Audio CD review:
Seals & Crofts - I'll Play for You

Seals & Crofts - I'll Play for You

Band: Seals & Crofts Title: I'll Play for You Rating: Release Date: 18 September, 2007 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: I'll Play for You 2: Golden Rainbow 3: Castles in the Sand 4: Blue Bonnet Nation 5: Ugly City 6: Wayland the Rabbit 7: Freaks Fret 8: Truth Is But a Woman 9: Fire and Vengeance

Customer Review We've Been Waiting A Very Long Time!!! (We were even lucky enough to have a budget copy of "Diamond Girl" tossed our way a few years back!) But, about nine Seals and Crofts albums have never seen the light of day until this month!! "I'll Play For You" (1975) was released while Jim and Dash were still hot on the charts and pouring out one great album per year. If you are a Seals and Crofts fan, and you know how big they were from 1972, "SUMMER BREEZE" until 1978, "Takin' It Easy", then you have felt a lot of anxiety and frustration over the fact that their CDs have not been available,---"EVER!!!" Yes, the 10 song Greatest Hits is out there and "Summer Breeze" has been available. "Get Closer" followed it up in 1976, then their popularity began to wane. "I'll Play for You" was very poppy but it was also quite diverse. From the emotional "song-writer styled ballad", "Wayland the Rabbit" to the latin grooved "Freak's Fret", Seals and Crofts venture into several different music genres that really work on this album. "I'll Play For You", a top hit in '75 leads off the CD. My only complaint is that I detected a slight volume drop out at the 2:16 mark of the song and then again a rather bad channel pan and drop out at 2:35. I have a feeling that the original master was not used on this CD. (The quality is pretty good, but it won't blow your socks off. ) "Golden Rainbow" follows which is a beautiful, soft and laid-back song that has a blue mood feeling. "Castles in the Sand" has the classic Seals and Crofts sound with the signature mandolin and great instrumentation from all the great studio musicians that S and C used in their hey day. This song is also on their GH CD. "Blue Bonnet Nation" is a strong rock beat song with a nice horn section filling in. There are several changes in the rhythm in this song. The bad news is that I heard another sonic drop-out at the 2:05 mark. "Ugly City" was the last song on side one on my old 33 and a third record. This is a lonely but beautiful ballad which builds and then leaves you on this note of wonder and hope. This is my favorite on the CD. "Wayland the Rabbit" starts with a beautiful orchestration and goes into a long and desolate story about poor Wayland. It turns into an acoustic piece with light orchestration. "Freak's Fret" is the most fun song and it is also an instrumental. Great latin edged beat featuring the acoustic guitar and mandolin. "Truth is But a Woman" is another medium, laid-back song with great harmonies and a bit of a country flavor added in the guitar solo. This song ends on a classic sounding S and C major 7th chord. Finally, "Fire and Vengeance" is a rock piece with the great wah wah guitar sound that seemed prevelent in the 70's. The horns are funky as Jimmy and Dash go out in a grooving glory. "I'll Play for You" isn't my favorite Seals and Crofts album, but it is in my top 3. If you like Jimmy and Dash, try to pick this one up. Hey, even if you just like 70's mellow pop, this one is a real keeper!! . . You can see a complete list of all Seals & Crofts discography, or go back to the Seals & Crofts tabs