Today In Eagles History says that this is the 21st anniversary of the release of Glenn's Soul Searchin' album. Although I don't consider this to be Glenn's best solo work, I still think it is a pretty good album. For me, the standouts on the album are the title track and True Love. I will rate the songs as I usually do, and as usual for me, I like all the songs. However, I think this album is a bit uneven, and there are actually some songs that I like but don't love.
So, the ones that I absolutely love are:
True Love (amazing vocals here) Soul Searchin' (just plain love this song!) Working Man (it rocks - although I love the slow version as well)
The ones that I like a whole lot are:
Can't Put Out the Fire (almost made my "absolutely love" list) Livin' Right (fun and catchy and one that I bet is among Cindy's favorites) I Did It For Your Love (The ballads on this album are very pretty, albeit a little bland for my taste. Overall, I just don't think they are as good as the ones on No Fun Aloud.) Some Kind of Blue (see I Did It For Your Love comment) It's Your Life (see I Did It For Your Love comment)
The ones that I like:
Let's Pretend We're Still In Love Two Hearts (not one of his best, but not as bad as Soda is gonna say it is :wink: )
08-08-2009, 01:41 PM
sodascouts
Re: Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"
I was just thinking about this in the car yesterday (knowing that the anniversary was coming up). I agree it's no Strange Weather, and that it's uneven, but it has some standout tracks. I'm going to go into more depth about my favorites in another post, but here's the breakdown for me:
My favorites:
I Did It for Your Love - so tragic, so emotively sung!
Some Kind of Blue - along the lines of the above. Poor heartbroken Glenn!
It's Your Life - pretty tune and lovely sentiment.
(More on these in the next post)
The ones I think are very good, but are not my favorites:
True Love - his vocal is very strong - he really belts it out - and I LOVE that full stop that revs back up at the end! I don't like it as much as the ballads because, while his vocal is very well-done, I don't get the same emotional power as I do from the ballads. I'll tell you what, though, the music is great, the vocal is great, there's nothing to dislike. It's just not my fave.
Soul Searchin' - Lovely instrumentation and arrangement, and I especially love the use of a choir. What a good idea - it makes the song go to the spiritual level. Such a great sentiment - "You know you can't change the world, but you can change yourself." My only quibble is the echoing back and forth part which I think goes on a bit too long and thus slows down the song somewhat, but I can understand why he chose to do it that way. It's not even a quibble so much as something that they might have done differently, but the way that he did it works as well... wonderful song.
Good, but not "very good"
Let's Pretend We're Still in Love - I think the tune is very catchy. I especially like the bridge. In fact, that bridge really shoots the song up for me. His vocal there has that feeling I love. It starts off a little slowly but it keeps getting better.
Livin' Right - A bright tune, good use of the horns. It just sounds like a commercial for a gym; no wonder it was used as one!
Workin' Man - This tune is not really bad but it doesn't have the beauty of my favorites nor the catchiness of the stronger tunes. I do appreciate the celebration of the working man sentiment. I find the mournful B-side version much more effective, though - there's an obvious downside to being a working man as well.
Just OK:
Can't Put Out This Fire - the song overall has a bright tune, which is rather incongruous with the lyrics. However, even if the music is a bit peppy for the lyrics, it's catchy. I like the verses - they seem genuine to me, and I really like how he sings "You know breaking up is harder than it sounds / People leave but love still hangs around." So true! What brings this song down are its choruses. The central metaphor is trite lyrically and honestly the lyrics seem to describe a man who is sexually obsessed when his ex rather than in love! "Love is like a burnin' flame, keeps on getting higher / Every time I think of you, fills me with desire / And I can't put out this fire" - does that sound like "I miss you, baby" or "I miss having sex with you, baby"? Let's just say I don't get the same kind of heartbroken romantic angst as I do from listening to Some Kind of Blue.
Yikes!
Two Hearts - This song has the honor of being my least favorite - by far - of all of Glenn's solo work. The "melody" of the entire verse only has one note hit over and over with a couple notes thrown in at the beginning and end, then they take it up a bit and do it again. Seriously. I play piano at a third grade level, and I could go to a keyboard and bang that out in seconds. The choruses are better but can't save the song, and I don't like the way it ends either. The lyrics are tres lame as well, rhapsodizing about two teenagers running off to knock boots behind their parents' backs a la Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now." I love listening to Glenn sing so much that I can't say I HATE this song... I reserve that sentiment for songs far crappier. Still, I hit "skip" here every time. Did he owe the songwriters a favor?
