European Progressive
Rock Reviews

Review Of "The First Christmas Morning"

This is the album that all future Christmas albums should be judged against. This album cancels out all others. Dan Fogelberg said, "I hope in my own small way I have added to the body of music that has been composed throughout the ages to glorify the birth of Christ and the spirit of Christmas." This he has achieved with one mighty sweep of his pen.

He has taken the essence of the Christmas carol of old and composed his own to stand alongside them. He has written for this album several guitar pieces in the Renaissance style and almost transports you back in time. The acoustic tracks are a pleasure to listen to.

Anyone who is familiar with Dan's work will be aware of the classical influences that he often mingles into his rock music and which is shown so well on some of the shorter pieces on some of his albums, be it strings or the magical way he plays the piano and which is again portrayed so well on this album.

Who can ever forget his classic Christmas song "Same Old Lang Syne" and when listening to it not be affected by it.

Dan Fogelberg's songs are not just about his music but also his lyrics and on this new album he has kept both in the true tradition of the Christmas carol. I'm sure we've all heard some of the new modern carols that make your skin crawl with their over the top sentiment and which lack any form of feeling. Well, Dan can't be accused of that because true emotion runs through all his work, both musically and lyrically.

One song that deserves mention, not only because it finishes this album in an uplifting way but, because of the trumpet playing which deserves the same praise as given by Harry Chapin to the trumpet player on the Beatle's "Penny Lane". According to Harry the trumpet player's wife must have appreciated his embrasure and  it sounds as though he's grabbed his trumpet off the shelf and come out of retirement to play on this song.

As can be expected, the production and sound quality of this album is out of this world. It can't be bad, having written the best Christmas song and best album.