Soft Lights

Editorial Reviews
From Jazziz
The image of the tenor saxophonist playing a caressing ballad may be a cliché, but when it works, it's one of the most devastating experiences on earth. Houston Person begins "Here's That Rainy Day" with a warm, unprotected, confessional tone - rich as cooking chocolate - and you know at once something serious is happening to your emotions. Person speaks through his horn, his phrasing so persuasive and right that you hardly think of his sax as an instrument at all.

Drummer Grady Tate keeps it mid-tempo, but Person drags behind, providing a sense of lazy relaxation. Ray Drummond's bass is discreet but strongly felt, while Richard Wyands proves once again that he's one of the great piano accompanyists. A relative youngster among these veterans, guitarist Russell Malone fits in beautifully, bluesily testifying on "At Last" and seemingly happy to be part of the sultry flow.

"Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me" and "It Shouldn't Happen to a Dream" add some cunning Duke-isms, the harmonic intelligence audibly appreciated by the musicians. The recording quality - courtesy of Rudy Van Gelder - is superb. Recorded in one day (April 27, 1999), the entire album is a gas. To be smooth and soulful and satisfying, jazz doesn't need drum loops and marketing consultants. It just needs musicians like these.

Tracks:

Harbor Lights
Talk Of The Town
Long Tall Cool One
China Doll
Fields Of Gray
Rainbow's Cadillac
Passing Through
The Tide Will Rise
What A Time
Pastures Of Plenty

Customer Reviews:

This is the one to get.......2005-10-17

If you don't own any Hornsby cd's, and you're reading the reviews to pick one, this is the one to get.

Here's the deal. I bought "The Way It Is" and "Scenes From The Southside" as soon as they came out and listened to them everyday until I knew them backwards! I was totally hooked. And I went and heard the band play live a bunch of times and totally freaked out. They are great albums for sure.

When "A Night on the Town" came out either I was going in a different way with my tastes, or it just wasn't as good. I listened to it a bit, but not nearly as intensely as the first two discs.

Then I lost track of Bruce.

A half a year or so ago I was on a gig with a bass player who said he keeps "Harbor Lights" in his car disc-changer at all times. So I thought it was time to give him another shot. I'm really glad I did.

While the previous albums were great, and had individual masterpieces on them, this cd is the complete package. It totally flows from track to track with NO WEAK TUNES. I think this really is the best thing he's done as far as having all the facets of a great album covered. The writing is great, the performances are great, the recording is great, the mood of the whole thing is perfect. THIS IS CLASSIC HORNSBY.

I think this is his highest achievement as a recording artist.

I've gotten a few of the more recent ones, and they have some nice stuff on them, but this one is THE Hornsby classic.

There are certain albums I can always count on. If I have a long trip in the car, I know I can totally groove (and be totally musically satisfied) with albums like Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly"; Joni Mitchell "Blue", Elton John's "Tumbleweed Connection", James Taylor's "Mudslide Slim and the Blue Horizon."

I'm proud to say that "Harbor Lights" makes it into my list of all-timers.

Hornsby Enters the Next Phase of His Career.......2005-02-04

When I put together a review, I normally try to mention something about the liner notes - positive or negative. In the case of Bruce Hornsby's "Harbor Lights", I think it's important to mention this at the beginning. The liner notes for this collection are simply outstanding and go a long way for helping you understand some of the new directions that Bruce takes for this particular collection. These liner notes do include lyrics, musician and production credits - all of which are important things. But, more importantly - there is a 2 panel write-up from Bruce himself that discusses some of the things he did differently. Bruce will give you his insight and context into each of the songs. This goes a long way into understanding this collection. With this particular review, I will try to add some additional perspectives on this collection and try to reference points that Bruce makes in his collection.

"Harbor Lights" marks the fourth album by Bruce Hornbsy. Hornsby pioneered something that has been called "The Virginia Sound". The best way I can describe this sound is a mixture of a lot of different genres of music: Jazz, Classical, Bluegrass, Rock, Country, and Pop. In the past, Hornsby incorporated a wide range of instruments in the songs to give this such a distinct sound: Mandolin, Guitar, Violin, Piano, and even Harmonica. On his first two albums ("The Way It Is" and "Scenes From the Southside"), if I had to pick a strong influence from those genres - I would probably lean toward Bluegrass. For his third album, "A Night On The Town", Hornsby began to emphasize Rock and to a lesser extent Jazz. For "Harbor Lights", Hornsby definitely turns things more toward the Jazz side.