08-09-2009, 01:03 AM
sodascouts
Re: Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"
OK, more on my favorites! They all share a couple commonalities: lovely melody, emotion-laden vocal. But to get into more detail...
I Did It for Your Love
This is my favorite song on the album. It is evocative of those poetically tragic romantic figures, standing on the shore as the wind whips about them and the pouring rain drenches them, brooding, intense, a look of tortured anguish on their face as they long for their lost love - like Darcy after Lizzie rejected him in Pride and Prejudice, like Heathcliff on the moors in Wuthering Heights. A kind of Byronic hero, if you will. Similarly, Glenn's vocal conveys a sense of tragic longing. It has a poignant quality, torn between love and grief. The way he sings "Did everything just to make you smile - somehow I knew it was all worthwhile - 'cause I did it for your love." - it really makes you feel it. The sweeping instrumentation after that part which leads to the bridge gives the song an almost cinematic feeling - the tragic figure brought to life in music just as he is in the movies. Then, at the end of the song, that soft "I did it for your love" - wow. When this song is over, I just sigh.
Some Kind of Blue
This has a pretty melody and I like the use of the saxophone as well the subtle backing vocals (I also like that Timothy is on this track). However, as is often the case with these ballads, what I really love about the song is the vocal. It sounds so sincere and genuine. You really believe this guy is heartbroken. I especially like how he sings "It's out of my hands - you've made other plans - but I'm still in love with you, and I'm still some kind of blue." I also think the use of "some kind of blue" rather than just "I feel blue" is a nice twist that keeps it from being trite. Very effective conveyance of emotion, I believe.
It's Your Life
The sentiment is a rarity among love songs - the guy wants the best for the girl, even if it means she leaves him. He supports her no matter what. That's such a great message - REAL true, unselfish love. Warms my heart. So many great vocal moments: "I just want to say I believe in you"; "When you've had enough, I'll be there for you" - the entire segment from that moment which leads to that last statement: "God knows I love you, but I understand... it's your life." The arrangement - like the strategic addition of the harmonies in certain places for effect - definitely makes things more interesting. The song is kind of different in that you don't really have a chorus per se, just a thematic structural repetition in the melody. I think it works well. It's the last song on the album, and it leaves you with a good feeling.
You know, in order to write this up, I listened to the album a few times today - this morning before tutoring, in the car while I headed to a friend's house for a "movie night," and even now as I'm writing it. Soul Searchin' is not a weak album - it just suffers in comparison to his best work, I think.
08-09-2009, 02:56 AM
Koala
Re: Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"
I like the album, but it is not my favorite album from Glenn, that's definitely Strange Weather!
My favorite songs from this album are True Love, Livin´ Right, Soul Searchin´and Some Kind of Blue!
08-09-2009, 05:25 PM
Troubadour
Re: Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"
Happy Birthday, Soul Searchin'! I'm afraid I don't own this album, but I do love the title track, and Some Kind Of Blue and True Love are great, too. I must check out Two Hearts... ;)
Soda - your avatar is adorable. Such a cute moment! He looks like he needs a big hug in that video.
08-09-2009, 05:44 PM
Glennsallnighter
Re: Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"
I'm going to break with the mould here because believe it or not, Soul Searchin is actually my favourite of Glenn :heart:'s solo albums, albeit with the narrowest of margins from 'Strange Weather'. Yes I know SW is probably musically superior and contains more tracks than SS but there is just something about SS that draws me to it and is often my album of choice if I'm looking for something to listen to say in the car.
My Absolute Favourites
Lets Pretend We're Still in Love - I love this one. Even though the lyrics are relatively simple and straihgtforward, the sentiment is strong and you can hear the pain of anyone who still wants that person in their life. His whispered 'We're still in love' at the end which never fails to send shives down my spine whenever I hear it says it all.
True Love
A catchy energetic song which really builds up in tempo. Its got a real 80's beat to it, particularly when you think he's finished only to hear it start up again. Great for driving.....
