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Wednesday, February 25, 2009
GLASS HARP - STAR RAVING JAM / 2004 / DISCOGRAHY,BIOGRAPHY
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(12-TRACKS)
1-SIGN ONE
2-CALIFORNIA JAM
3-FLAYING HARD BALERO
4-MILES BOYOND
5-MY PRAYER
6-DIT,DIT,DIT
7-PINT OF GRACE
8-SEPARATE
9-DRUM AND PLASTIC THING
10-SWAMPY
11-VOICE OF GOD CALL OUT
12-BEACHLAND CHANGES
GLASS HARP-STRINGS ATTACHED:LIVE WITH THE
YOUNGSTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA-2001
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(20-TRACKS)
1-INTRO-GLASS HARP
2-LOOK IN THE SKY
3-FROM THE BEGINNING
4-SONGS OF HOPE
5-CHALICE
6-INSEPARABLE
7-JOHN THE REVELATOR
8-CHILDREN'S FANTANSY
9-NEVER IS A LONG TIME
10-DRUM SOLO
11-SHADES OF GREEN
12-OVERTURE
13-ONE DAY AT A TIME
14-GARDEN
15-BLACK HORSE
16-SOUTH BOUND
17-MOUNTAINS
18-DAYS GONE BY
19-LET ALL THE BELLS RING
20-CHILD OF THE UNIVERS
GLASS HARP-HOURGLASS-2003
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(16-TRACKS)
1-SEVEN IN A BOX
2-WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART
3-YOU WHISPER SOMETHING
4-EVERLASTING LIGHT
5-IN EVERY CATHEDRAL
6-EASTERN STAR
7-IMAGE
8-THE WAY
9-VOICE OF GOD CALL OUT
10-ONCE A DAY DREAM
11-WHAT MATTERS MOST
12-I LOVE ALL LIFE
13-MY PRAYERS
14-LUPINS
15-IF LOVE IS ALL WE'VE GOT
16-WEATHER BOY
GLASS HARP-LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL-1972/1997
THIS DEMO EP CONTAIN(5-TRACKS)
1-LOOK IN THE SKY
2-NEVER IS A LONG TIME
3-DO LORD
4-CHANGES
5-CAN YOU SEE ME
GLASS HARP-ITMAKES ME GLAD-1972/2005
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-SEE SAW
2-SAILLING ON A RIVER
3-LA DE LA
4-COLT
5-SEA AND YOU
6-DAVID & GOLIATH
7-I AM GOING HOME
8-DO LORD
9-SONG IN THE AIR
10-LET'S LIVE TOGETHER
11-LITTLE DOGGIE
GLASS HARP-SONG IN THE AIR-1977
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(9-TRACKS)
1-SONG IN THE AIR
2-CAN YOU SEE ME
3-ONE DAY AT A TIME
4-SONG OF HOPE
5-THE ANSWER
6-DAVID AND THE GOLIATH
7-I AM GOING HOME
8-DO LORD
9-LET'S LIVE TOGETHER
GLASS HARP-SYNERGY-1971/2005
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-ONE DAY AT A TIME
2-NEVER IS A LONG TIME
3-JUST ALWAYS
4-SPECIAL FRIENDS
5-COMING HOME
6-SONG OF HOPE
7-CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE
8-MOUNTAINS
9-ANSWER
10-DAWN OF A NEW DAY
11-LET THE BELLS RINGS
GLASS HARP-GLASS HARP-1970/2005
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-CAN YOU SEE ME
2-CHILDREN'S FANTASY
3-CHANGES
4-VILLAGE QUEEN
5-BLACK HORSE
6-SOUTHBOUND
7-WHATEVER LIFE DEMANDS
8-LOOK IN THE SKY
9-GARDEN
10-ON OUR OWN
11-VOICE OF GOD CRY OUT
Three decades ago, a teenaged guitar phenom named Phil Keaggy burst onto the music scene. Keaggy and childhood friend and Drummer/Guitarist John Sferra were joined by bassist Dan Pecchio in Glass Harp, recording three albums for Decca before dissolving the band in 1972 when Keaggy was only 21. The band has reunited briefly for several concerts over the years, but rumor has it that the final Glass Harp concert will be July 27, 2002 at the Creation West festival in George, WA. (Note: Happily, that turned out not to be the case, and Glass Harp has continued playing and recording.) To commemorate Glass Harp's legacy, we're looking at a special album in the band's history.A major highlight for Glass Harp was opening for The Kinks at Carnegie Hall in December of 1971. The concert was recorded, but for some reason remained buried until 1997, when Live! At Carnegie Hall was finally released. It could be disappointing to see that this recording has only five songs, but when you realize that Look in the Sky is over 10 minutes and Can You See Me checks in at just under 29 minutes, it should be time to rejoice.This is a great CD for all Keaggy/Glass Harp fans, or anyone else who loves vintage early 70s extended jam sessions. The recording quality is excellent, and the band is amazingly good when you consider how young they were--Sferra was 19 and Keaggy just 20, but his patented volume swells and lightning licks are already evident.The final song, Can You See Me, features solos by all three band members (Pecchio's is a flute solo) and incorporates the song One Day At A Time before ending up the set with Keaggy's uncompromising lyrics: "Jesus died for you and me/that we may live eternally/through Him there is a peace we can share."Consider that Keaggy wrote those lyrics in 1970 as a brand-new Christian, a teenaged rising rock star about to record his first album, and you realize just how bold and uncompromising he was. He wasn't about to water down the message when he had the opportunity to play Carnegie Hall. Combine the historical value of this recording with the musical experience and any legitimate Glass Harp/Phil Keaggy connoisseur is required to own this CD!.