Hornsby does a lot of other things differently as well. As Bruce indicates in the liner notes, this is his first album without his band - The Range. The lone holdover from The Range is drummer John Molo. Bruce also mentions that this is his first album where he took complete control of the Production Duties. He also mentions that this was recorded in his home studio in a very "loose" (i.e. jamming style session). One thing that Bruce doesn't mention is that most of the songs on this collection were written by Bruce and Bruce alone. On the previous three albums, Bruce's brother John would co-collaborate with Bruce on many of the tracks. On this collection, John only is credited with writing the words for 2 of the songs.

Usually when an artist decides to self-produce, work at home, and take on the majority of the songwriting - it sometimes proves to be too much. Phil Collins for his "Both Sides" album tried to make a true solo album in which he did everything (including play most of the instruments) and the end result reflects that it is too much. For "Harbor Lights", Bruce does enlist the help of some top musicians - the end result gives this collection a very good feel. The musicians included are Pat Metheny, Branford Marsalis , Phil Collins (who at this time was working on the "Both Side" project), Bonnie Raitt, and Jerry Garcia. The inclusion of Metheny and Marsalis make sense. Metheny is a legendary guitarist whose Jazz-like style fits very nicely with the Jazz-like theme of "Harbor Lights". Metheny contributes some of this great guitar work on "Harbor Lights", "Talk of the Town", "China Doll", and "The Tide Will Rise". Marsalis also has experience in working in Jazz/Rock fusions. Bruce had done a song with him during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. It was Marsalis' horn work that played a major role of Sting's Jazz-infused Rock album, "The Dream of the Blue Turtles". Marsalis contributes some outstanding horns on this collection to "Long Tall Cool One" and "Rainbow's Cadillac". Collins contributes both percussion and vocal work: "Talk of the Town" (bongos); "China Doll" (background vocals). Raitt's unique vocals are heard on "Rainbow's Cadillac" and "The Tide Will Rise". As for Jerry Garcia, he had started working with Bruce on "A Night on the Town". Bruce had actually worked with Garcia on some Grateful Dead Shows. Garcia contributes some nice guitar work "Passing Thru" and "Pastures of Plenty".

Hornsby's albums have always had some strong songwriting. His liner notes describe many of these songs beautifully. On previous works, we've seen sociological messages this on "The Way It Is", "Look At Any Window", and "Fire On the Cross". Hornsby is at no loss for this on this collection as "Talk of the Town" deals with an interracial marriage. Hornsby has always done a nice job at a "storytelling narrative" style in prior songs such as "The Road Not Taken" and "A Night on the Town". You'll hear this style on this collection on songs like "What a Time" and "Long Tall Cool One".

While the Virginia Sound might have switched directions, Bruce hasn't totally abandoned it. As Bruce says in the liner notes, the song "The Tide Will Rise" is about the Waterman of Virginia. You'll hear a bit of the classic style from his Range days on "What a Time" (i.e. a bluegrass spin). You will also hear some violin and viola on "Pastures of Plenty" - something that was more of a Hornsby staple in his earlier days. In fact, "Pastures of Plenty" really does a good job at the whole spirit of the Virginia Sound - the fusion of the many genres.

Same ol' Bruce Hornsby.......2004-01-02

I purchased this CD because I read a review stating that this is the freshest Bruce Hornsby yet.

Ho Hum... It's the same old thing. Sounds exactly like the old Bruce Hornsby and the Range stuff. I liked "Spider Fingers" much, much more.

Although I like Bruce, I think he needs to progress. This is the same ol' stuff.

Jazz-influenced pop that's an adult alternative to pop.......2003-12-30

Although both emerged from similar roots, the cross-pollination of rock and jazz is fairly limited. There's the heavy horns of 70s groups Chicago, Tower of Power, and Blood, Sweat and Tears; the cool jazz fusion of Steely Dan; and the modern mix-it-up hip-hop of Us3. The only other jazz-influenced rock artist to make much of a name for himself in the general public is Bruce Hornsby, who combines the better aspects of jazz-lounge piano (like Dave Grusin or Keith Jarrett) with the folk-rock sound of Jackson Brown and James Taylor.

After his debut with the massive hit, "The Way It Is" (from the album of the same name), Hornsby has released successive albums that build upon the formula that worked for him so well in that first single: a rock rhythm section with a standout piano that takes both the melodic part and also adds the gracenotes to the lyrical lines (think of how "The Way It Is" has the three-note-three-note touches after the line, then switches to taking on the full melody between chorus and verses).

