Wonder of It All [Original recording remastered]

Heartsfield | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Bedrock Records
• ASIN: B00000JY4A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,532 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Wonder of It All

2. House of Living

3. Pass Me By

4. Shine On

5. Eight Hours Time

6. I've Just Fallen

7. Racin' the Sun

8. Lafayette County

Editorial Reviews

Review

Heartsfield was one of, if not the main reason for my love of music and for me making a career in music for what were many years and coming from many different angles. They've been a major influence to much of the music I did, and still listen too now.

The Wonder Of It All is a great representation of the "Heartsfield sound." The title track that starts the disc is actually a full length version of a previous version that ended the first album. It s a lovely ballad written and sang by J.C. Hartsfield. It features a great instrumental middle section that actually led to a write up in the jazz magazine, Down Beat.

Song two is Perry Jordan's "House of Living," a lively harmonious track that more times than not was a show opener.

"Pass Me By" is Phil Lucafo. Phil usually writes the rockers. He slowed it down here.

"Shine On" was written by guitarist/vocalist Freddie Dobbs and drummer Artie Baldacci. I ve heard many people refer to this as the best piece of music that Heartsfield every created. You could say that about a number of tracks. You wouldn t be wrong if you said it about this one. Artie adds some sweet mellotron as well.

"Eight Hours Time" is by Freddie. A great train song!

"I ve Just Fallen" was the only track in which Artie Baldacci sang lead.

If "Shine On" isn't the best track, then Perry s "Racin the Sun" just might be! What starts as a ballad turns into a wonderfully stretched out, two guitar playoff between "Freddie and Phil." We end our journey in Mississippi with J.C.'s "Lafayette County." A straight forward country fiddle tune that puts a bow on the package nicely!

Filling out the band was Greg "Ziggy" Biela on bass and vocals.

I spent hours playing this on LP, 8-Track, Cassette, CD and MP3 over the years. I ain't stoppin' now! --Larry Carta, Cool Album of the Day, August 2010 --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Product Description

Heartsfield's second album was recorded as the band was touring like mad. The boys rented a house in a small Illinois town and moved into an average 1973 American middle-class neighborhood what a surprise for everybody.

Perry Jordan, the band's leader says, "Here come 12 long-haired musicians, cooks, roadies, and producers with a small army of trucks, motorcycles, stereos and women making for a grand new addition to local population. One thing for sure, the only distractions were at the band house guess that was the idea.

"On top of that the studio was a great one for sure but of all things specialized in Christian music. The title track, 'The Wonder Of It All,' won a mention in jazz music journal Down Beat Magazine as having a great jazz feel in the song."

This is when Heartsfield started to make more use of different instrumentation such as keyboards, synthesizers, harmonica, horns, banjo, pedal steel, and anything else they could find. This was also the first time they carried a vegetarian cook on the crew, and every night you could find a bunch of wild-eyed fellers at the local burger joint a couple of hours after dinner.

The Signature Series Edition of this album brings all eight original tracks to CD and includes rarely seen photography of the band inside the album booklet. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Early Heartsfield At Its Best!, April 30, 2000

By 

doc_rock - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wonder of It All (Audio CD)

It's great to see that Heartsfield's second album from 1974 is now available on CD. This is one of the great country-rock bands, with their four power guitar players and six part vocal harmonies. This CD contains four of Hartsfield's greatest tunes- The Wonder Of It All, House Of Living, Shine On, and Racin' The Sun. If you liked The Marshall Tucker Band, Pure Prairie League, or The Allman Brothers- you'll like this band even more! Original member Perry Jordan has reformed the band so you can now see them live again. (I've seen the new band and they are great!)...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Country Rock ever, February 21, 2004

By 

"rpettenon" (iLLINOIS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wonder of It All (Audio CD)

I've seen Heartsfield many times throughout the 70's.
To date I have every piece of music put out by these guys, ( I think - 9 releases so far) old band and new band. This cd is their best. great harmonies, awesome guitar work, whether it is acoustic or electric. The songs are long, but you don't want them to end. NEVER GET TIRED OF THESE GUYS!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite all time albums finally in CD!, July 8, 2000

By 

Rhonda A. Woitel (Pago Pago, AS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wonder of It All (Audio CD)

I still listen to my vinyl copy of this album. Over and Over. Harmonies, words, the music is great. Just plain one of my favorite all time albums that I take with me everywhere.