Snow
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Track:Snow
A truly beautiful recording (well maybe not beautiful, but important in the grand scheme of things) of course I think it's beautiful...
An Amazon review -
One of the true (and few) masterpieces of popular music, this is a record that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as "Pet Sounds", "What's Going on?" "Music From Big Pink".... whatever. There are not enough superalitives to express the greatness of this recording. It is the rare project that actually looks good on paper and sounds immeasurably better. It is truly one of the holy books of recorded sound.
This great reissue features stunning sound. Wow, I'd like to hear this on SACD, as the master tapes must be near perfect... spatial cues, huge soundstage, pin-point images. A great-sounding record all around. You can really appreciate every nuance of Harry's phrasing. The new liner notes are fascinating, shedding light on the painstaking process that was the construction of this record. I had no idea Harry was such a perfectionist! I always had thought this album was a "toss off"-- two buddys getting together and slapping together a brilliant album. In fact, they both worked so long and hard on this that Randy was bored to death!
If I had to point to one record where Harry's voice was consistently at its greatest, this would be that record. His soft, yearning turns-of-phrase on "I'll be home"--- his rocking-to-sweet delivery on the brilliant "Vine Street". There is not a misstep to be heard. I think he was the greatest vocalist in pop, and this is a real showcase for that.
My one gripe with this record is the inclusion of "The Beehive State". I've never understood why they chose it. It's one of my least favorite of Newman's song (okay, I hate it, actually) and it really doesn't fit with the sly humor and almost melancholic bent of the rest of the record. It has always seemed out of place to me and it still does. With the addition of the bonus track "Snow", it's even more curious that they wouldn't have given that track the nod over "Beehive"... Oh well, I'm not a musical genius, so who am I to complain! Maybe it was like the flawed stitch in a navjo quilt...
Comments (5)
Doesn't Beehive State refer to Utah?
that would be correct
I was just listening to a few tracks from this album on Personal Best, thinking that Nilsson was the perfect voice for Newman. They both had a similar sense of humor, but Harry's range is incredible. I've never been a fan of Newman solo, but I really dig Harry doing his stuff. I'll have to find this album so I can hear it in it's entirety.
For another good version of "Vine Street", check out Van Dyke Parks Song Cycle, which is another under rated album deserving mention.
I have long believed that I was alone in my veneration of this album. Not one false move on the whole thing. Thanks for the reminder.
I've never before heard anything from it. Though I generally think Randy does the best versions of his songs, I'm not aware that he ever recorded this, and I've got a pretty complete Newman collection. A gem.