Customer Reviews

Very Best of Dan Fogelberg

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Dan Fogelberg, one of the greatest singer/songwriters alive, has been in this business for 30 years, and spent the first twenty of those signed to Epic, part of mega-label SONY. Unfortunately, SONY decided to terminate the contract in 1994 after Dan Fogelberg's later albums ceased to be the million-sellers they were used to (irrespective of quality content).

Anyway, this is why this "Best of"-Collection contains charting DF metarial from 1974 to 1993, not necessarily the best, but certainly the "best-known" of Dan Fogelberg. The CD basically contains the same songs released on SONY's 1982 "Dan Fogelberg's Greatest Hits" and adds some of the late 1980's and early 1990's (up to the "River of Souls" album) material. It is therefore an excellent introduction into Dan's musicical variety and songwriting abilities, be it ballads or rockers.

Anybody interested in Dan's work beyond the hits should check out the 4-disc "Portrait" release, of course, and make sure to get a hold of the (inpendently issued) CD's Dan has recorded after his SONY years.

When one thinks of Dan Fogelberg, one might think of sappy love ballads from the late 70s. This is an unfair reputation to Dan Fogelberg, who has had a very good career spanning three decades. On this collection, "The Very Best of Dan Fogelberg" we get a good sampling of some of the best material by Fogelberg. The best way I look at Dan Fogelberg's career is that he provides a more mature spin on the Folk Music from the late 1960s and early 70s, yet is the Prototype for the "Coffee House" music that is popular today. While Fogelberg is often seen with an acoustic guitar, there is plenty of piano and other instrumentation that is worth looking at as well. It is also worth noting that Fogelberg is an incredible songwriter. Many of his songs are terrific narratives in which he establishes a near virtual "visual" for the theme of the song.

There are really three Greatest Hits sets by Dan Fogelberg. On 1982's "Greatest Hits", Fogelberg's hits up until 1982 are included. All of the songs on "Greatest Hits" are included on "The Very Best of Dan Fogelberg" except for the song "The Power of Gold". "The Very Best" does include much of his post 1982 material. This material is not as commercial, but should not have its quality discounted. "The Very Best" doesn't nearly have the depth that his 4 CD boxed set "Portrait" has. All of the songs on "The Very Best" are also included on the "Portrait" collection. However it is worth noting that "The Very Best" seems to be the perfect medium between "Greatest Hits" and "Portrait". It really captures the essential Dan Fogelberg and provides a good profile for Fogelberg's 30+ year career. Most of Fogelberg's albums are represented on the collection except for 1972's "Home Free", 1975's "Captured Angel", 1978's "Two Sons of Different Mothers", and 1985's "High Country Snows" (which I was disappointed not to see any songs from this album).

As mentioned, many people consider Fogelberg more of a balladeer. It is worth noting that Fogelberg can do some songs with a Rock and Roll edge. "Missing You", a song from the original "Greatest Hits" album is probably the best song he did. This song has almost a 1980s Santana feel to it as it opens. It also showcases Fogelberg's outstanding range for vocals. Another good Rock song he does is "She Don't Look Back" from 1987's "Exiles" which has more of a Bob Seger feel to it. 1993's "Magic Every Moment" from "River of Souls" is almost a cross between Paul Simon and a Coffee House song. The latter two songs listed are both fine examples of Fogelberg's post 1982 work.

Fogelberg can also do some outstanding piano work. "Nether Lands" and "Heart Hotels" are fine examples of Fogelberg's piano work. "Heart Hotels" almost has a Moody Blues-like feel to it. Then there is "Same Old Lang Syne" - this is a classic Fogelberg song that shows another great example of his piano side. Here we have the classic Fogelberg ballad that has become for all practical purposes - a Christmas song. Fogelberg paints a picture of a "holiday like story" while brilliantly narrating the song with his vocals. The end of the song features some great saxaphone. Another popular song is "Run for the Roses" - this is Fogelberg's tribute to Thoroughbred Horse Racing. It has a Kentucky Blue Grass rhythm to it. This might be as good as any song Fogelberg has written.

The collection includes a lot of his acoustic classics - "Longer" and "Leader of the Band" are on here and are well recognized Fogelberg classics. "Hard to Say" is also popular song and features background vocals from The Eagles' Glenn Frey. Glenn Frey along with Eagles Don Henley and Joe Walsh worked with Fogelberg very early in his career on the Souvenirs album so there is past history on this album.

