Search - Chris Hillman :: Desert Rose

Smoothest High Tenor Vocal

Joseph A. Kengor | Youngstown, OH USA | 01/18/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was re-discovering some of my old lps (that's vinyl to you youngsters out there) the other day, and I came upon this one. So I'm not really reviewing the CD per se, just the music, which is heavenly. I could not believe the high quality of the personnel: Guitars: James Burton & Bernie Leadon; piano: Glen D. Hardin; dobro: Al Perkins; pedal steel: Jay Dee Maness; the rock solid drumming of Ron Tutt; & on bass (one the best ever) Jerry Scheff. Over this great instrumentation soars the vocals of Chris Hillman and on harmony vocals the incomparable Herb Peterson. Listening to Chris Hillman's high tenor is like stroking velvet; he's got the smoothest style I know... If I could shop for a voice to own, I'd want Chris Hillman's. Ever since "Have you seen her face" and "Time between" from the BYRDS "Younger than Yesterday" album, Mr. Hillman's singing ability has amazed me. Actually, considering his many talents, not only as a singer, but as a bass and mandolin player, and as a fine song-writer, I recommend any disc he's associated with, the exception being the 2nd Manassas disc. The only drawback to this disc is its shortness, about 29 minutes. Sugar Hill should have made this a two-fer with "Morning Glory", also a sub 40 minute length. But if you are obsessing about adding more or collecting all of Hillman's discs, fesr not, for this is a top shelf, though short, recording. Rating docked one star for shortness."