Search - George Harrison :: Cloud Nine

Comeback album of the year

Daniel Hayes | 08/18/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"1987 saw quite a few comebacks happen in rock and roll. The Grateful Dead released "In The Dark", Ace Frehley released "Frehley's Comet", and Elton John returned to MCA records and scored a top 10 hit with the live version of "Candle In The Wind". However, all these comebacks being good can not hold a candle to "Cloud Nine". I would say this is George's finest hour since "All Things Must Pass". It's a lot more lush sounding, but it can still rock. I remember the night I first heard "I Got My Mind Set On You". I was returning from some mall in Springfield where I just purchased Dokken's "Tooth and Nail". Anyway back to "Got My Mind" I found it to be a rather fun song, and decided after a month of hearing it let's just buy the album. Well as I said it's lush sounding, but can still rock The title track, "When We Was Fab", "Devil's Radio" are pure classics. There was also a good ballad, or love song whatever you want to call it called "Someplace Else", and probably the weakest point of the album was "Take My Breath Away From Heaven". However, still kudos to Jeff Lynne for crafting one of the few really good albums of the 1980's, and kudos to Eric Clapton for helping out on guitar. This would help George back into the limelight as he would team up with Lynne, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty to become known as the Travelling Wilburys."

Fine album with George in spectacular form

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 08/31/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This remastered recording of George Harrison's Cloud Nine is one of the best in my collection. George is in excellent form here and these numbers stayed in my mind ever since I first heard them. I am impressed with George's creativity; and he worked wonders on this album with some of his peers including Elton John, Eric Clapton and former Beatle band mate Ringo Starr. The quality of the sound on this CD is, as you would expect, nothing short of excellent and I like that they used that cover art.



The CD starts with Harrison performing the title track, "Cloud Nine." He sounds great and the music fits perfectly with his vocals. The percussion, electric guitar and drums all connect to make up a good deal of the musical arrangement and it all holds its own very well. "That's What It Takes" is another striking number; I like the way George plays with key modulations to make this quite strong. George delivers this without ever letting go of a superfluous note and that's pretty impressive. The drums, electric guitar and more make for some mighty fine music as George sings the lyrics; I love it!



"Fish on the Sand" speeds up the tempo a bit for a change of pace that lacks nothing--this music is all THAT good. "Just For Today" is a touching ballad that George Harrison delivers faultlessly; as some have noted it is songs like this that prove George could write a melancholy tune that is obviously on the same level or better than The Beatles' "Yesterday." "This Is Love" has a great flavor to it and it was always one of my very favorite songs on this album; and I really like "When We Was Fab." "When We Was Fab" has an excellent arrangement that makes it powerful and quite poignant. "When We Was Fab" is clearly one of the best tunes George Harrison ever turned out after he left The Beatles; and just one listen proves it. "Devil's Radio" has George outdoing even himself as he sings this to perfection--and beyond! "Devil's Radio" is yet another gem on this CD.



"Someplace Else" lets George sing a most passionate song; the melancholy ache that permeates this song makes it moving and in its own way very beautiful. The music that plays fits perfectly with George's vocals; but the others let George's singing remain squarely in the spotlight which is right where he'll always belong. The backup singing enhances the song--not that George Harrison ever really needed backup but they do sound pretty good anyway. "Wreck of the Hesperus" has a rockin' feel to it that I enjoy every time I hear this number; and "Breath Away From Heaven" uses the percussion, drums and more to great advantage as George sings wonderfully.



"Got My Mind Set on You" is an excellent number all around; this really made the airwaves sizzle when it was released back in the day! There's also "Shanghai Surprise" which was written for a movie with Sean Penn and Madonna that didn't play too long in movie theaters; and the CD ends very well with George Harrison performing "Zig Zag." "Zig Zag" has a great feel to it and it's rather catchy, too. "Zig Zag" is a terrific way to end this CD.



George Harrison lives on through his music; and this remastered CD is a must for his fans. It also makes a great starter CD if you're just getting into the artistry of George Harrison. He remains a giant amongst giants."