Portrait: The Music of Dan Fogelberg from 1972-1997 [BOX SET]

Dan Fogelberg

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 3, 1997)
• Original Release Date: June 3, 1997
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002BUG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #80,634 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Awesome Portait of a Master Songwriter!, February 1, 2001

By	Archie Mercer "Archie" (Yorba Linda, CA) - See all my reviews

Dan Fogelberg is one of those few songwriters that can blend great lyrics with wonderful music. His songs don't just tell a story they paint a picture. Although he's known for his top 40 hits he never compromised his standards when writing and producing his albums. This box set gives the listener a great feel of how his music progressed though the years.

One of the strengths of this collection is the format. Each of the 4 CDs included have a main theme. CD #1 is a "greatest hits" listing, covering all his hits from A to Z. CD #2 are ballads that weren't hits but were popular with his main-stream fans. CD #3 covers his "rock-n-roll" side, and CD #4 has his stories of places and people. Each CD is well worth listening to. Of course all the hits are wonderful, but some of my other favorites are "Nexus" off CD 4, "As the Raven Flies" and "The River" of #3, and "Tucson, Arizona" off #4.

I would recommend this to any music fan who is looking for a great musical experience.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Portrait of Timelessness!, November 21, 2001

By	Lawrence Ryan (Kansas City, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews

Dan not a man who should be contained inside a box,
Never to be labeled just a Balladeer.
And most of all, never to be underestimated as a true
songwriting force that this generation should overlook.
The best of Dan isn't what we have heard in his "Greatest Hits" or "The Very Best of"....though certainly those songs were the very reasons why Dan became among the most respected singer songwriters of the 70's and 80's,
It's just that "Portrait" is Singularly the reason why Box sets are produced and sold like they are......To allow you to consider
the artist as a whole, and judged purely on volume, and to let the story be dignified by His output and purpose behind the music.......each song indexed by Dan consists of His own story behind each song.

So if your remotely considering buying this box set,
here are some helpful hints as what to expect.
A well conceived layout, conveniently attractivly shaped case,
surrounded with four very appealing pictures of Dan from his three decades of music......also....lots and lots of Pics of Dan.
The stylish booklet inside holds the essence of his music in words.......if your expecting a wild tale of sex, drugs and rock and roll decedance ,then may I suggest VH1 Behind the Music where very doubtfull Dan will ever appear, for his life and lifestyle has been greatly guarded throughout his long career.
But you will come away from reading the booklet respecting his views and musical aspirations......and of course the man himself.

But you buy it for the music......and the music never dissapoints.
Four Cd's in four catagories......The first is "The Hits"
Containing those well loved songs you have heard on the radio.
"Longer"...."Same Old Lang Syne"......"Leader of the Band"....
"Part of the Plan".....if those songs dont sound familiar, they will!

Second Cd is "Ballads"....."Too the Morning" starts this Cd Beautifully.....its what I call an Epic Ballad.....one of those songs that plays on and your taken in soley by its sense of perfection......."Stars".....most recently covered by Alison Krauss.....and then "Wysteria".....a haunting poetic song that allows you to consider its true meaning from your own heart.
There are 17 songs on this Cd alone.....Of the Four Cd's this one I listen to the most.

Next Cd is "Rock and Roll".......if your not aware, Dan writes all of his music, Plays Most all the Instruments including Acoustic and Electric guitars and Piano....and he is no amateur,
Dan is geniunly gifted and it shines through so personally that it inspires so many others to play like he can......each song selected here contains a notch or two above his Ballads as far as his musical range, meaning he has more to say than just Love songs.

The last Cd is called "Tales and Travels".
A personal favorite here is "The Last Nail".
Dans ability to tell a story so poetically are for those who
desire more from a song than just a chorus a bridge and a unestablishing solo, Dan showcases his brilliance with true stories from his personal relationships, songs that reflect our own realness.

On a side note......one song that was not included on this Box set for some Ungodly reason........"There's a Place in the World for a Gambler" can be found on his "Souvenirs" Cd.
If you have...that same eternal question.....Why was this song not included......then be suprised and go out and buy "Souvenirs"....its one of those songs that I called an "Epic Ballad".....well worth looking into.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars He can melt your heart or your speakers, September 29, 2001

By	Michael B (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews

How can you describe a set that includes "Same Auld Lang Syne"(will melt your heart) and "Tell Me to My Face" (turn it up and let it melt your speakers). The only word I know is fabulous.
I have listened to Dan Fogelberg since the mid-70's. My first acquaintance with him came through "Netherlands" which I played until the grooves wore out. I then followed that with "Phoenix", "Innocent Age", etc. and loved them all. Sometime during the 80's, I moved on to other artists and lost touch with Dan's music. "Portrait" gave me a chance to rekindle this relationship with a vengance. I love the music in this set for several reasons. First, it compiled virutally all of his best among the four discs. Second, it allowed me to discover incredible new music like "Seeing You Again" and "The Minstrel"(who else could write such a beautiful song about a boat?). Third, the format of the discs allows me to trace his development as a songwriter and last, the liner notes where he discusses each of the songs are a treasure.
In my mind, there is only one glaring omission from the set; that being "Ghosts" from "Innocent Age" Other than that, load up the multi-disc player, sit back, close your eyes and enjoy.