Some Kind of Blue
My first hearing of this song was actually watching the video 2 years ago when Soda posted it up on the site. I love it even though its a sad commentary on what could have been. Poor Glenn :heart: he looks and sings like he could do with a big hug.
Of course the other songs come in pretty close here and I'd find it hard to place them in any particular order. There's times I wonder too if the album in some way mirrors Glenn :heart:'s own life. Not chronologically, but I sometimes wonder where the depth of emotion on many of the tracks comes from. Of course I'm only surmising.....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOUL SEARCHIN
08-09-2009, 05:48 PM
sodascouts
Re: Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"
Some music!
True Love (Live Tokyo 1992)
Livin' Right (Live Tokyo 1992)
Some Kind of Blue (Live Royal Oak 2000)
08-09-2009, 05:52 PM
Glennsallnighter
Re: Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"
Cool Soda! I have them all but they are always worth another look. Thanks. :hug:
08-09-2009, 06:13 PM
sodascouts
Re: Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"
Aren't they! I love the videos from this album! I should add that if you'd like to download them and not depend on YouTube, I've had them up for quite a while on my filmography. You can also find summaries and screenshots:
I'm going to break with the mould here because believe it or not, Soul Searchin is actually my favourite of Glenn :heart:'s solo albums, albeit with the narrowest of margins from 'Strange Weather'. Yes I know SW is probably musically superior and contains more tracks than SS but there is just something about SS that draws me to it and is often my album of choice if I'm looking for something to listen to say in the car.
Just goes to show you it's all subjective. Whatever touches your heart is what's "best"!
08-09-2009, 07:34 PM
Freypower
Re: Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"
Well, this is one time where I don't really have that much to add to what Soda and Dreamer said. However, unlike GA I'm afraid I don't think many of these songs carry much emotional weight (this is my least favourite of Glenn's solo albums). I will try and make a few comments but as I say I don't think they will add much.
Livin' Right - the best part of this is watching him sing it without a guitar. I should not say that but such an occurrence is so rare you have to love it. I am very fond of this because I KNOW how personal it is, something I can't say about many of the other songs.
Some Kind Of Blue - this is pleasant but it tends to drift along a bit too much. In my opinion too much of the album is like this.
True Love - Perfect. I don't know what else to say. He 'stole' it from Al Green but it is one of his most passionate performances.
Can't Put Out This Fire - I love the percussion in this song, the vaguely 'Caribbean' feel it has. Because it's so enjoyable musically I tend to forgive the lyrics.
I Did It For Your Love - Well, Soda, the 'Byronic hero' idea never occurred to me! I see your point. Perhaps I could add my own favourite situation halfway through War & Peace where Pierre realises he loves Natasha but thinks his love will never be returned (ahem - I felt I had to match Soda there in some way). It grows on me more and more, I must say.
Let's Pretend We're Still In Love - very catchy, a nice singalong track, but at the end of the day it is hardly a 'great song'. I do like it, though.
Working Man - tries too hard to emulate Springsteen and its sentiments jar with the majority of the love songs on the album. I am with Soda in preferring the 'slow' version.
Soul Searchin' - his love of R&B and gospel music comes to the fore again. I love this track. It's beautifully sung.
Two Hearts - I have to agree with Soda here (BTW the songwriter is one of the backing musicians - Hawk Wolinski). This is one of my three least favourite Glenn songs and it does precisely nothing for me at all.
It's Your Life - again, it's pleasant but it is somewhat cliched, and I can't say that I am overwhelmed by it. I do like the way the music climaxes with that bit of sax at the end. Vocally it is very sincere but he had and would do better.
08-10-2009, 02:41 AM
Koala
Re: Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"
I like to read your commentary to every song from the album! :)
08-10-2009, 10:01 AM
sodascouts
Re: Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"
Thanks Koala! I wish I had time to do it for all the albums! In fact, due to the fact that the birthday of No Fun Aloud came around the end of the semester and I was hustling to get everything done, I didn't get a chance to do it for that album even though I love it. I will have to go back and do it sometime!
08-08-2010, 11:56 AM
Ive always been a dreamer
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY SOUL SEARCHIN'!!!
On this day in 1988, Glenn released his third solo album.