The liner notes are a mixed bag. There is an absolutely terrific one page writeup on Fogelberg's career by Paul Evans. This is as good as any writeup I have seen in a Greatest Hits or "Best of" collection. The credits are really poor - they don't match up from song to song. The albums are listed, but the songs aren't mapped back to the albums. There are also no lyrics included. As for the songs, I normally prefer my Greatest Hits collection to be in chronological order - the songs are mixed although Fogelberg's newer stuff is toward the end of the CD.

I learned a lot about Dan Fogelberg's career and came to have a new appreciation for him I would definitely recommend this collection - especially if you are looking to start out with Fogelberg. If you want to go deeper, then get "Portraits" - but for the most part this CD should satisfy.

Though I was a die-hard rock & roll fan at heart (listening to Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, AC/DC and Deep Purple) in the 1970's, I couldn't help but notice a few of Dan Fogelberg's songs. Fogelberg, known mostly as a ballads kind of singer, had a few songs that really painted a nice picture. "Same Old Lang Syne" was one of those songs. Images of snow falling, shopping spree's, a warm fireplace, and someone's heart breaking (somewhere?) I'm sure came to many a listener's mind. Okay, enough of the sentimental crap. I'll readily admit that Dan can write, he can sing, he can play guitar, he had a more than competent band playing with him at times... and for the most part his music is enjoyable. Especially now that I'm 40+ years old and I'm not banging my head (to music that is) all the time now. All the songs from his 1982 "Greatest Hits" package are here minus "Power Of Gold" (why-oh-why?). That is the only drawback to this new and improved release. Take away a clunker like "A Love Like This" or "Magic Every Moment" and substitute "Power Of Gold" and you probably have a 5-star winner here. You don't here much about Fogelberg anymore... kind of like Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Seals & Crofts, Neil Young, etc... you only here about them if a new 'hits' package has been released by "Rhino' or the artist has been arrested for DUI and has landed himself in jail. Fogelberg is one of those 1970's folk/ballad/country/light-rock kind of sentimental singers that had some good songs back in the 1970's and early 80's. Some of his better albums were "Nether Lands", "Twin Sons Of Different Mothers", and "Innocent Age". However, if you own nothing of his and need an introduction - start with this one. 17 tracks on one disc; remastered sound and head and shoulders above his previous "Greatest Hits" minus the exclusion of "Power Of Gold".

'Greatest hits' would have been a more appropriate title, since although many of these tracks are brilliant, much of his very best work would probably not have been suitable for single release. Because of the folky-ballad or country-rock songs chosen as his singles this collection tends to give the impression of Dan being a rather lightweight and overly sentimental artist. This is certainly not true, as his dedicated fans know. However, in this collection only the presence of 'Netherlands' represents the less commercial, more serious side of Dan's work.

For its coverage of his hit singles this collection can hardly be faulted, apart from the inexplicable omission of 'The power of gold', a very strong early hit. In comparison 'She don't look back' is dispensable, and either it or 'Rhythm of the rain' (something of an oddity here as it is the only song not written by Dan) would have been better omitted. However, there are many great tracks to enjoy here, my favourites being 'Nether lands', 'Same old lang syne', 'Make love stay', 'Heart hotels', 'Hard to say', 'Believe in me' and 'Lonely in love'.

Certainly this is the best single-album compilation of Dan's work yet released, but the thoroughly excellent 4CD 'Portrait' collection (which includes all of this album's songs) is a much better representation of the breadth of his work and I very strongly recommend it. So whilst this is good as a taster, anyone keen to explore Dan's work more thoroughly should go for the aforementioned 'Portrait' or his individual albums - which really constitute his 'very best' work.

As far as collections go.......this is a better than Par average selection of songs. Stick with this if your a new fan and you cannot go wrong. Perhaps this may entice you into buying more of Dan's CD's. But for the sake of this collection, It is poised for the newcomer, and marketed for making new fans of this younger generation who embrace 70's rock.

I make it no secret that I love Dan's Music and will do what I can to make known his genuine Talent and his songship. It just doesnt get any better than this. "Nether Lands" begins this Cd's and instantly your introduced to what many Dan Fans consider to be his Best work. What is truely his best work is always up for some friendly Debate, but I think this song sums up quite alot of the young minds of the 70's. And in true Fogelberg form, It's Poetic Nature symbolizes many choices everyone faces from time to time. Young in heart or body, you cannot afford not to be touched by what this Cd has to offer. "Make Love Stay" more than just a silly love song, the basic question this song asks is merely a fate in which we all endeavor to find the answer to, (and Dan asked so much more beautifully than I dare even try to.) "Same Auld Lang Syne"......a story song Dan is most known for, Captures young Love gone but not forgotton. "Leader of the Band".......an ode to his Father. He lost his father as short while after releasing this as a Single, and cementing his relationship with no loose ends with his father, something I deeply respect Dan for being able to put into words.

