Customer Reviews

Yellowhead to Yellowstone and Other Love Stories

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Yellowhead to Yellowstone and Other Love Stories is a five star CD. I saw Ian in Eugene when he was losing his voice a couple years ago and was told before getting this CD that his voice was very much changed. I figured that Ian could scratch his songs out like chalk on a chalkboard, and I would still have to have this CD. After all, it is Ian Tyson and he is one of the greatest songwriters of the last 50 years. I think it could be strongly argued that he is THE greatest country songwriter of the last half century. I won't kid you; I felt trepidation as I started listening to Yellowhead to Yellowstone. But after I started to hear what he was singing, I was stunned. Yellowhead to Yellowstone, the opening cut on the CD, is as good as anything he has written in his 45 year career. It is a song about the wolves of Yellowstone. It is also a song about Ian Tyson, and all of us as we grow old. The old wolf tells of losing his alpha position: "I led until one would let me lead no longer/I turned my tail and wished that I was younger." How matter of fact and how true. The CD is filled with more emotion than I have heard Ian put on any other in his career. As he gets older, this man gets better. I won't try to recount every cut and what makes each one special. That is your journey to enjoy. But make sure you take the journey. Get this CD.

I have all of Ian's cd's. Wish he had a dvd! This is a must have cd for Ian Tyson fans. He paints a picture of where he is in life. Guitar work is great, his new voice is weathered as he is. At first one is stunned by the loss of his old, melodic voice, but his essence comes through and you can't help but love the guy. He is a man's man. His song writing is exceptional and revealing. He is a treasure. don't hesitate to get this one.

I had not heard that his voice had changed, and so I was stunned when I heard the first song. For years it's been such a pleasure to me to get a new Ian Tyson CD and sit back and let the smoothness flow, and to realize that wasn't going to happen again...I'm nearly as old as Ian, and as you get older things disappear from your life - people, abilities, appearances. The sweet voice singing about cowboys was just one more thing to disappear from mine, and I sat there crying for awhile. For him, for me, for lost opportunity and chances. And then I listened to the words, and these songs are totally amazing. I can't tell you which is my favorite, I love the whole thing. Just like I've loved every Ian Tyson CD ever made.

After 50 years the old Alberta cowboy still moves us... pulls up the image of the old wolf... the old cougar... holding on to all that matters... the things that make his world his own. Just like Magpie, Ian Tyson's presence helps the West survive.

If anything makes it cool to be 75, it will be this record. The wisdom, grace, and stoic perseverance reflected in these songs provide a framework for all of us who may eventually be lucky enough to achieve Ian's years. I love the "new" voice: weathered, weary, but ultimately unconquerable. The title tune is simply a classic: wonderful insight, great melody (naturally -- this is Ian!), and sung with genuine conviction. Every song is a compressed novel: whether of the heart (Love Never Comes At All) or, as in previous albums, about a fascinating cast of characters (this time around, Ross Knox and Bill Kane). The musicianship is uniformly stellar. This album apparently comes on the heels of some tough personal times for Ian and the titles reflect it: the aforementioned Love Never Comes At All as well as Fiddler Must be Paid and Estrangement. In light of these difficulties, it's perhaps no accident that horses, which represent dependability and loyality, are featured prominently in the songs and photography. Whether you are new to Ian, or like me, have every one of his uniformly excellent records, you will be touched and wisened by this superb piece of work.

This new CD from Ian Tyson, my all-time favorite male country singer, is a double-edged heartbreak, one half deeply sad, the other half totally beautiful. Although I long to hear these lovely songs by the bark & honey-voiced Ian Tyson of old, I'm simply glad that this great artist is still working and creating sublime songs of the windswept plains of Canada and the American West.

It should be noted, however, that while the cragginess of the late Johnny Cash and the still-working Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan happened gradually over the years, allowing their fans to adjust (and all of their voices were gruff to begin with), the sudden change in Tyson's voice is rather shocking. But once I got used to it, I began to focus on the songs themselves, and they are as brilliant and melodic as ever, with that mix of melancholy and cowboy mysticism that Tyson has always done like no other. While Ian's band of excellent musicians know how to pull back enough so as not to overpower his considerably weakened voice, they don't withhold any soul, playing like they mean it, with support and love. On songs like "Lioness," "Estrangement," "Go This Far," and especially the closer, "Love Never Comes At All," the musicianship and quality of the songs are better than ever, and stand with Tyson's finest recordings.

This album should reward skeptical listeners with repeated visits. It's already grown on me considerably, with my third and fourth go `rounds. Yes, some patience is required - but highly recommended for serious Ian Tyson fans; at the very least, I hope the man will be granted the respect he deserves, so that he can continue to enrich us with his unique and important artistic vision.

Ordered my CD early, hell I almost drove up to BC from Washington State to get my copy when it first came out. Had seen Ian at the Pendleton Roundup in September, so I wasn't surprised by the "new" voice and like every new Ian CD it was an event for me. Ian's voice shows even more emotion this time around. Some great songs on this one. Sad songs, great story songs, and some other vintage Tyson songs. Take a listen to Bill Kane, Fiddler Must be Paid and Go this Far, just great. This CD hasn't made it very far from the player in my truck. Can't wait to see Ian in Ellensburg @ the Spirit of the West Festival in February. Let 'er Buck!

The voice may be showing signs of age and ill health but Ian Tyson can still write songs with the best of them.

This amazing collection has songs about lost youth ("Yellowhead to Yellowstone" - the title track - and "Lioness") and lost love ("Estrangement" and "The Fiddler Must Be Paid"). And, as he usually does, Ian includes a couple of personality songs ("Ross Knox" and "Bill Kane").

As other reviewers have noted there is a depth of emotion to these songs I don't think I've ever heard before from Ian. The lyrics themselves are powerful and Ian's frazzled voice makes a number of these songs memorable. Specifically the absolutely gorgeous tune "Love Never Comes At All". This song ends the album and you may find yourself sitting there a bit choked up.

Ian Tyson has always had that rare ability to transport the listener to another time and place with his music. In addition to songs about the west this album has allowed us to look into Ian's heart and mind and see where he's coming from at this point in his life.

Buy this CD. Sit back and enjoy it. And be glad we've had the opportunity to hear Ian Tyson sing to us at least one more time.

Those of us that have followed Ian Tyson down that gravel road of his, will follow him anywhere. It wouldn't matter what he sang or how he sang it.... but this music in the Yellowhead CD is absolutely incredible!! The title song is haunting, profound, deep and wise.... it is his story, my story, it is for all of us who watch the Great Wheel turn and turn....Every song in this collection has a story and it is perfectly told, it is better each time I listen, and these stories take their place in my soul, as all of Ol' Ian's tunes and words have always done.... even as far back as the old Vanguard days!!

If you've had it up to your ears with the junk Nashville puts out today and have a hankerin for some good old Western/Cowboy music this is one of the best albums you could have. Tyson's voice really brought some chills to my spine on a few of these songs. This is a must have for true Western music fans.