| Share & Bookmark Us |
|
| What's Related |
| These might interest you as well
Bulletin Board
Photo Albums
|
Download It Now
With Bonus Tracks!
Order It Now!
Get Horse On Your Phone
 
Buy Your Own Taylor
And Play Along
 
Here's The Sheetmusic
  |
|
| View Topic |
Forums
:: America Fan Blog
:: New Human Nature album.
 Reply
MyUserNameIsKevin
Member
Posts: 846
|
New Human Nature album.
Posted on: 02/03/2020 01:44 AM
To any one on this blog who is a fan of the rock group America, you have to get this new remix of Dan Peek songs with the band Peace, called Peace Revisited.
Finally, someone has done justice to Dan’s legacy and his music. It was his new bandmates, Ken Marvin and Brian Gentry from Peace. They have lovingly remastered and remixed the best songs from their collaboration with Dan and created an album that is both joyful and sad. Joyful because this is Dan Peek writing some of the strongest songs of his career. Sad, because of what was lost.
Maybe the saddest part of all is knowing that they came so close to a reunion with the Human Nature album, only to have it jettisoned. And when you listen to that album that was both a commercial and artistic flop, you wonder what could have been, and realize how much was lost.
Peek was at the top of his song writing game while Beckley and Bunnell were on cruise control.
All we can do now is wonder how good that album could have been had it happened. As a fan, that is our prerogative. So, here goes.
Imagine taking the dregs off Human Nature and replacing them with the best Dan Peek songs of the time. How wonderful would that album have been had Beckley and Bunnell let it happen?
Just like the Beatles released Let It Be Naked, stripping away the embarrassing overproduction and leaving a stunningly simpler album, imagine creating a Human Nature Realized, stripping from that really uninspiring album its weak sisters and stagnant filler, and imagining how wonderful that album could have been.
Gone instantly are the embarrassing songs: Town and Country, Hidden Talent, and Hot Town. There are very very few America songs that are cringe-worthy. Three appeared on Human Nature.
The gems, of course, stay: Wednesday Morning, Oolololo, and Wheels Are Turning.
Cut is Moment to Moment which is really a Gerry Beckley solo album track.
Staying are the strong album cuts like Pages, Overwhelming World Suite, Whispering, and World Alone. Also staying, only because they would certainly have insisted on four songs from each songwriter even though it wasn’t good: From A Moving Train.
Dan Peek gets five songs because, frankly, his writing was much stronger at that stage. And, of course, Beckley and Bunnell would have been gracious for his return and insisted he shine, right? (Okay, now that you stopped laughing, please continue.)
So, there are 15 songs on Peace Revisited. Eliminate the songs that Dan didn’t write and the ones he co-wrote, not that they weren’t some amazing songs, but because it’s about no outside collaborators.
Take the best of the best, get rid of the worst of the worst, keep some of the filler because there’s no other choice, add five Dan Peek songs, and you have yourself an amazing album called Human Nature Realized.
Here is the track listing:
1 Wednesday Morning
2 Wheels Are Turning
3 Endless Flight (Peace Revisited version)
4 Right Now (Peace Revisited version)
5 From A Moving Train
6 World Alone
7 Overwhelming World Suite
8 Pages
9 Revolving Door (Peace Revisited version)
10 It’s Alright (Peace Revisited version)
11 Whispering
12 Sharkey’s Song (Peace Revisited version)
13 Oolololo
Make yourself a copy of Human Nature Realized. It will be one of the better America albums you will ever hear.
A fan can dream.
|
 Back to top |
 Quote
 Report this post to administrator
|
DannyC
Member
Posts: 481
|
Re: New Human Nature album.
Posted on: 02/03/2020 08:56 AM
I will be getting this new remix, Kevin. You seem to always have a great take on all things America. I haven’t even heard this new remix and I am sure given you’re thoughtful and passionate review of it, it will be awesome. Thanks for the time you take to enlighten us with you’re observations and ideas. I think I have mentioned in the past that you were responsible for me getting into one of my favorite bands of my life, The Jayhawks so I’m really stoked to hear this. Rock on.DanC
"What we have here is....failure to communicate"
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report this post to administrator
|
Steve_Orchard
Member
Posts: 560
From: Iron Mountain-Kingsford, in Michigan's U.P.!
|
Re: New Human Nature album.
Posted on: 02/04/2020 06:52 PM
Wow...great review Kevin, and I believe you have talked me into this. What site did you order it from? Amazon? I'll do a search of that. I have some of the Peace material from years back--always thought the original recordings were a bit muddy but I'll need to revisit what I have at home. As for the "Human Nature" album...Ahh what could have been. That was supposed to be the reunion album that Gerry and Dewey wound up nixing. The guys played here that summer right after the album was released. I'm trying to envision what it would have been like had Dan been a part of that as far as the tour went as I worked the local show. I guess You pretty much explained how it would have been...
