review of re-release of 'in the skies'
 

review of re-release of 'in the skies'. generally positive.

summary: "... He doesn't sound like a legend here; you need to go back to the 60's for that. But given the circumstances, it was better than could have been hoped. " i'd agree strongly with the latter, disagree strongly with the former.

zero

the link missing from previous post

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/06/25/083708.php


zero

Thanks for the link, Zero! :)
I agree with you ! :nod:

Yeah, I agree too. It's a great great album. It just grows every time
I listen to it. And some of the tracks are kind of a continuation of
Peter's experiments in the early 70's, at least in my opinion.

The new liner notes mention that Splinter Group once played "Proud Pinto"
at a soundcheck in '97. Wonder if there's a tape somewhere?
Also, the album was apparently done in two stretches, summer '77
and spring '78 (after the marriage fell through).

As much as I like In the Skies, I have to agree with the reviewer on this one (and the review as a whole is very positive). If I had just listened to this album and didn't already know who Peter Green was, I'd think he was a very good guitarist with a some good songs, but not a "legend".

Let's face it, there are no songs even close to the caliber of "Albatross", "Man Of The World", "Oh Well", "Green Manalishi", etc. here. Those are the songs that helped make Peter Green a legend in the eyes of so many people. And a fair amount of his live work with Fleetwood Mac was brilliant, really inspired playing by any standard.

No question that there are some brilliant moments on In the Skies - everyone will have their own favorites, but "A Fool No More" and "Apostle" stand out to me - but on their own, I don't see them as conferring legend status. Just my opinion, of course.

Dino, thanks for posting that info on the two separate recording sessions - that sounds familiar, I may have seen that before but forgotten it. Wonder when "A Fool No More" was recorded with regard to Peter's marriage situation? It's such a different reading of the song compared with the early Fleetwood Mac version - Peter's vocal and playing convey such utter resignation on the In the Skies version - and I like this one much better.

Well, I can hear a legend in a mediocre song. That's what In the skies is for me. No legendary songs, but a very intense virtuosity in the small small details. Good review, thanks for the heads up.

Hmmm...I'd have to say that I was both thrilled and a bit disappointed the first time I heard In The Skies.

Thrilled, because I was holding the cover of, and listening to, an entire NEW Peter Green album.

Disappointed, because the version of "Apostle" on the album wasn't nearly as good as the version I'd been listening to on the 45 for the previous couple of months.

To me, "Apostle" could've been titled "Oh Well, Part 3" and I wouldn't have quibbled a bit.