For me, Hornsby's best album to date is not that first one, but 1993's Harbor Lights. The jazz solos are much longer, and stronger, than on previous releases ("China Doll"), while the folky lyrics of philosophical musings have a touch more poeticism ("Fields of Grey," "The Tide Will Rise"). The best songs, though, are the ones that reveal Hornsby's funky side, like the horn-laced chorus of "Rainbow's Cadillac" (complete with wonderful backing vocals by Bonnie Raitt) and the infectious rhythmic drum on "What a Time." My favorite song is "Talk of the Town," about a mixed-race couple in a small town told in the first person with a medium speed, yet driving drum track.

If your only exposure to Hornsby has been his 80s hits, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by this album, by his increasing musicianship, and the maturity of his lyrics. This isn't teeny-bopper pop, but truly adult alternative music.

Classic Hornsby!.......2003-01-06

Harbor Lights will always go down as one of his best tracks (good nighttime summer song). Lots of jazzy sounding tunes on here, but Hornsby's sound still keeps pace. You also have Branford Marsalis, Phil Collins, and Bonnie Raitt on here. Couple of classics on here! Get it!

Average customer rating:

Wonderful album
Sumptuous voice, pop light on the horizon, though
magic
Must Have
Start of Roberta's sorry descent into bland MOR

Blue Lights in the Basement
Roberta Flack
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Feel Like Makin' Love
I'm the One
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ASIN: B000002J5R
Release Date: 1995-09-19

Tracks:

Why Don't You Move In With Me
The Closer I Get To You
Fine, Fine Day
This Time I'll Be Sweeter
25th Of Last December
After You
I'd Like To Be Baby To You
Soul Deep
Love Is The Healing
Where I'll Find You

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful album.......2006-07-04

For my money, this is one of the best of Flack's albums. She really changes pace here, recording some really upbeat tunes such as "Why Don't You Move In With Me" and "Fine, Fine Day", but it's the ballards where her voice soars. "Twenty-Fifth Of Last December", "The Closer I Get To You" (with Donny Hathaway) and the myserious and lush "Where I'll Find You" are all breath taking. In fact, "Where I'll Find You" is one of my favorite tunes ever recorded by Flack. I understand that it is from a Ken Harper (The Wiz) production called "Bamboo" of which I've never been able to track down any information on. Also, unfortuately, some of the lyrics (especially in the bridge) are difficult to decipher. If anyone can supply more info on this song, please e-mail me. And back to the album, this is a must for anyone who cherishes Flack's lush interpretations and consistently smooth products.

Sumptuous voice, pop light on the horizon, though.......2003-12-30

Roberta Flack's voice is one of the treasures of black music. She blends folk, jazz, and R&B into a lovely sound that melds sophistication and soul. In many ways, Roberta Flack has had the same predicament that Nina Simone and other R&B artists have had. She can sing jazz and has some piano ability [not as much as Simone] and crafts songs. Yet Simone and Flack went down the opposite paths. Modest chart success empowered Simone to be an utterly uncompromising artist. Major chart success leads Flack to increasingly court the adult contemporary market. Not a problem for me as it gives more people the chance to hear her voice, but I prefer earlier Flack to late Flack. I enjoy this album for the Hathaway collaboration and "Move in With Me". But you also can smell the disco in "Move in With Me" and the adult pop contemporary production that slides into even these treasures.

Roberta Flack's voice always shines and I can't give even her worst work less than 3 stars. This is above average Flack. Those seeking Roberta the artist would be wiser to start with "Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway" and then pick up her earlier albums where her voice was more present and the tunes highlighted what makes her such a unique treasure.

3.5 stars

magic.......2003-04-19

This is my favorite album of hers and with the collaboration with Donny Hathaway, both have stood the test of time.

Must Have.......2002-05-14

This is Roberta's finest work. A "must" any fan.