I have not done a complete review of this album before, so I'll take a crack at it now. Here is my take on the Soul Searchin’ album. Although I don't consider this to be Glenn's best solo work, I find the songs to be pleasant and enjoyable. There are a few very good songs, but for me the real standouts on the album are the title track, True Love, and I Did It For Your Love. To me this album is a bit uneven, and there are some songs that I like but don't love. I think this pretty much sums up the whole album for me – better than average, but not exceptional. So here is my song-by-song rating in the order that I love/like them.
I Love It (5)
Soul Searchin’ (5) – This is a wonderful song mostly because of the vocals and the arrangement. I know some fans disagree, but I don’t find it too repetitive at all. The melody, music, and use of the gospel choir are all terrific. I just plain love the bridge, and I just plain love this song and it’s inspirational message!
True Love (5) – I love this song, too. Even though the lyrics are predictable, the delivery and vocals in this song are really exceptional. Al Green should be very appreciative of Glenn’s soulful tribute – he does justice to the Memphis blues style of music. The sax is just awesome as is all of the music in the song. The melody is also terrific, and I love the full stop and restart at the end.
I Did It For Your Love (5) – This is my favorite ballad on the album. Although I always liked this song, I never really loved it. I thought it was pleasant, but a tad bit bland. Then all of a sudden one day, for some unexplained reason, it touched something in me out of nowhere. The song just blew me away, and now I absolutely love it. It is very poignant and simply beautiful and I love the lines “I waited by the shore; just for one glimpse of you, nothing more.” I always thought the line “Somehow I knew you would understand” was meant as a wishful thinking thing since, obviously, she didn’t. The only problem with this song is that I want to know what he did! Since this song was apparently written for the movie “An American Murder”, I’m thinking what he did might not have been too good. Maybe if I actually watched the movie, I might be enlightened. :idea: :grin:
Working Man (5) – I’ve said before that I thought Working Man was a standout track, but I’m on the fence about that. I do enjoy the song a lot though mostly because I love Glenn’s vocals on it. BTW, it may just be me, but I think Glenn decided to rework this song a few years later and call it ‘Common Ground’ (which I like even better). They both have a lot of the same music and same theme although Common Ground is much more of a bluesy tune than a rocker. This song rocks - although I love Glenn’s alternate slow version as well.
I Really Like It (4)
Can’t Put Out This Fire (4) – Soda earlier described this song as “singy-songy” in one of her posts – I call it catchy. I also recall the past discussions about the lyrics being sexually obsessive, but I don’t see it that way. However, I can see how someone could think that. For some unexplained reason, I love the lines “Breaking up is harder than it sounds; people leave, but love still hangs around.” Maybe just because it’s so true and basically these lines sums up this rockin’ song for me! This almost made my "love" list.
Livin’ Right (4) – I also like Glenn’s anthem for fitness. It’s fun and catchy and another one of those songs that you just can’t help singing along with – especially the chorus. I love the bridge and the sax solo that follows. I guess Glenn had no idea what a life-changing experience this song really would turn out to be since he met the future Mrs. Frey while filming the song’s video. I bet is among Cindy's favorite songs. :wink:
It’s Your Life (4) – IMO, the ballads on the album are not Glenn’s strongest with the exception of the aforementioned I Did It For Your Love. However, this tune is just very pretty. The music is superb and the delivery of those heartfelt lyrics make this song slightly better than average to me.
I Like It (3)
Some Kind of Blue (3) – As is many times the case, I find that a song that may be most people’s favorite is among my least favorites. I just don’t see anything exceptional about this song, although I keep thinking I must be missing something because I know a lot of people love it. I just find the song somewhat bland and mundane even though the delivery is beautiful and Tim’s background harmonies are impressive.
Let’s Pretend We’re Still In Love (3) – It’s pleasant so I don’t skip it, but I think this one is just an ordinary, average song. I’m not crazy about the somewhat monotomous melody in the verses, although I do like the bridge.
