Much like
Joni Mitchell,
Dan Fogelberg, primarily a singer/songwriter, sought to continue his musical growth on this release by adding jazz to his sound. Rather than simply employing jazz musicians as his musical backing,
Fogelberg here went for an all-out collaboration with jazz flutist
Tim Weisberg, even to the point of having him co-produce the album. As experimental as the album appeared on the surface, it was the perfect mix of jazz-tinged instrumental music and folk- and country-inspired pop/rock. Proving that ambitious collaborations between artists who seek to mix genres needn't result in the commercial disappointment that many expect, the album yielded the hit "Power of Gold," which further augmented
Fogelberg's commercial clout. The album, like its predecessor,
Nether Lands, is beautifully produced, is best listened to as a complete effort, and still sounds strong all these years later. ~ Steve Matteo