Windows & Walls

Dan Fogelberg | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 1, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
• ASIN: B0012GN03U
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,850 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Language of Love

2. Windows and Walls

3. The Loving Cup

4. Tucson, Arizona (Gazette)

5. Let Her Go

6. Sweet Magnolia (And the Travelling Salesman)

7. Believe in Me

8. Gone Too Far

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very strong effort--has some of Dan's very best work, December 31, 2004

By 

Dave "missing person" (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Windows & Walls (Audio CD)

Not counting his 1982 "Greatest Hits" release which contained a couple new songs, "Windows and Walls" was Dan Fogelberg's first album since his 1981 double album "The Innocent Age". Fogelberg was clearly trying hard to make a 'Big Statement' with "The Innocent Age" which received a remarkable level of commercial success for a double album, hitting the Billboard top 10 and going platinum within its first four months of release, as well as yielding 4 considerably big hit singles. "Windows and Walls", a single LP originally released in January of 1984, did make it to #15 on the Billboard charts and went gold quickly, but it basically marked the end of Fogelberg's period of highest popularity, and it seems that it didn't receive even close to the kind of critical praise that "The Innocent Age" did.

All that said, some might suspect "Windows and Walls" to be something of a hiccup or a last gasp, especially considering the gap of well over 2 years between "The Innocent Age" and this album, but actually, "Windows and Walls" is a characteristically ambitious effort from Dan with several of the very best tracks he's ever done. Plus, I must admit that I really like how Fogelberg, a prominent `70s artist, is staying true to himself on this effort and not trying in the slightest to `update` his sound to fit in with the popular trends of the mid-'80s. This album VERY much sounds like it could have come out 5 years earlier than it did, and I mean that as a compliment.

The opening 4 song sequence (`side 1' in vinyl terms) is great--it shows you how good Fogelberg can be. "The Language of Love" is a catchy rocker with stop and start riffery that recalls AC/DC, and Dan's rough-edged vocal puts the lyrics over which are somewhat simple, but fun and right on the money. The atmospheric title track is a haunting, powerful cautionary tale about ageing--again, the lyrics are right on the money, almost frighteningly so. The splendidly tuneful "The Loving Cup", one of his 'romantic desperation' songs, kind of straddles the line between being a ballad and a rocker and has a really nice mid-song guitar solo; it's a very strong track overall, but it's a tad slight--for the third verse, instead of coming up with something new, he splices together the first two lines from the first verse with the last two lines from the second; and it's also marred a bit by the overdone outro which blatantly imitates "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and has an annoying `pull the plug' ending. The `side-closer' "Tucson, Arizona (Gazette)" is a marvelous accomplishment, an excellently melodic and captivating 8+ minute story-song that's rich with detail, very strongly reminiscent of Al Stewart--classical guitar & all--and also suspiciously similar musically to the Hollies' "Tell Me To My Face" which Fogelberg had already covered on his 1978 duet album with Tim Weisberg; in any case, the song shows Fogelberg carrying out his ambitiousness in such a way that his earlier attempt at an epic story song with "Beggar's Game" (from his "Phoenix" album) did not--it`s no wonder that Fogelberg himself has cited this as his "all-time favorite track".

Unfortunately, it's as if Fogelberg burnt himself out with these first 4 tracks, because `side 2' is much weaker. "Let Her Go" is a rocker that's not even quite mid-tempo, and it's decent, but rote. Then there are a pair of orchestrated ballads including the drippy and dull "Sweet Magnolia (And The Travelling Salesman)"; and the tender "Believe In Me" which is decent, but still frustratingly slight. He does end the album with the moody environmentally-themed rocker "Gone Too Far" which, despite unimaginative lyrics, is excellently catchy.

So, it's rough sailing at times with this album, but with all of the excellent material that it does contain, it's very worthwhile and a must for any serious fan, and it makes for a solid starting point for new/ casual fans as well.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More to it, than most realize, May 10, 2001

By 

"jcchollywood" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows & Walls (Audio CD)

Usually when people mention Fogelburg's albums, you hear of Souvenirs, the Innocent Age, or the Wild Places. Many don't mention Windows and Walls. That is a shame, for it is SO underrated. Many only seem to remember that "The Language of Love" or "Tucson, Arizona (Gazette)" came from this album. Both are great songs which are considered some of Dan's very best, but what about the others? I think all are good on this album. "Sweet Magnolia" and "Believe in Me" are beautiful, "Gone Too Far" is a song one might expect to find on the Wild Places. "The Loving Cup", "Windows and Walls", and "Let Her Go" are also good. Not one of the songs in this collection is disappointing. My point is, if you are looking for a good Fogelburg album, DON'T overlook Windows and Walls. I nearly did, but I am glad that I listened to it and decided to get it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars honest ballads and excellent songwriting!, May 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Windows & Walls (Audio CD)

This cd has some good songs like the hits "Language Of Love", "Believe In Me" and alot more. But it is not all slow ballads, there are some uptempo things as well. Dan Fogelberg's writing touches the soul and the melody is distinct and flowing. He always produces quality work which is hard to say these days. Excellent well-crafted songs! Take a "trip" with this one.