Dan Fogelberg Virtual Blog Tour

Lurking in the closet underneath my stairs are five moving boxes filled with LP’s. You remember them, don’t you? Record albums! I don’t have them out, because we no longer have a record player.
I rarely miss them, but there is one that keeps crossing my mind. It was a favorite of mine by Dan Fogelberg, a wonderful album (from 1981) called, “The Innocent Age.” I’d buy a record player just to listen to it!

It wouldn’t do me any good to get out that record. I think I played it so often that I wore it smooth. Fogelberg was called “The Thinking Girl’s Hearthrob.”

Ba-da-bump, ba-da-bump.

His music not only soothed me, but inspired me. I can’t listen to his voice without being carried back in time.

Recently, I was asked to join a Virtual Blog Tour hosted by Promo 101 Virtual Tours. It’s going on for the entire month of March. I was asked if I wanted to review a copy of “Dan Fogelberg, A Retrospective Interview.” It included Dan’s music and clips from a 1997 interview with Fred Migliore of FM odyssey Radio. They would give me a free cd to review it!

I jumped at the chance to have Dan Fogelberg’s music in a form to which I could listen but, to be absolutely honest, I was a bit skeptical about having to listen to an “interview.” I like my music with no “chatter.” My fears were unfounded, however.

Migliore seamlessly combined the interview clips with thirteen of Dan’s songs to create a delightful tribute to Fogelberg. I was thrilled that two of my favorite of his songs were on the album (“Same Old Lang Syne” and “Leader of the Band”). More importantly, I was surprised to discover music that was “different” than what I have come to associate with Dan Fogelberg.

I thought he was just a “balladeer.” Come to find out, he played a wide variety of styles. He collaborated with The Chieftans (Celtic musicians) on “Song For A Carpenter.” The music on “Tuscon, Arizona (Gazette)” had an amazing “flamenco” feel to it. I loved the sound — though the words of the song were too dark for me.

I enjoyed hearing the insights that Dan offered about his music. One phrase he used sticks in my mind as he talked about songs being “musical souvenirs.” He said, they become “frozen moments in your life and it’s fascinating that they can still stir up emotions.”

I find that is true for me. Here is a clip of “The Leader of The Band,” a song that Fogelberg wrote as a tribute to his father. When my own father lay dying (along with a slew of other diseases, my father had prostate cancer), this song became my “theme song.” I made sure I told my father, “I love you” often. If you can listen to it and not get tearful, you are more stout than I am.

Dan Fogelberg succumbed to prostate cancer on December 16, 2007. But, his songs are “frozen moments” for so many people. His music touched many lives, and it continues to do so. Indeed, he left a legacy.

I enjoyed “Dan Fogelberg, A Retrospective Interview.” If I didn’t already have it, I would go out and buy it in a heartbeat — especially because from every purchase, $3.00 is donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, in Dan’s name.

For more information about this CD and to order your copy, visit The FM Odyssey Store — this CD is a great gift for yourself and friends or loved ones who enjoy Dan Fogelberg’s music.

If you liked Dan Fogelberg, raise your hand. Leave a comment, because the tour promoters told me:

There are about 45 minutes of “lost segments” from the CD which have never been & WILL likely never be released to the public! Each person that posts a comment during this tour will be entered in a drawing to win a free copy of this one-of-a-kind CD with the remainder of the interview! The most unique, insightful, special comment will be chosen to win a copy, in addition to the random drawing winners!

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1. Mama Said Not To Play With Your Food
2. The Man in Black
3. Take A Chance on Mama Mia!
4. The Blues in Black And White
5. Celtic Thunder — Men In Kilts!

Tagged as: Artsy Fartsy Stuff, cancer, Music