When I moved from Illinois to Ohio during the end of my junior year of high school, my new friend, Thom Johnson, talked me into buying Dan Fogelberg’s second album, Captured Angel. It was the summer of 1975, I was 17 years old, in a new high school, and I just made two new friends, Thom and Dan.
The first Fogelberg albums I bought were Home Free and Captu
red Angel, then Souvenirs, and finally, Netherlands. His later works were fine, its just that his first 4 albums were the ones I loved the most.
His first album cover featured a self portrait. It wasn’t an egotistical portrait, he looked like an average 17 year old kid in the 70s, with long hair, just like me in 75. He also drew the Captured Angel on his third album.
Dan was sentimental. His music reflected his sentimentality. Dan’s second album, Souvenirs, played our sentimental hearts.
His song, Illinois, was one I could relate to cause I grew up in Illinois, and was away from home. “And I need a breath of that Sweet country air, Illinois-I’m your boy.”
The song, Netherlands, has new meaning to me today. “One road was simple, acceptance of life, the other road offered sweet peace.”
Sweet peace Dan. Your decision is forever your release.
Visit Dan Fogelberg’s website