Two Hearts (3) – I agree it’s not his best work although I don’t find it quite as annoying as some of you. I don’t skip it, but I’m glad to know that Glenn did not write this. I’d love to know why he chose to record it (not one of his best, but not as bad as Soda thinks it is). However, with its uninspiring repetitious melody, it does rank up there as one of my least favorites of Glenn’s solo songs.
key:
5 - I love it
4 - I really like it
3 - I like it
2 - meh
1 – yikes
08-08-2010, 12:40 PM
EaglesFanatic
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Happy Birthday "Soul Searchin"! I haven't listened to the whole album yet, but from what I heard, Soul Searchin and Living Right are my favorites. Here's to celebrate the occasion: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1z...ng-right_music
08-08-2010, 03:33 PM
sodascouts
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Happy birthday to Soul Searchin'!
Great review, Dreamer! I completely agree about the moving "I Did It for Your Love." It's also one of the three standout tracks on the album for me, although the two other songs in my top three aren't the same as yours. I just ignore the fact that the song was written for An American Murder (Season of Fear is its title outside of the U.S.) I imagine his misdeed is less horrible than being a psycho killer. The lyrics imply that what he did was love her too desperately, but it was still "worthwhile" even though she rejected him.
However, here's what Glenn says about it in the liner notes:
"A straight ahead love song for a murder mystery seemed pretty twisted to me. After all, what is murder but love gone wrong."
Mmmkay.
Now that I think about it, I guess the lyrics could be perceived as kind of stalker-ish... no, no, I'm not gonna go there - I want to keep liking the song! lol
Moving on... I too am relieved that Glenn didn't write the sucky "Two Hearts"! As for why he recorded it, again, here's what Glenn has to say about it:
"A cool little tune written by my friend, Hawk Wolinski. It features great synthesizer work by Robbie Buchanan and a rare (as opposed to well done) guitar solo by yours truly."
Even Glenn's guitar work can't save the song, I'm afraid, although it's not because the guitarwork wasn't well done... it's the song itself that blows. Gotta love his modesty though - in truth, Glenn can rock the kasbah on the guitar if he chooses, as he has demonstrated live.
As for Hawk Wolinkski, Glenn had had a long musical relationship with him. Wolinksi co-produced and helped arrange songs on Soul Searchin', had played on Glenn's records, and was in his backing band for tours. Wolinkski had also previously co-written three earlier songs: "Living in Darkness", "Somebody Else," and "Flip City." Glenn even thanks Wolkinski for his "time and music" in The Allnighter's liner notes and calls him a "keyboard wizard" in The Solo Collection's liner notes. (If you guys are wondering how I know all this, I typed up the liner notes for GFO). He would later co-write "Long Hot Summer" on Strange Weather. Interestingly, he also wrote music for An American Murder, although not "I Did It for Your Love." Wonder if he got Glenn involved or vice-versa? Obviously, Glenn respected him a great deal.
About the "Livin' Right" video - I don't really like Glenn's "jock" look but the video itself is hilarious. My favorite part is when the old lady runs past him during the "before" part of the video. It also makes me chuckle that the song starts with the strains of "You Belong to the City" - it's like the Allnighter period partied him out!
08-08-2010, 07:07 PM
Freypower
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Well, there you are. I have tried and tried to warm to the Livin' Right video and I can't. The True Love video, on the other hand....
This is still my least favourite album, even though its release came right after the 1988 Australian visit. Re-reading what I wrote before I smiled when I saw my comments about I Did It For Your Love.
I'm not sure about Working Man and Common Ground having the same theme, though, Dreamer. Working Man tells a fairly specific story while Common Ground is far more universal in its content.
08-13-2010, 06:38 PM
chaim
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
I find this album interesting, because it has some songs I find totally forgettable and some songs that are probably among my all-time favourite songs.
The ones I absolutely adore:
I DID IT FOR YOUR LOVE: (Beautiful. The most spine tingling moment: "But you won't be around". In the "The leaves will soon be turning" bit Glenn uses the same trick he used in the "wo--o-o-o-oo, another love has come and gone" bit in "Wasted time"; a sudden A-flat major chord in a song that is in C major. Nothing unusual in this "bVI chord", but it appears in a rather similar manner in both songs; to bring a sudden change.)
IT'S YOUR LIFE: I love what it says. There are not that many songs in any genre (not in pop or nor classical) that come to mind in which the narrator thinks of the other person's needs as well. One other song that comes to mind is "Never been in love before" by Robert Lamm on Chicago's 8th album.
SOUL SEARCHING: Gorgeus musically.
TWO HEARTS: Great musically.
