Transcendence

Shawn Phillips | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 14, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN: B00000HYH5
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,938 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Take It Easy

2. I'm An American Child (On A Nuclear Pile)

3. Implications

4. Lady In Violet

5. Good Evening Madam

6. Lament Pour L'Enfant Mort

7. Julia's Letters

8. Motes Of Dust

9. Ease Your Mind

Editorial Reviews

Reissue of 1978 album, his first for RCA after leaving A&M. Features all nine tracks from the original release, which find Phillips backed by a symphony orchestra conducted by Michael Kamen. Includes original cover art. 1999 Wounded Bird release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shawn, if you're out there..., February 17, 2004

By 

Richard D. Hodgson (Madera, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Transcendence (Audio CD)

I don't actually consider this my favorite Shawn Phillips album musically-- I have favorite bits and pieces from a number of different albums, and "Rumplestiltskin's Resolve" (which is currently out of print) is probably my favorite complete album of Shawn's overall. But this one does hold a very special place for me. Not only is it a beautiful album in its own right, but (at the risk of sounding melodramatic), it may have saved my sanity one night back in 1979-- if not conceivably my life (though I'll always want to believe that I wouldn't have resorted to that).

It was a really difficult time for me. A failed business venture (due to a dishonest business partner and my own naive, overly trusting nature at the time), a depleted savings account, mounting bills, rent overdue, a lease I couldn't break, wolves at the door, and a general, overwhelming sense of desperation, all compounded by the empty loneliness of a lack of female companionship (or any companionship-- I was many miles from family and friends). One evening, while sitting in the dark in a really serious funk, wondering how the hell I was ever going to get out of the mess I was in... something told me to put on this album. I had played it many times before, of course. But somehow, this time was different. When it started, I was feeling as low as I had ever felt in my life. Less than an hour later, when the stylus tracked away from the final cut "Ease Your Mind", I found that I had an incredible sense of peace and serenity, and-- what was this?-- optimism! My entire mindset had changed. For the first time in many weeks, I suddenly felt that everything was going to be alright. It sounds corny, but had I not chosen (or did I really choose?) to listen to "Transcendence" that night, I really can't say where I might be today.

I will forever owe you a sincere debt of appreciation, Shawn, for whatever magic it was that you and your music wove for me that evening. I know, without question, that it changed my life. And if that sounds corny and melodramatic, so be it.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just listen to Julis's letters!, April 30, 2001

By 

youngchool choe (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transcendence (Audio CD)

I had a old LP of this recording. I got this because I had been blown off by his masterpiece, Second contribution. Just try Julia's letters. You will be surprised. Strongly recommended. BTW, did he know he looked like Jesus?