The wait is over
J. W. L. Smits | Heerlen Netherlands | 06/23/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It's rather unbelievable that a record as beautiful as this had to wait 27 years to first being published on cd. Again it's a combination of beautiful touching songs ( Moses & Me, Change in a Child's Hand, In a Miracle) and harder rocking, but always heartfelt songs, and Dirk's humor and irony are all over the place. If you don't know his music, but like the earliest work of Van Morrison, John Hiatt and Joe Jackson, do yourself a favour and give it a try - I guess you won't be disappointed.
Meanwhile, it's a pity this rerelease hasn't received the fine treatment of earlier rereleases 'You Can Sing on the Left' and 'Alias i', which got beautiful digipacks with hard cover and a booklet - this is in a dull jewel case and there are no lyrics. Nevertheless, it's highly recommended."
Fourth studio album from genius singer-songwriter
L. McCabe | Southern California | 01/13/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the final major label album from poetic genius, Dirk Hamilton. His extensive music career began in the early 1970s. He quickly caught the attention of influential producer Gary Katz--at the time working with Steely Dan. Katz arranged a deal with ABC Records and produced Dirk's first album, You Can Sing on the Left or Bark on the Right using elite session musicians that included Elliott Randall, Jeff Porcaro, Victor Feldman, and Larry Carlton. Katz wanted to continue producing Dirk and Steely Dan almost exclusively, but after co-producing his second album, Dirk had his own vision about the way he wanted to make his music. He put together his own band, left ABC for Elektra/Asylum, and made 1978's Meet Me at the Crux, which was called hilarious and chilling by Ken Tucker in the Rolling Stone Record Guide. Years later (1990), respected music journalist Steve Pond named it as one of the essential albums of the 1970s in an article also published in Rolling Stone. Dirk toured with Warren Zevon and produced one other album for Elektra, but his adamant stance on making music for those who wanted to hear it--not for the money it would make, ended his affiliation with the company. After leaving the business for a number of years, Dirk realized that his life was one of making music, and he embarked on a career of his own design that continues to this day. Dirk has been called "A true American master" by well-known producer Dusty Wakeman (who produced his 1996 album Sufferupachuckle), and he has been compared over the years to Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. Music reviewers have also been quoted as saying that Dirk's music is one of the few legitimate poets on the scene (Los Angeles Times), and lucid, intelligent, and distinctive (New York Press). Dirk Hamilton is all that and more, and he continues to hold true to his stance that his career be conducted without compromise."