08-13-2010, 06:43 PM
Freypower
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Chaim, what a fascinating comparison between I Did It For Your Love and Wasted Time. I absolutely love sudden chord changes. I don't know if it qualifies but there is a similar moment in A Walk In The Dark when he sings 'this is the way I want to dance with you'. He seems to be very good at this.
08-13-2010, 09:21 PM
sodascouts
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Yes, very interesting comparison, chaim! That change does seem quite effective.
08-14-2010, 02:25 AM
chaim
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freypower
Chaim, what a fascinating comparison between I Did It For Your Love and Wasted Time. I absolutely love sudden chord changes. I don't know if it qualifies but there is a similar moment in A Walk In The Dark when he sings 'this is the way I want to dance with you'. He seems to be very good at this.
There were a couple of errors in my comment; one fatal one. "Usual" should have been "UNusual". I changed it...
I remember someone bringing up that "Walk in the dark" bit at some point. It might have been you. I just listened to the song. What a great song! I've always liked it. It really SOUNDS like you're in the park in the dark. The chords in that bit you mentioned are the same as in the first verse, and the first chord, basically F sharp minor (one, sometimes two notes added), is the first chord also in the chorus (on the word "Let's). The second chord is in the chorus too (during the words "dark" and "park"). But here in the verse the bass stays on the F sharp when the chord changes, so it has a different feeling. So those chords have been heard many times already in the song (intro, first firse, chorus), but I agree that STILL Glenn manages to make it magical sounding, like the chord appeared for the first time!
08-14-2010, 11:01 AM
Ive always been a dreamer
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Very interesting, chaim. Unfortunately, I am totally lost on this kind of stuff. The only thing I know about music is what my ears tell me. I envy folks like you that know this stuff cause I can't tell one chord from the other. :thumbsup:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freypower
I'm not sure about Working Man and Common Ground having the same theme, though, Dreamer. Working Man tells a fairly specific story while Common Ground is far more universal in its content.
FP, guess I wasn't very clear on this. I simply meant that the two songs have a similar theme, not exactly the same theme. Their "common man" theme just remind me of each other, that's all.
08-14-2010, 11:10 AM
chaim
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ive always been a dreamer
Very interesting, chaim. Unfortunately, I am totally lost on this kind of stuff. The only thing I know about music is what my ears tell me. I envy folks like you that know this stuff cause I can't tell one chord from the other. :thumbsup:
FP, guess I wasn't very clear on this. I simply meant that the two songs have a similar theme, not exactly the same theme. Their "common man" theme just remind me of each other, that's all.
I actually often feel a bit stupid when I write about chords in forums, because not everyone is going to know what I'm talking about! But there's nothing fancy there really. It seems that everyone who plays guitar or piano in the pop world has an obsession with chords and how they make them feel! :hilarious:
08-15-2010, 07:35 PM
Freypower
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
I also think it was interesting that you said that Two Hearts is 'great musically' because you may have noticed it isn't a favourite of many of us. I think its lyric is too slight.
Dreamer, I can see that 'common man' thread in WM and CG now. Glenn Springsteen! :thumbsup:
08-15-2010, 10:28 PM
chaim
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freypower
I also think it was interesting that you said that Two Hearts is 'great musically' because you may have noticed it isn't a favourite of many of us. I think its lyric is too slight.
I've never really paid attention to the lyrics in this song, but I've always enjoyed it musically, both the verse and the chorus. I also love the three or four chords before the guitar solo starts (if I remember correctly). I seem to remember there are some ascending chords there. Really catchy.
Added MUCH later:
Perhaps the word "great" was a bit too off-the-cuff when I mentioned "Two hearts". I've always thought that it's a catchy and lovely little pop tune, in which I enjoy the "teen sound". I find Sodascouts' comment about the verse melody interesting, because I had never even realized how simple the verse melody is! I guess when I'm totally "into it", enjoying the "groove" and the vocal performance, a simple melody works for me. Often a one- or two-line melody works when the chords keep changing underneath, like in "I am the walrus" by the Beatles. In the "Two hearts" verse the chords hardly change, so it must be the "groove" and Glenn's vocal performance that does it for me there.
08-15-2010, 10:34 PM
chaim
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
I hadn't read the previous comments thoroughly before I wrote my own. I just noticed that Sodascouts had already described perfectly how I feel about "It's your life". :nod: Especially the lyric.
