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Rating: One of the gravest shortcomings of the troubadour from Duluth has always been trusting the production of his albums to people he should not have relied on. This is how beautiful albums like, for example, "Street Legal," suffer from a production that is, to say the least, amateurish. In this case, the horns, which are one of the strengths of the album, are absolutely inaudible in the version originally released on vinyl. Fortunately, everything was corrected and adequately resolved in the sparkling CD version released more than twenty years later.
An album that has always been underrated, perhaps precisely because it couldn't be properly listened to in its original form, but the digital sound cleaning makes nine beautiful (excellent) songs shine, with an absolutely fantastic vocal interpretation from Our Man.
We are not yet in the midst of his much-criticized conversion to Christianity, but almost.
This is evident from the presence of some choruses in almost gospel tones in the album.
The most famous song on the album is undoubtedly the beautiful "Changin' Of The Guards", an autobiographical piece that seems to say "After 16 years (so many had passed since the release of his first album) I'm still alive and still here, I can't believe it!"
Then there's the country-blues of "New Pony", "Ok, I'm no longer married, I don't have my wife anymore, but I have a new love, my pony!"
Then, there's a beautiful romantic ballad, "No Time To Think", then "Baby Stop Crying", perhaps a bit commercial, followed by two genuine gems: "Is Your Love In Vain?" is a beautiful love song, here Bob questions his woman "Do you know my world? Do you know what kind of person I am or do I have to explain it? Will you let me be myself or is your love useless?"
"Senor (Tales From Yankee Power)" is one of the many stories circulating about desperate Mexicans along the border, a piece that has been performed numerous times in concert by the Grateful Dead.
To close, three more beautiful songs: "True Love Tends To Forget", "We Better Talk This Over", and finally "Where Are You Tonight (Journey Through Dark Heat)" which closes the album in a very worthy manner with an intense and emotional finale.
Thank heavens, the album has been reissued and remixed properly, after the horrid initial production.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
06 Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) (05:43)
Senor, senor, can you tell me where we're headin ?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon ?
Seems like I been down this way before
Is there any truth in that, senor ?
Senor, senor, do you know where she is hidin' ?
How long are we gonna be riding ?
How long must I keep my eyes glued to the door ?
Will there be any comfort there senor ?
There's a wicked wind still blowing on that upper deck
There's an iron cross still hanging down from around her neck
There's a marcing band still playing in that vacant lot
Where's she held me in her arms one time and said, Forget me not.
Senor, senor, I can see that painted wagon
Smell the tail of the dragon
Can't stand the suspense anymore
Can you tell me who to contact here, senor ?
Well, the last thing I remember before I stripped and kneeled
Was that trainload of fools bogged down in a magnetic field
A gypsy with a broken flag and a flashing ring
He said, Son, this ain't a dream no more it's the real thing.
Senor, senor, you know their hearts is as hard as leather
Well, give me a minute, let me get it together
I just gotta pick myself up off the floor
I'm ready when you are, senor.
Senor, senor, let's overturn these cables
Disconnect these tables
This place don't make sense to me no more
Can you tell me what we're waiting for, senor ?
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