Start of Roberta's sorry descent into bland MOR.......2002-02-12

As a purveyor of classically tinged jazz inflected soul, Roberta Flack established her trademark and reputation with her first three solo albums. "First Take" was a stunning masterpiece. "Chapter Two" and "Quiet Fire" were brilliant follow ups and nearly as good. "Killing Me Softly" featured mostly excellent material and great performances but betrayed early signs of commercialism. Even the comparatively lightweight "Feel Like Making Love" with its heavy emphasis on smooth midnight soul had many moments of pure inspiration to remind us of the great Roberta's artistry. Following a two-year hiatus from recording, she finally released "Blue Lights In the Basement" in 1977 and what a crushing disappointment it turned out to be. Not that it was a bad album. Only that it seemed criminal to subject a mammoth talent like Roberta to this kind of bland MOR production setting. She deserved better. Sure, there are some good tunes in there. "The Closer I Get To You" (a duet with Donny Hathaway) is an obvious smash but isn't nearly as subtle as "Where Is The Love", the duo's earlier hit. "Why Don't You Move In With Me", "25th of Last September", "I'd Like To Be Baby To You" and the last two tracks are all more than decent samplings of the supper club style Roberta would acquire in her later career. "Fine Fine Day" and "After You" are just plain dull while her rendition of Gwen Guthrie's "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" is so sickly sweet (no pun intended) it reminded me of Diana Ross & Lionel Ritchie. Wait, it gets worse. Roberta truly hits rock bottom with a mechanical and leaden cover of the Box Top's "Soul Deep". It's so awful and pointless I wonder what the producers were after when they came up with the arrangement for the number. I know some Roberta Flack fans like this album. I don't need to because I have her first 5 albums to savour and delight in forever. Some music critics say "Blue Lights In the Basement" was her last good album until her prodigious comeback album "Roberta" in 1994. I have to believe them. This is not the place to discover Roberta Flack. Her greatness will elude you. Go all the way back and begin with "First Take". It will blow your mind !

Average customer rating:

Bobby Hackett's Masterpiece in Circulation Again !!!!!
The Mellowest of Hackett.......What a Horn!
More Mellower, Please
SO GOOD TO HEAR THIS MUSIC AGAIN
Who says you can't swing with strings?

Soft Lights/In a Mellow Mood
Bobby Hackett
Manufacturer: Collector's Choice
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Night Winds

ASIN: B000059LF7
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

Soft Lights And Sweet Music
Bobby's Blues
I Cried For You (Now It's Your Turn To Cry Over Me)
You Turned The Tables On Me
Under A Blanket Of Blue
How About You?
Easy To Love
That Old Black Magic
Someday You'll Be Sorry
The Song Is You
It's All Right With Me
Sleep
Serenade In Blue
Deep Night
In A Sentimental Mood
Lazy River
Carefree
Mood Indigo
Get Out Of Town
All Through The Night
Stars In My Eyes
Rain
Flamingo
You're My Thrill

Customer Reviews:

Bobby Hackett's Masterpiece in Circulation Again !!!!!.......2004-10-13

I am too young to have known these 2 LPs when they were "new."
A college friend of mine ( Hi, Paul ! ) got me into pre-Bop jazz, Big Band, and Swing...
As a fledgling trumpeter I wanted an example to follow,
of how to put across a melody- simply, but vitally...My friend
loaned me an old, scratched-up turquoise-label copy of IN A MELLOW MOOD.
I was tantalized enough to locate another copy in a second-hand shop.
We "pooled" both copies; we HAD to, in order to get a listenable version of each side...
And I learned about melody.

Song and mood... and a Goldilock's-porridge-"just right" mixture of
poetry and swing...Some tracks with full band accompaniment, some with a
George Shearing Quintet-style backup. The results are
very nearly too good...The kind of music
that "Muzak" often tried to imitate, sans success...This is it. "Carefree" is just that,
leaving wistfulness and sassiness in its wake. And in Webster's Dictionary, the entry for "lyricism" should read: SEE BOBBY HACKETT'S "Serenade in Blue," "Deep Night," "Mood Indigo," and "Flamingo." Not to mention "You're My Thrill" and the perfect "Rain" (track 22); just listen to Bobby's last, long-held note -
how, through sheer beauty of tone, he holds your interest and caps the tune
with just a touch of non-chalance.

One of the most beautiful "mood" albums in the history of jazz or pop.
(This album is both, like it or not.)

I understand the joy of other reviewers here- the ones
who grew up with this music and have come upon it again after so long.
SOFT LIGHTS is a more up-tempo album, perfect in its own way.
But IN A MELLOW MOOD is Bobby Hackett's masterpiece.
It doesn't get much better than this...
Buy it for your friends, your loved ones, your enemies,
BUY IT.

The Mellowest of Hackett.......What a Horn!.......2002-07-23

We're talking the best......excluding his soulful solos on the Jackie Gleason Orchestra offerings. I had the vinyl of "In A Mellow Mood" for 44 years but had never obtained "Soft Lights"...my joy knows no bounds!

Bobby was certainly the most sophisticated and stylishly lyrical cornet player I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. I have other works of his (still on vinyl) but this is certainly his best of the light swing and romantic approach.

If you like standards, jazz, Bobby Hackett, the best lyrical horn to be heard, the romantic approach, light swing.......in any of or all of those combinations.......this IS a must!

