Search - Dan Fogelberg :: Captured Angel

Exquisite from start to finish

MM | Oakland, CA | 02/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is a reason why there are so many five-star reviews for this album. I have been reading some of the reviews and I'm not sure what else I can say that others haven't already said. My first exposure to Dan Fogelberg was with his Souvenirs album, then this one.



I echo what others are saying: That this album is criminally under-appreciated. Captured Angel is a masterpiece. He is a brilliant songwriter and musician. Those who never took the time to listen to his earlier catalog might dismiss him. He is a serious artist.



Yes, he had some "wedding singer" tunes later on. I'm definitely not a fan of "Longer", "Missing You," "Heart Hotels," and "Make Love Stay." They actually aren't bad songs--if someone else had sung them. But the fact that they are Dan Fogelberg's makes me dislike them because I don't feel they represent Dan Fogelberg's true talent that he's shown on his early work. And those same pop songs pigeon-holed him into being perceived as a soft pop singer. I'm sure it paid the bills, and I'm sure the record company liked the revenue; but I wish radio would play his earlier stuff. And the greatest hits compilers should put songs from Captured Angel on the next compilation. In fact, they could just change the Captured Angel cover and call it "Greatest Hits," because these are some of his greatest.



Captured Angel really inspires me with songs like "Old Tennessee" and "Crow." Every song on this album is perfectly crafted and mixed and performed. I have loved this album since I was 15. It was moving then, and I feel the same way about it now. It's a timeless album. Why am I writing a review now? I just got a new CD copy to replace an old one. I played it in my car yesterday and noticed I had tears in my eyes and was getting choked up. I couldn't believe how good this album is from start to finish. There's just "something" about this album. And I am sad that Dan Fogelberg left us so early. I was inspired to write a review and tell others to listen to this album. And fortunately, a ton of other reviewers have already done that here!



This is my favorite album, but check out Souvenirs, Home Free, Nether Lands, Phoenix, and The Innocent Age. I'm glad to see that there are so many people on Amazon who agree with my five-star rating. It's a keeper."

Talented Beyond Belief

Rick L. Nolan | Ventura California | 09/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just quickly scanned the reviews and didn't recall seeing the mention of the fact Dan recorded this album while in Illinois when his father was dealing with health issues serious enough to make him stay close to him. He recorded this work in Pekin Illinois a small village outside Peoria and played every instrument on the original recording. He was making this as a demo for his next project. That only the Drums were replaced on that demo because he demanded it while everyone else was saying "Dan its great the way it is right now" show just what a talent Dan had at such a young age. Think about how many artists today could have pulled off that kind of project solo.



These songs were quite special to a lot of us Peorians who lived there at the time. We understood "we walked together through the gardens and graves" a line in The Last Nail, because we'd done pretty much the same thing growing up on the East Bluff. This was my favorite album of his for years, over Netherlands, Phoenix, and so many others. It was our hometown guy makin' it happen right where he was born and grew up. All these songs stand out and I find it just as enjoyable to listen to today as the first time I heard it. This is a great find, if you haven't heard it before, or just a couple of the songs you've heard before. Getting this CD will be the best present yourself you could wish for musically.



Enjoy, I have since its release date."