This is the Perfect Cd to introduce young people to. With the Non substance output of lyricaly meaningless and musicaly insipid money grubbing corperate music out there in this world today........we desperately need to call on our past musical heros to continue to release and re-release the music that will never ever die.

While nearly identical to 2003's "Essential Dan Fogelberg", this 2001 release is a bit more comprehensive, featuring selections from his post-1984 albums as well. ("Essential" only includes one post-'84 tune, 1990's "Rhythm of the Rain".) This collection includes that song as well as 1977's "Netherlands", a second single from 1984's "Windows and Walls"("Believe in Me") and two songs each from 1987's "Exiles"("Lonely in Love" and "She Don't Look Back") and 1993's "River of Souls"("Magic Every Moment" and "A Love Like This"). Neither disc includes any selections from "Home Free"(1972), "Captured Angel"(1975) or "High Country Snows"(1985). The inclusion of three more songs, "The Power of Gold"(1978) and "A Place in the World For a Gambler"(1974)(both included on "Essential"), plus "Go Down Easy"(1985) would have made this a perfect best-of collection.

Dan Fogelberg far from gets the recognition, that he deserves.
This guy is so unbelievably talented. In my opinion, much more so than most of his contemporaries. To me "Nether Lands" is up there with acclaimed classics such as "Pet Sounds" and "Hotel California". Personally, it's my all-time favorite album. Still, many critics dismiss him as a tree-hugging, overly sensitive songwriter, just because the man's got a heart, and isn't afraid to pour it out in one beautiful song after another? Now, this collection won't change anybody's mind. It's pretty much the most familiar D.F. songs. How about a less predictable set, including some of the hits, as well as the best album tracks? I really believe that many of Dan's songs would appeal to a great deal of young people today, if they were properly introduced to him. The ideal compilation? Well, how about this one?:
1)Illinois, 2)The Last Nail, 3)Next Time, 4)There's A Place In The World For A Gambler, 5)The Power Of Gold, 6)Dancing Shoes,
7)Scarecrow's Dream, 8)Beggar's Game, 9)Heart Hotels, 10)Hard To Say, 11)Same Old Lang Syne, 12)Run For The Roses, 13)Make Love Stay, 14)Missing You, 15)Tucson, Arizona (Gazette), 16)Seeing You Again, 17)Ever On.
Thomas Thomsen, Denmark.

This album literally contains the "very best of Dan Fogelburg," even though many of same songs from other collection albums are on it. I was pleased to see that this collection album is more complete, because it contains music throughout Fogelburg's career, not just music from a particular album or era. It could be said that it is an expanded version of Fogelburg's 1982 "Greatest Hits" album, for this Cd contains most of the songs found it like "Missing You", "Make Love Stay", "Run for the Roses", etc. But this one also adds great songs Fogelburg made after his "Greatest Hits" album, like "Lonely in Love", "Magic Every Moment", "A Love Like This", and others. I give this album five stars for all of the great songs included on it. The only unfortunate part of this album is the same problems with every collection album out there, it always misses at least one song that some fan considers a great a hit. Despite that universal flaw, it is a great album to get for any Fogelburg fan (who wants a single cd collection) to have.

I love the music of Dan Fogelberg. His voice is so soothing yet powerful. He defined the easy listening soft rock music in the the late 70s and 80s with his string of hits like "Longer" and "Make Love Stay". However, My favorite track is "Leader Of The Band" from 1981. It is a tribute to his father and this song reminds me of the feelings I have for my dad. I also love "Run For The Roses". This is a lovely song about a horse. Auld Lang Syne is an excelllent track about running into an old girlfriend. I also love the track "Rhythym of The Rain". This is an old Neil Sedaka hit, but Dan makes this song his own with his beautiful vocals. Dan Fogelberg is gone, but his music will live on forever.

I am a long time Dan fan, I've seen him in concert several times and own all of his songs and video. "Very Best" has a great assortment of songs but they seem to lose something in the digital remastering. Most of his greatest hits are contained on his "Live--Greetings from the West" album, and I feel that there is more "feeling" to his greats on that album. The ultimate Dan happening is his "Live--Greetings from the West" DVD--one of the best DVDs I own--on a par with "Road Tested DVD by Bonnie Raitt.