REVIEW FOR THA ALBUM Live at Carnegie Hall:
Phil Keaggy is the most gifted, magical, imaginative and technically brilliant guitarist I've ever seen or heard. I've seen him in concert 4-5 times and each time I sit in awe, leaving the concert only reluctantly and nearly with tears in my eyes because I was so moved by his virtuosity. Glass Harp's Live! At Carnegie Hall CD would be astounding if it were released today, from a guitarist in his thirties or forties who had been playing all his life. But this concert was recorded in the very early '70s (circa 1971) by a Guitarist only in his late teens. Even then, Phil Keaggy was a master of the instrument, playing his Les Paul with more speed, passion, flamboyance and precision than guitarists twice his age. Unbelievably, he's only gotten better since. I agree with a previous reviewer: the last song, alone, is worth the price of admission. "Can You See Me" is nearly 30 minutes of jamming from Keaggy, Bassist Dan Pecchio and Drummer John Sferra. Keaggy's McCartney-esque vocals soar over the top of the swelling instrumental intensity, which gradually builds to an unforgettable crescendo. I can think of one other band this intense that broke up way too soon: King Crimson. If that original line-up hadn't splintered when Ian McDonald and Mike Giles left the band after just one album and US tour, there's no telling what heights they could have reached. I feel the same way about Glass Harp. Keaggy left the band in 1972 to pursue a career in Christian music (which was death to his guitar prowess even though it fed him -- and others spiritually) and Glass Harp quickly fell apart. Granted, they lasted in their original line-up three times longer than the original King Crimson band, but it was still a band who's life was cut short way too soon. I wish I would have known Glass Harp re-united in Youngstown, Ohio, in late October of this year. I would have driven there to see them. As it was, I saw Phil Keaggy play solo in Grand Rapids a day or two after the Glass Harp re-union. It was, as usual, an evening I'll never forget. Words simply can't describe the man's talent. (And he's as humorous as he is talented. I'd pay just to hear the man tell jokes and stories.)
I can't stress this enough: don't wait to buy this CD. While you're at it, check out everything Phil Keaggy has ever recorded, especially his latest efforts. In the past 4-5 years, he's had the guts to crank up his amps and play with an abandon not typical in Christian music circles. He's still a master musician in any fretted format, but he's unusually gifted on an electric guitar. I don't know who has the original master tapes for Glass Harp's first three albums, but I think someone, somewhere should do everyone a favor and re-issue them in a remastered format. They deserve the widest possible audience.Glass Harp's legendary 1971
performance at Carnegie Hall is captured in full on this fantastic CD. Back in the late '60s and early '70s, Glass Harp was a band that was just on the verge of being the next biggest band in the world but never quite made it to that point. They did, however, manage to become the opening act for many now-legendary bands. The Carnegie Hall gig on this CD is from when the band was on tour with The Kinks. Judging by the intense musicality of Glass Harp's performance, they may as well have blown The Kinks off the stage.Glass Harp performed five pieces during this gig. They hit it off with the full-force of "Look In The Sky", a heavy Joe Walsh-influenced rocker that features some solid band playing and Great Vocal work from Guitarist/Singer Phil Keaggy. Next up is the equally forceful "Never Is A Long Time" which has a slight Hendrix feel to it along with a commanding Vocal delivery from Bassist Daniel Pecchio. This is followed by a fantastic blues-rock version of the Gospel hymn "Do Lord", a big highlight for this performance. Drummer John Sferra takes over on lead vocals for his composition "Changes" which has a somewhat latter-day John Lennon feel to it. To close their set out, the band launches into a nearly 29-minute take on their epic piece "Can You See Me". This is where the band pulls out all the stops. In addition to the proper song, Phil Keaggy launches into A Driving Guitar Jam which leads into short snippets of two Glass Harp pieces "David and Goliath" and "One Day at A Time". There is also a Drum solo from Sferra and a Flute solo from Pecchio. This is an ending to end all shows. The year following this concert, Glass Harp split up. Phil Keaggy became a well-known and legendary figure in Contemporary Christian music and is still considered to be one of the world's finest Guitarists. Nearly 28 years later, Glass Harp returned to live performances in 2000 and released an excellent double-live CD entitled "Strings Attached". In 2003, they released their first studio album in 31 years, "Hourglass".The "Carnegie Hall" album is a stunning document of an obscure but legendary band on the brink of a breakthrough. The excitement and strong musical energy pierces right through the speakers and leaves you stuck to your chair. Glass Harp's music as well as their positive message is timeless. The "Carnegie Hall" CD may not be an easy CD to get a hold of, but it is an essential title for Keaggy fans, Christian music fans and Classic rock fans(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)