Audio CD review:
Seals & Crofts - Down Home

Seals & Crofts - Down Home

Band: Seals & Crofts Title: Down Home Rating: Release Date: 18 September, 2007 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Ridin' Thumb 2: Hand-Me-Down Shoe 3: Purple Hand 4: Robin 5: Hollow Reed 6: Gabriel Go on Home 7: Tin Town 8: Today 9: Cotton Mouth 10: Granny, Will Your Dog Bite? 11: Leave

Customer Reviews Unsung classic As soon as I put it in my CD player and the first strains of "Ridin' Thumb" came on, it was as if I had just listened to it yesterday. I have been looking for this album on CD for years. If all you know about Seals & Crofts is "Summer Breeze," "Hummingbird," or any of their other radio hits, you could be forgiven for wondering what my excitement is all about. But you see, before they became purveyors of syrupy -- though better than average -- pop tunes, these guys rocked. Or perhaps I should say the rockin' songs rocked and the mellow tunes were hauntingly beautiful. While their first release was excellent, this one was their high point, in my opinion. It's vibrant, alive, and musically satisfying from start to finish. And, while the CD cover doesn't say it's been digitally remastered, it surely must be, because it sounds fantastic. I agree with the reviewer who said that "side two" rules, but "side one" comes awfully close. Still, I can't begin to count the hours I spent playing "side two" as a lad of 15, loving every minute of it, but anticipating the magnificent "Leave" that closes this masterpiece of an album. I went on to become a professional musician and got into jazz and generally more sophisticated music, but this pop-rock gem remains one of my favorite albums of all time (some of my other faves from this era include Donovan's "Open Road," Spirit's "Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus," Simon and Garfunkel's "Bookends," and Laura Nyro's "New York Tendaberry"). Too bad these guys didn't keep going in this direction, but hey, they found a pot of gold with the Top 40 stuff, so more power to them. But I just bet this is their favorite Seals & Crofts album; it sure is mine. Magical Blend of Vocals, Lyrics and Music - Their Best! Outstanding Lyrics and arrangements! The production quality is perfect and full. Can't say enough about this album. Jimmy's moving words soulfully sung carry songs like "Gabriel Go Home", "Tin Town", "Today" and the best of all, "Leave" with it's aching theme and wondrous vocals that come from someway deep inside these guys. Their voices never blended so well together. Songs like "Hand Me Down Shoes", "Purple Hand", "Robin" are a super fine examples. These melodies with their totally unique and beautiful vocal blend ( never better than this album ) are Gorgeous. If you enjoy singing along with your music, once you've become familiar with this album, these songs are Great! For me, the anchor of the album has always been "side 2" when there were sides. Starting with "Gabriel Go Home" with its beautiful piano intro and their stunning harmonizing vocals on the opening lyric have remained truly magical to my ears for decades now. ( Producer John Simon was at the piano and his exquisite ending of the song has remained one of my all time favorite pieces. ) "Tintown" is a bittersweet reminder not to judge covers and those within. "Today's" joyous chorus soars and echoes the heartfelt feelings of new found Love with all it's heightened senses it encourages. "Cotton Mouth" is a somewhat strange, trippy and tasteful production where the instruments really tickle your ears and mind. Normally I would have found "Grannie Will Your Dog Bite?" too abrupt and harsh following such a mind soothing song. But it serves itself well in this instance. It seems a necessary evil to snap you out of the trance you were in so you could fully take in the heartache of the last song "Leave" with its exquisitely haunting flute farewell. Dash's soaring vocals bring wonderful crescendos to these songs. There is an ease to their delivery on this album. Very heartfelt. Truly a lost Treasure! It's a shame it never got heard by the masses. It still should. If I were a DJ, I'd make sure it got heard. If you ever appreciated Seals and Crofts before, this is well worth your time and money. Thank God it's coming out on CD soon. I've been waiting a long time. I hope you give it a try. Great 2nd album Thank Amazon! The production values are great. I just fired up my CD. I was very surprised as this was a 1970 album and I was expecting it to sound hissy, fuzzy or scratchy. Not so, it could have been recorded today. Each instrument is clear and clean. I love the variety as few bands use flutes and mandolins the way Seals & Crofts do. And the harmonies and offseted voices are pure and distinct. But not listed is a hidden track that made its way into this album in it's 1974 re-release as "Seals & Crofts 1&2". The "See My Life - Reprise" from the first album "Seals & Crofts" plays shortly after the last track "Leave" as it did on "Seals & Crofts 1&2". And contrary to my above review this track sounds like the original tapes on this were lost here as the hidden track crackles and pops like an old LP record. But just on this 40 second hidden track. And it adds to the mystic mood of that solo flute. I think this and the first album "Seals & Crofts" are the best, as Seals and Crofts seem so comfortable to just sing happy and uplifting music without worrying what the general AM radio listeners of the day would think of it. . You can see a complete list of all Seals & Crofts discography, or go back to the Seals & Crofts tabs