More Mellower, Please.......2001-07-01

Hackett is a wonderful trumpet player, but the Soft Lights section is not the dreamy mellow music I wanted. On Soft Lights, he sounds more like a cross between a dixieland jazz player and a mood music player. His trumpet has a brighter sound than I would like, and I would prefer less use of trumpet mutes. The Mellow Mood section is more to my liking, but not as dreamy as the music he played on the Jackie Gleason recordings, which I prefer. Nonetheless, he is a great player, and if you like to hear a trumpet master, you'll enjoy his performances.

SO GOOD TO HEAR THIS MUSIC AGAIN.......2001-03-24

I was a only boy of 11 when first hearing my uncle play "In a Mellow Mood". I just fell in love with the sound of Bobby Hackett. I continued to try and find the LP for over 20 years but Capital had stopped it's release. What a joy to discover it again. Thanks Capital/EMI. I bought my uncle a copy as well and he is soooo pleased with the memories it involkes. "All Through The Night" is my favorite. This is a Cole Porter tune not heard too often ...especially these days. Enjoy!!

I wonder if there's any chance of getting another of Bobby's albums released. It's called "Dream Awhile" on columbia It's Bobby at his best with pipe organ. A Great Album!!!

Who says you can't swing with strings?.......2001-03-16

Soft Lights and Bobby Hackett was originally released as a 10 inch LP. After 12" LP's became the norm, Bobby went and recorded four addtional tracks to fill out the original album. This is one of the earliest examples of Hackett's "mature" style, with full facility and tone. And he swings like crazy with a string section consisting of four violas and a cello! This is some very tasteful jazz that you'll return to over and over. While it is normally described as "mood music," I take issue with that, as only a few of the cuts are ballads -- the majority of numbers are medium to up-tempo swing. The second album on this CD, in a Mellow Mood, is definitely more accurately described as mood music. But on this album there is no string section, but rather a reliance on reeds. Great playing of course, but ballads. My advice is to buy this CD while you can. Hackett's prime years with Capitol have only been available on vinyl until now, and there's no telling how long this CD will remain in release.

Average customer rating:

"Food for the Soul"
The Best of John's Recorded Concert Performances!
Absolutely the BEST!
An Extraordinary Experience
An Extraordinary Experience

The Harbor Lights Concert
John Denver
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000649PD
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

Eagles And Horses
Children Of The Universe
Rocky Mountain High
I Guess He'd Rather Be In Colorado
Druthers
Today
Wild Montana Skies
Intro For Darcy Farrow
Darcy Farrow
El Paso
Whispering Jesse
Me And My Uncle
Intro For Band Anf Fox Fire Suite
Fox Fire Suite
Amazon

Tracks:

Take Me Home, Country Roads
Back Home Again
Grandma's Feather Bed
Spanish Pipe Dream
Dreamland Express
I'm Sorry
Intro to Shanghai Breezes
Shanghai Breezes
For You
Intro to Kissing You Goodbye
Kissing You Goodbye
Annie's Song
Calypso

Customer Reviews:

"Food for the Soul".......2007-06-05

The growing maturity of John's voice was never better exemplified than on this particular evening when he was undoubtedly at the 'top of his game', epitomised too by the extraordinarily long-held top note in "For You".... audience applause stopping the show mid-song at this point....spine-tingling! There are also many other poignant moments in this concert which bring a lump to the throat and consolidate in the mind what a tragic loss John's premature parting was to us, wildlife conservation, the environment and the promotion of peace on our planet. Thankfully, the legacy he left on both audio and film will surely continue to exert a positive influence around the world. If I could rate this concert 10 stars, I would!

The Best of John's Recorded Concert Performances!.......2007-02-18

I've been a Denver fan for many years and had the distinct pleasure of seeing him in concert myself in the early 90s. There are few performers who could connect with an audience the way he could. He proves that with this incredible Harbor Lights Concert performance. From 'Eagles and Horses', a brilliant composition that captures the spirit of the open range and the lovely 'Wild Montana Skies' to the moving folk songs, 'Darcy Farrow' and 'Today' and the fun,free, wistful 'Druthers', the entire program is entertaining and delightful. His rendition of Marty Robbins' 'El Paso' is superb! I especially got a kick out of 'Spanish Pipe Dream'.

The old standards are included that everyone loves: 'Back Home Again', 'Grandma's Feather Bed', 'Rocky Mountain High, 'Take Me Home, Country Roads', and 'Annie's Song' as well as a lively bluegrass composition, 'Foxfire Suite'.

