The semi-greatness of God's Garden

[vermicious knid]

I'm just realizing that this song is kind of amazing.

I thought it was awful the first time I heard it years ago. It dragged along with a nothing beat and a hoarse and colorless vocal. And since it isn't on the American version of Street Angel, I didn't listen to it much more over the past years.

Now, for whatever reason, I have listened to it a bunch lately and it has dawned on me how powerful it is. It would be like if a classic song were given a mediocre treatment that prevented you from recognizing how good it it. But the quality still shines through.

At this point, I can't even say that the defeated, monotone vocal doesn't work. On some level, it does work with the lyrics, although the song still deserved better.

If you haven't come to this point of recognition of the value of God's Garden, I hope it comes to you too.

[bombaysaffires]

I'm just realizing that this song is kind of amazing.

I thought it was awful the first time I heard it years ago. It dragged along with a nothing beat and a hoarse and colorless vocal. And since it isn't on the American version of Street Angel, I didn't listen to it much more over the past years.

Now, for whatever reason, I have listened to it a bunch lately and it has dawned on me how powerful it is. It would be like if a classic song were given a mediocre treatment that prevented you from recognizing how good it it. But the quality still shines through.

At this point, I can't even say that the defeated, monotone vocal doesn't work. On some level, it does work with the lyrics, although the song still deserved better.

If you haven't come to this point of recognition of the value of God's Garden, I hope it comes to you too.


Alas, it still eludes me...:sorry:

[WatchChain]

I have always liked God's Garden. It's one of the few good songs to come out of the dreaded "Street Angel" era.

[soul_drifter333]

I've always liked God's Garden. I bought the import version of SA when it came out and God's Garden and Inspiration are bonus tracks. I think that it is suppose to be sober and solemn. I certainly like it better then the shouting Stevie we have now. The mastering on the import is vastly superior to the domestic version.

[BLY]

This was a track I always appreciated. I love her vocal and it worked great with the lyric. I think this and Inspiration are much better tracks then some that were included on the actual release.

[David]

It was written by somebody else, right? Somebody named Ethan. What’s the backstory? Am I confusing it with “Inspiration”?

[vermicious knid]

Yes, the (original) producer's son wrote both of those. He had already included "Inspiration" on his debut album (https://www.discogs.com/release/1380448-Ethan-Johns-Independent-Years) in 1992. I am curious to hear it and compare the two versions, but I don't see it on youtube.

I don't see that he or anyone else ever recorded "God's Garden". That's the twisted thing about covers. People always cover the famous songs that were already done well, rather than the underappreciated songs that deserve to be rediscovered.