Search - Dan Fogelberg :: Home Free/Souveniers

An Absolute Masterpiece

G. Ratcheson | Washington | 06/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are 3 main reasons why I think is an amazing reissue:



1. Both albums are masterpieces. In my late teens, these were on my record & cassette players constantly. In my world, Dan's first 4 (& really his first 6) albums are amongst the best singer-songwriter records ever made.



2. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first cd remaster of Souvenirs anywhere in the world. The US cd is from the beginning of the cd age, & has mediocre sound.



3. Now the most exciting news: they used the original mix for Home Free & did a great remastering! The USA Home Free cd was significantly remixed & quite different then the original album. I suspect the reason for this is that the original mix tended to sound muddy on both vinyl & early cd; the drum sound is especially muffled. The USA CD Remix was actually very well done, but it wasn't the same album many of us came to know & love. Some examples - The organ riff at the end of Livin' In the Country was mostly missing, the bass in the River was no longer the lead instrument, & the harpsichord in To The Morning was changed from background to being the main instrument in the mix.



While the original mix for Home Free was a bit muddy, this is one of a very select few cd's I've heard that sounds better then the vinyl version, & I even had a Japanese audiophile pressing. With this remaster I can still hear the sonic shortcomings, but they're minimized, & the album I dearly love has been restored with best sound ever.



The liner notes state that if this sells well, BGO will likely remaster more of Dan's catalog. If you're a Fogelberg fan, buy this so we get more! I'd love to see a follow up of Captured Angel & Netherlands."

THANK YOU, BGO RECORDS!

Thomas Thomsen | Denmark | 08/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The one reviewer, who complains about the sound quality of this new rerelease obviously hasn't listened to the old, non-remastered cd versions in a long time. Songs such as "Be On Your Way" and "Hickory Grove" definitely have a fuller sound, and if you listen to the drum intro to the wonderful "Illinois" and compare it to the previous versions, even the remastered one on the 1997 "Portrait" box set, you'll no longer doubt the improved sound quality. These are among Dan Fogelberg's very best albums, so this is a great package. I really hope Bgo Records will continue to rerelease Dan's old records. I can't wait for my all-time favorite album ("Nether Lands")to be remastered. Love ya, Dan."

Excellent, except for dropouts

Gregory T. Ralls | Philadelphia, PA USA | 07/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"i adore these first two dan fogelberg records. i've been a fan of his since the early 80s, when my brother recommended i check out dan's home free album. as a 13 or 14 year old fledgling singer/pianist, i instantly sat down to learn to play all of the songs courtesy of a songbook my brother also had. i credit these great songs and albums for leading me to become the songwriter i am today.



now, for the details concerning these albums. i can honestly say that i like every track on both, but i'll start by mentioning the highlights (at least what i consider them to be).



home free - standout tracks: to the morning, be on your way, wysteria

souvenirs - standout tracks: souvenirs, the long way, song from half mountain



as you can see, i favor the mellow side of things...but believe me, the upbeat numbers are fantastic as well. the only drawback to this remaster is the dropout during "the river" that were mentioned by a previous reviewer. hopefully, future versions will correct that error - and i also hope that the new remaster of captured angel/nether lands is glitch free."