I've always liked 'Shanghai Breezes' but after John explained how it came to be written, it became even more meaningful and special. When he followed it with the incomparably romantic 'For You', I know there couldn't have been a dry eye in the house. Of course, John being John, there had to be some comic relief, so he followed with the amusing and cheeky 'Kissing You Goodbye'.

He ends the program with the beautiful tribute to the Cousteau Society's ship 'Calypso'. It always amazes me how easily he seemed to hit those high notes.

In this one live performance, John and his small band did an excellent job of moving from neo-classical to folk to country and western to pop to bluegrass (well, there was something for everyone) and it was done brilliantly! Buy the CD set! I think you'll enjoy it as much as I do!

Absolutely the BEST!.......2006-06-18

This is IT! The ONE album to take with you on a deserted island. The rest of my collection hasn't even seen the light of day since this one floated in the door.

John has never been in better voice or better form. He was back in that playful, lighthearted mood that, sadly, was sometimes missing in other performances. The bantering with the audience was delightful, his stories a joy to hear. Everything clicked.

The band was the perfect middle ground between his early, simplistic sound and the middle years' highly-orchestrated sound. The reverb----something that on other artist's albums I've found irritating---was beautiful, giving his already rich and pure voice even more depth and character. Anything else sounds flat after hearing this. If anyone had told me in '76 that his voice would someday be this much better I would have said it was impossible.

As far as glitches in the sound: There's one bit of feedback that will make you cringe, but other than that there's nothing that doesn't just add to the "live" feeling.

Your feet will tap with "Foxfire Suite" and your heart will break with "Whispering Jesse". You'll soar with the "Eagles and Horses", and "For You" is just unbelievable (as he says himself, he's a "romantic old fart".) And you middle-aged gals like me will pee your pants laughing the first time you hear "Kissing You Goodbye", so go tinkle before it comes on. :)

If ever you can forget that he's gone, it will be while listening to this album. Slap on the earphones and run the family away. He's there, and you're there-----front row center.

The best.

An Extraordinary Experience.......2004-05-19

One of my great regrets is that I did not get to see some of my very favorite performers live. Here, on "The Harbor Lights Concert" CD, I get to experience the next best thing. Put these CD's (it is a 2 CD set) in the changer, dim the lights, relax, and be transported back to the Boston waterfront on a chilly evening in September 1995. John Denver was in excellent voice, the band was well tuned, and the audience was enthusiastic. Disregard those reviews who say there is too much talking on this set. John delivered extended intros to
a few of the songs here, but they only add to the experience and the feeling of actually being there. VERY highly recommended, and I only wish that more of John's 1990's albums (such as "Different Directions", currently only available used for the obscene price of ninety dollars!) would be re-released so that his fans can enjoy some of his later work. A superlative effort, and an extraordinary experience.

An Extraordinary Experience.......2004-05-19

One of my great regrets is that I did not get to see some of my very favorite performers live. Here, on "The Harbor Lights Concert" CD, I get to experience the next best thing. Put these CD's (it is a 2 CD set) in the changer, dim the lights, relax, and be transported back to the Boston waterfront on a chilly evening in March 1995. John Denver was in excellent voice, the band was well tuned, and the audience was enthusiastic. Disregard those reviews who say there is too much talking on this set. John delivered extended intros to
a few of the songs here, but they only add to the experience and the feeling of actually being there. VERY highly recommended, and I only wish that more of John's 1990's albums (such as "Different Directions", currently only available used for the obscene price of ninety dollars!) would be re-released so that his fans can enjoy some of his later work. A superlative effort, and an extraordinary experience.

Average customer rating:

Great Late Night Jazz

Soft Lights
Hoston Person
Manufacturer: Highnote
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

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My Romance
In a Sentimental Mood
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ASIN: B00001O330
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Tracks:

Here's That Rainy Day
I Only Have Eyes For You
It Might As Well Be Spring
Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
At Last
The Night We Called It A Day
It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream
I'll Be Around
Hey There!
If

Customer Reviews:

Great Late Night Jazz.......2002-03-22

This is a great album. The music is warm, engaging, upbeat and very relaxing. It's the type of music that makes you feel good. If you like warm, full, silky, reverberant saxaphone tones, then you'll love this album. In addition to Houston Person's saxaphone work which is amazing, I really enjoyed Grady Tate's drum work. As the album's well recorded, there are a number of places where I couldn't help but notice a beautiful chimmer from the cymbals.