08-08-2011, 01:09 AM
sodascouts
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Happy birthday to Glenn's third album, Soul Searchin', released on this day in 1988!
Love the full stop, then "rev it up" moment on this song at 3:25.
That also happens to be the moment the girl in the video lives a female Frey fan fantasy! lol
08-08-2011, 10:13 AM
Ive always been a dreamer
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
HAPPY 23rd ANNIVERSARY SOUL SEARCHIN'!!!
Okay, we tried this a few weeks ago on the anniversary of Timothy’s Tell Me the Truth album, so I thought we’d try it again since today we celebrate the anniversary of the release of Glenn’s Soul Searchin’ album.
Again, I’ll review how this will work. This isn’t exactly a game, but more like a poll I guess with no other purpose than to be an exercise of fun. I’m going to list all the songs on the album and ask folks to rank them in the order that they like the songs from favorite to least favorite. I’ll give folks a week to post their list in this thread, and then I’ll calculate the results so you can see how close your list is to the combined results.
I’ll calculate the lists like this. If there are 10 songs on the album, I’ll assign a point value of 10 points to the song that each person lists in 1st place, 9 points for the 2nd place song, and so on until the last place song gets 1 point as follows:
Song 1 – 10 points
Song 2 – 9 points
Song 3 – 8 points
Song 4 – 7 points
Song 5 – 6 points
Song 6 – 5 points
Song 7 – 4 points
Song 8 – 3 points
Song 9 – 2 points
Song 10 – 1 point
For example, Person A puts the song ‘ABC’ in 3rd place so it gets 8 points; Person B puts ‘ABC’ in 5th place so it gets 6 points; and Person C puts ‘ABC’ in 6th place so it gets 5 points. So all total, the song ‘ABC’ gets 19 points. Then, Person A puts the song ‘XYZ’ in 1st place so it gets 10 points; Person B puts ‘XYZ’ in 4th place so it gets 7 points; and Person C puts ‘XYZ’ in 2nd place so it gets 9 points. So all total, the song ‘XYZ’ gets 26 points. Of course, if the album has 12 songs, then Song 1 receives 12 points.
After I calculate the combined scores from everyone’s list, I’ll post the list in the order of which songs had the highest points to the lowest. You will be able to see how close your list comes to the “master” list. If others post a list after a week, I’ll update it with their scores. So here we go – the songs for the Soul Searchin’ album are as follows:
Livin' Right
Some Kind Of Blue
True Love
Can't Put Out This Fire
I Did It For Your Love
Let's Pretend We're Still In Love
Working Man
Soul Searchin'
Two Hearts
It's Your Life
Now, list these songs in the order of your most favorite to least favorite.
08-08-2011, 10:17 AM
Ive always been a dreamer
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Okay - I’ll start this off. Here is my list:
1. Soul Searchin’
2. True Love
3. I Did It For Your Love
4. Working Man
5. Can’t Put Out the Fire
6. Livin’ Right
7. It’s Your Life
8. Some Kind of Blue
9. Let’s Pretend We’re Still in Love
10. Two Hearts
08-08-2011, 04:27 PM
whitcap
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Here's my list:
1. Soul Searchin’
2. Some Kind of Blue
3. Can’t Put Out This Fire
4. Let’s Pretend We’re Still in Love
5. Working Man
6. True Love
7. Livin’ Right
8. It’s Your Life
9. I Did It for Your Love
10. Two Hearts
08-08-2011, 05:38 PM
Freypower
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
My least favourite Glenn album, though I like it a lot more than I used to. I have never thought about ranking the tracks before; here goes:
1. True Love
2. Soul Searchin'
3. I Did It For Your Love
4. Some Kind Of Blue
5. Can't Put Out This Fire
6. Let's Pretend We're Still In Love
7. Livin' Right
8. Working Man
9. It's Your Life
10. Two Hearts
Quick observations; the slow version of Working Man is much better than the fast version which for some reason seems out of place on this album. Livin' Right used to be a lot higher up in my esteem. I still like it a lot but for some reason I don't want to rank it as highly right now. Also, if I had been asked this years ago, I Did It For Your Love would not have been this high. That song is growing & growing in depth as the years pass. As for It's Your Life; it may be a pleasant ballad with a positive message, but it has never done much for me. This ranking of it is possibly harsh but there you are.
