums I would not live without....Kind of Blue by Miles Davis and There is a Breeze. I wish someone would re-issue Michael's follow-up to this called "For All You Mad Musicians" on the Sanskrit label. It is another treasure.

This is THE Michael Johnson recording. All of his subsequent recordings get washed out in the over production and attempt at finding that commercial market. The song selection and musicianship is excellent as is the variety in production credits(Phil Ramonone, Peter Yarrow, Chris Dedrick) If you are a fan and have not listened to this recording you have no idea what you are missing.

As a guitarist, Michael Johnson was my mentor in the mid 1970's. "There is a Breeze" is, I feel, his very best work capturing not only the intricate beauty of his fingerpicking technique but also his passionate love for his guitar and song writing. It's influence is still felt in my own work.

This was one of my favorite albums, which I unfortunately lost in a fire.
I was delighted to see that it had been re-issued on CD and was available here, and I immediately ordered it.
Unfortunately,after 6 weeks of run-around and excuses, the seller-HOMERUNSMUSIC-cancelled my order and said they are no longer doing business with the overseas supplier of ANY of the Micheal Johnson albums and CD's listed here.
The fact that they still show the cd as available here is an example of their business practices and service-or lack there-of.
I still hope to find the cd of this wonderful music-but i will never do business with HOMERUNSMUSIC again.

It was long ago back in 1973 when I was at boarding school that I first received this album as a freebie giveaway at a music store in Wayne Pennsylvania. I had a limited record collection and played it over and over and over again. The music was crisp, the lyrics were real and his voice cut through you and forced you to sit up and listen. Uplifting at time and depressing at others (you know, that good tear-jerking kind of depression).
Nobody had ever heard of Michael Johnson before, and I had this all-knowing kind of pride when he started to make it big, as if I discovered him. There was a type of honesty in this album that he left behind in his search for fame and commercial success.
Sadly one day my album was left too close to the radiator and warped. While I searched and searched to replace it I couldn't find the album anywhere. Until today. My search is over. I have found an old friend

My 70s vinyl copy is no longer pristine.

Michael was a reason to be glad to live in Minnesota in the 70s..

This album covered a range of styles, including a marvelous cover of "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught" and was my first introduction to Greg Brown's songwriting ("Rooty Toot Toot For The Moon", done just right.) Also, nice cover of Jackson Browne's "My Opening Farewell".

Michael Johnson has gone through a number of changes in his musical career. While most of his work is very good, this album, which previously was available only on a privately-issued CD off Johnson's website, is, in my opinion, his best. This is not commercial, formulaic pop in and sense of the word. The songs and arrangements are top-notch, the sequencing is exellent, and Johnson's singing and playing have never been better. This is truly sophisticated popular music of the highest caliber and showcases Johnson in various lights; he shines in each one. My only quibble is with the recorded sound, which is not quite as good as it should be, but this is probably a function of the original master, and the music is so good that I can forgive this.

Soon after the original LP was released, I saw Michael Johnson live in a small club in Greenwich Village. His persona was perfectly suited to these songs, and his presentation was completely natural, as though he felt completely at home with them. I have always been surprised that Johnson did not have a more successful career, even when he went commercial. The man is immensely talented, and this CD release, which showcases those talents to their fullest, is long overdue.

I truly hope someone reissues this album in CD format. I have the original vinyl version and it is one of my all time favorites. This is pure Michael before he went more commercial with his songs. He is an excellent guitarist and has a great voice. both of which this album showcases.