Average customer rating:

on the cusp
Revelatory: God Bless the Japanese!
There was nothing Better than Laura Live
Mark of Greatness
Magnificant, octives, ranges and lyrics, soul,funk,jazz...et

Season of Lights
Laura Nyro
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000072MJ
Release Date: 1996-10-25

Tracks:

Money
Sweet Lovin' Baby
And When I Die
Morning News [#]
Upstairs by a Chinese Lamp
I Am the Blues
When I Was a Freeport and You Were the Main Drag
Captain St. Lucifer
Smile
Mars
Sweet Blindness
Cat Song
Emmie
Confession
Timer
Midnite Blue

Album Description

Japanese exclusive CD reissue of the late singer/songwriter's 1977 live album. Contains previously unreleased versions & tracks. 16 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

on the cusp.......2006-11-23

I consider 'Season of Lights', labeled here as the "complete version" (I doubt that 70 minutes of songs gleaned from at least four seperate performances constitute the complete setlist Laura Nyro typically performed on this 1976 tour, but at least it's expanded beyond the original ten tracks first offered on vinyl in 1977), to represent the artist just before her virtuosity peaked in 1978 with the release of 'Nested'. 'Season of Lights' embodies Laura's smashing, early career compositions, as well as tracks from her first comeback album, 'Smile', but is too early to capture her tour of duty through motherhood explored in 'Nested' and 'Mother's Spiritual', as well as the evolution of her philosophical and political views. Sadly, live performances from those mid-career masterpieces are sorely lacking from Laura's current catalog.

There are an abundance of albums featuring Laura Nyro live in a solo context, but only 'Season of Lights' provides full instrumental backing for her compositions. Nevertheless, three solo piano tracks are scattered among the sixteen offerings here, 'When I Was a Freeport and You Were the Main Drag' (proclaiming "I'm a woman, and this is my due time" long before Helen Reddy got around to being "woman"), the captivating 'Emmie' (a tribute to Laura's lyrical prowess, comparing her subject to "a natural snow... a cameo... and an unstudied sea"), and 'Midnite Blue', understated in its role as the encore. The more intriguing offerings, however, find Laura and her band cranked up in high gear, such as on the vibrant opener, 'Money', riding high on John Tropea's lead guitar runs, yet still bursting with lyrical jewels such as "my struggle hurt but it turned me on, when my revolution came, the chain was gone" ...oh, Yeah! The engaging melody of 'Captain St. Lucifer' combines with perplexing lyics, such as "a tiger from a conga-line chase" (hmmmm....), while a superb guitar and percussion coda graces 'Timer', and alludes to Laura's struggle with a higher diety ("The Master of Time"), at one point abruptly announcing, "God is a jigsaw". Other philosophical and political musings adorn the classic 'And When I Die', 'The Morning News' (subtly stating, "His wife helped him for free"), and even 'The Cat-Song', where Laura comes as close as she ever will to a novelty song, yet still taking swings and shots at war and "whitewashing your day away".

Other tracks find Nyro creating ethereal mood pieces ('Upstairs By a Chinese Lamp', featuring Jeanie Fineberg's fine flute, and 'Sweet Lovin' Baby', with its shades of 'Sweet Blindness', featuring Ellen Seeling's tuneful trumpet), sultry and suggestive numbers like 'The Confession' (asking her baby to take "a super ride on my love thing"), faithful renditions of classics such as 'Sweet Blindness', and an excursion into the curious and mysterious with the mid-set instrumental 'Mars'. More diversity is delivered with 'I Am the Blues', a bluesy ballad that gives way to a jazzy milieu, taking flight with high soaring vocals on lyrics such as "fly through the sky like superfly". Rounding out the set is the light and lilting 'Smile', also embedded with Laura's philosphizing ("I'm a non-believer, but I believe in your smile").

Laura Nyro is one of those few performers graced with mesmerizing vocal talent, and a gift for combining matchless melodies with thoughtful lyrics. While I don't share all of Laura's liberal notions, it's difficult not to appreciate her perspectives when they are cloaked in confines that are at times complex, at times simplistic, at all times wonderous and beautiful. Her lack of commercial success (aside from her abundant songwriting credits), ironically, seems to add to her aura as a true, unsullied artist. While Laura's solo piano endeavors on albums such as 'The Loom's Desire' and 'Live In Japan' certainly claim a valued place in her catalog of recordings, only 'Season of Lights' allows us to hear Laura live, in a full-throttle, fully bloomed state. I believe it is an essential component of any well-rounded musical collection.

