The Very Best of Dan Fogelberg

Dan Fogelberg

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 3, 2001)
• Original Release Date: July 3, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005LNBZ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,761 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk > Singer-Songwriters

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the Hits Are There, yes - but..., November 16, 2001

By	C. Kuschel-Toerber "Christian Kuschel" (Frankfurt, Hessen) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fogelberg is more than Ballads, July 1, 2004

By	L.A. Scene (Indian Trail, NC USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Mix Of Fogelberg's Best Work, June 16, 2004

By	R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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".