Dan Fogelberg made his name in the early 80s with compulsive, deftly-crafted songwriter fare. 1984’s Windows And Walls saw him return after three years away honing his craft in an AOR environment, assisted by the likes of The Eagles’ Timothy B Schmitt.
The eight-song set opens with the shimmering electro-acoustic The Language Of Love, sporting crisp guitar and uplifting organ work, while Loving Cup is one of several epic, ballad story-songs, with guitar and piano building into Mike Oldfield-like pomp. Tucson, Arizona continues down that path, before a pulsating Let Her Go, idyllic, strings-laden Sweet Magnolia and lilting Believe In Me.
Eclecticism masked some fine songwriting on The Wild Places, six years later – as best evidenced on the Celtic-tinged title track. Aurora Nova opens with a Vangelis-like synth-scape before moving into AOR; the saxy Song Of The Sea features David Crosby in late-night torch song mode; piano ballads contrast with the syncopated rocking of cuts such as The Spirit Train.