08-08-2011, 10:12 PM
Prettymaid
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
I just spent the last couple hours reading the Glenn Frey Music Video Survior thread.
I remembered that FP and I enjoyed the True Love video more than most. I still don't own any of Glenn's solo albums, but I really enjoyed that game.
08-09-2011, 01:28 AM
Koala
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Here's my list:
1. Soul Searchin’
2. True Love
3.Some Kind of Blue
4.Working Man
5. I Did It For Your Love
6. Can’t Put Out the Fire
7. Livin’ Right
8. It’s Your Life
9. Two Hearts
10. Let’s Pretend We’re Still in Love
08-09-2011, 09:50 AM
Brooke
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
I went to listen to this album yesterday and it's the only one of his not on my ipod! :rolleyes:
I haven't had time to put it on there yet, but I definitely will.
08-12-2011, 03:45 PM
sodascouts
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
My list:
1. I Did It for Your Love
2. It's Your Life
3. Some Kind of Blue
4. True Love
5. Soul Searchin'
6. Working Man
6. Let's Pretend We're Still In Love
7. Livin' Right
9. Can't Put Out This Fire
10. Two Hearts
08-14-2011, 12:04 PM
Ive always been a dreamer
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Just thought I'd post an update here. Our experimental poll has Soul Searchin' currently in the lead. True Love is currently in 2nd place. Some Kind of Blue and I Did It For Your Love are battling it out for 3rd place with SKOB currently ahead by 1 point.
08-14-2011, 02:24 PM
GlennLover
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
I found this very hard to do. Other than True Love & Soul Searchin' being my top favorites & Two Hearts being my least favorite, the rest of the songs are interchangeable for me. On any given day the middle seven songs on my list might be in a completely different order, depending on my mood.
1. True Love
2. Soul Searchin'
3. Working Man
4. Livin' Right
5. Can't Put Out This Fire
6. I Did It For Your Love
7. It's Your Life
8. Some Kind of Blue (I think the video spoils this song for me)
9. Let's Pretend We're Still In Love
10.Two Hearts
08-15-2011, 07:47 PM
Ive always been a dreamer
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Okay - I'll go ahead and post the results of our poll for the Soul Searchin' album. Although, this is only a small sampling, as I've said before, I'm betting the outcome wouldn't be drastically different even if we had 100 fans voting. So, here's the way the votes went ...
1. Soul Searchin' - 54 points
2. True Love - 50 points
3. I Did It For Your Love - 39 points
4. Some Kind of Blue - 38 points
5. Working Man - 36 points
6. Can't Put Out the Fire - 33 points
7. Livin' Right - 27 points
8. It's Your Life - 25 points
9. Let's Pretend We're Still in Love - 21 points
10. Two Hearts - 7 points
So congratulations to our top vote-getter, Soul Searchin'!!!
Thanks to those who participated. As I said earlier, if anyone else wants to still post their list, it's not too late. Go right ahead - I'll update the standings if this happens.
08-16-2011, 08:10 PM
Freypower
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
I was thinking about this. I think it's interesting that one of Glenn's most outright 'personal' songs, Livin' Right, doesn't appears to have aged all that well given these results. Perhaps it's just a bit 'gung ho' and hard to relate to; I'm not sure. As opposed to another 'personal' song, River of Dreams, which I think would be near the top if we do this for the Strange Weather album.
I was also thinking about why LPWSIL (I think that is the first time I've ever used the acronym) doesn't rate highly. I quite like the song but it's a fairly ordinary lyric. Once again it has a superb bridge ('if I could have you back') but the rest of it plods along a bit.
08-16-2011, 09:59 PM
Ive always been a dreamer
Re: Celebration of "Soul Searchin"
Well - I couldn't believe how close my list was to the final results. The order that I ranked the songs is exactly the order they finished except that you have to knock Some Kind of Blue down about 4 notches. I'm not surprised about that though. I know that I don't rate that song as highly as most people. I like it well enough, but it's a bit bland for my taste. And FP, as far as LPWSIL - I like it although I don't think much stands out about the song - to me, it's rather ordinary.