Revelatory: God Bless the Japanese!.......2002-09-08

"Season of Lights" was not my favorite Nyro LP. However, until I read Michele Kort's book "Soul Picnic: The Music & Passion of Laura Nyro" I wasn't aware that there was another longer version of this concert album. Columbia Records comes off as a chop shop with what they did to the American release of this record. The Japanese CD is nothing short of revelatory. For Laura's tribe, it is REQUIRED! :)

The full concert has 16 tracks instead of 10. It includes the only recording of "Morning News." Laura made many trips to Japan, loved their country and music, and was particularly influenced by them on "Smile." However charmingly, the Japanese booklet often gets the words wrong. In "Morning News" Nyro sings "Freedom sang how you shine to the critical end of the corporate design." The booklet reads, "Freedom sang how you shall end to the critical life of the corporate design." Nyro's lyric is chilling, particularly given her struggle to maintain artistic control over her music.

Perhaps worst of what Columbia did on the American release was cutting the instrumentals on tracks it did release. "Timer" lets the band's percussion section loose and comes off with a hot jam that could rival the best of Santana. On "Captain Saint Lucifer" there is a whole section of horns and hot guitar from John Tropea that makes this version shine. Michael Mainieri does a great solo on the baliphone on "The Cat Song" that brings the magic of the live performance to us.

"Sweet Lovin' Baby" is included on the Japanese release. On "New York Tendaberry" Laura sang the song "I belong to the man," on "Season of Lights" she sings, "I belong to myself." The instrumental interlude on the "Smile" track has been split and given the name "Mars." Both of these were deleted in the American release as was "Midnite Blue," another great Nyro gem.

For those of us who wonder at the music of Laura Nyro, this release brings the magic of Laura's live shows back to life. Don't miss out! God bless the Japanese!

There was nothing Better than Laura Live.......2001-08-06

"Season of Lights," a live album, was released the year after the monumental "Smile" album. I did not see Laura Live until the 90's at the Mayfair Theater in Santa Monica, CA (Joni Mitchell was in the audience at one show I attended!). She was thrilling as she played for hours just her and a small group of musicians. Part of the show was also her alone with a piano. Laura's studio albums are, needless to say, excellent representations of her many talents: singer, musician, lyricist, arranger. But seeing Laura Nyro live is what really ignites her songs. Many times a musician live cannot duplicate the excitement of his or her studio albums...Nyro's live performances far surpass her studio performances. What we have on "Season of Lights" are 16 achingly heartfelt performances of her output circa 1977. These songs are performed like it was the last time she would be on stage... ever. She always gave her all and she does again herein. You can count on one hand performers that are in Laura Nyro's league and one was in attendance on that summer night at the Mayfair Theater in Santa Monica in 1994.

Mark of Greatness.......2001-01-25

When an artist is as magnificent onstage as they are in the studio, you know they are a true master. Such is the case with Laura Nyro. I absolutely adore this album. I wish her other live album (the virtually impossible to find Bottom Line one) could somehow be paired with this one, because it's interesting to see her develop with time. This album captures the very tail end of Laura's greatest period of creativity (the "Eli & the 13th Confession"-"New York Tendaberry" phase) which was right before her period of songwriting that tended to focus more on issues (motherhood, feminism, Native American and animal rights, etc.) and at times felt a little more heavy-handed than her earlier work. Definitely a good buy.

Magnificant, octives, ranges and lyrics, soul,funk,jazz...et.......1999-09-19

Never before have I heard a songstress like Laura. I have followed her since the late 60's, and I still listen with emotion.. This woman has spanded the times with her own following.... and I just found out she passed 2 years ago, I am still crying that I didn't even know until two years later!!! I will miss you girlfriend!!!

Average customer rating:

Soft Lights and Sweet Music

Manufacturer: Dutton Vocalion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005UWOH
Release Date: 2002-04-09

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Ruby
Snowfall
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Emily
Embraceable You
I Didn't Know What Time It Was
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Average customer rating:

The Music of Irving Berlin

Manufacturer: Collectables
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000507YQ
Release Date: 2000-11-14

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Music Box Revue: Say It With Music/Remember/Blue Skies
Top Hat: Top Hat, White Tie And Tails/How Deep Is The Ocean (How High Is The Sky)
This Is The Army: This Is The Army/Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning/Face The Music: Soft...
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Top Hat: The Piccolino/Top Hat: Cheek To Cheek
Holiday Inn: White Christmas
Annie Get Your Gun: The Girl That I Marry/Say It Isn't So/Ziegfeld Follies: Mandy
Miss Liberty: Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor/God Bless America