SteveO
"You are one more posse to pass in the night, one more card to conceal..."
Edited by Steve_Orchard on 02/04/2020 06:53 PM
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report this post to administrator
|
Steve_Orchard
Member
Posts: 560
From: Iron Mountain-Kingsford, in Michigan's U.P.!
|
Re: New Human Nature album.
Posted on: 02/05/2020 02:30 PM
Thanks for the link Kevin. I noticed that the music is also available via iTunes, but I would prefer to have the physical product on this.
As for the aborted "Human Nature" album, I was in touch with Dan often prior to his passing. Dan was game to do it, and the story that ran in Billboard in 1998 confirmed it too. Lots could be said about all of that. I also set Dan up with a friend of mine named Randy Patterson who runs a music website and got what would be the final interview with Dan in 2011. I know that link is out there somewhere, or I could ask Randy.
SteveO
"You are one more posse to pass in the night, one more card to conceal..."
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report this post to administrator
|
Americafan
Member
Posts: 337
|
Re: New Human Nature album.
Posted on: 02/06/2020 05:48 PM
PEACE REVISITED is a great CD and highly recommended for any America or Dan Peek fan. The problem with some of Dan's solo recordings were that they were "demo" quality and needed additional studio production. PEACE REVISITED does just that.
As far as the criticisms of HUMAN NATURE, I liked Hot Town and From a Moving Train. I thought the problem with HUMAN NATURE was mainly Dewey's stuff was weak. I thought Wheels Are Turning was exceptional, but other than that (and the previously mentioned Hot Town) I was not impressed with Dewey's stuff, though I liked most of Gerry's stuff. They definitely could have used Dan's help on this album. The aborted reunion was a badly missed opportunity.
I thought just the opposite on their previous release, HOURGLASS. Dewey really shined on that album while I was disappointed with Gerry's stuff (other than Call of the Wild which I really liked). I think that might have been due to Gerry holding back his best stuff for his solo album VAN GO GAN, which was really good.
They both were finally hitting on all cylinders for HERE & NOW, which I think was their best as a duo and holds up well when compared to their work as a trio.
Mark
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report this post to administrator
|
MyUserNameIsKevin
Member
Posts: 846
|
Re: New Human Nature album.
Posted on: 02/07/2020 09:14 PM
I always thought "From A Moving Train" sounded like a demo. I love the song but to me the recording seems lifeless, like painting by numbers. It needed some life breathed into it, some emotion. But, to each his own, which by the way, is is an amazing America song.
One of the things they missed with Human Nature by bailing on the reunion was a strong outside producer to tell them, "No, that song isn't good enough. Bring more."
Speaking of demos, I wish America could go back and redo a lot of their songs they released with that embarrassing drum machine. What a disservice to all those good songs.
And, yes, Here and Now was America back clicking on all cylinders. An amazing album.
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report this post to administrator
|
Steve_Orchard
Member
Posts: 560
From: Iron Mountain-Kingsford, in Michigan's U.P.!
|
Re: New Human Nature album.
Posted on: 02/08/2020 01:05 PM
Kevin, Jeff Larson once told me that with regards to Dan's later solo works, he'd have benefitted from having a producer to work with. In my opinion, "Bodden Town" and "Guitar Man" needed more work to them--a lot of fans were shocked at the sound of those records, especially "Bodden Town." Following 1987's "Crossover", the work with Marvin and Gentry--while appreciated--also needed the benefit of a producer. But judging by your review, things have been rectified here. Once I get my copy and have given it some listens, I'll provide further comments. Meantime, there's been lots out there to be excited about. The London Palladium DVD is a real keeper, and there's an accompanying CD to go with that. And, there's more stuff on the way in 2020 to get people excited over too...
"You are one more posse to pass in the night, one more card to conceal..."
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report this post to administrator
|
DannyC
Member
Posts: 481
|
Re: New Human Nature album.
Posted on: 02/11/2020 11:33 PM
Sharkey’s Song; this song would of made the cut on any America album ever made. Wonderful set of tunes remixed to perfection!DanC
"What we have here is....failure to communicate"
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report this post to administrator
|
Steve_Orchard
Member
Posts: 560
From: Iron Mountain-Kingsford, in Michigan's U.P.!
|
Re: New Human Nature album.
Posted on: 02/13/2020 06:19 PM
Hey Kevin & Dan--I downloaded the album from iTunes today. Obviously need to give it a proper listen, but I did go ahead and listen to "Sharkey's Song." Good call on this one. Dan's in fine vocal form here. From the songs I've already heard, I'm glad that proper additional production was given to these songs. Dan sounds much better on this project. I'll comment more later...
SteveO
"You are one more posse to pass in the night, one more card to conceal..."
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report this post to administrator
|
Steve_Orchard
Member
Posts: 560
From: Iron Mountain-Kingsford, in Michigan's U.P.!
|
Re: New Human Nature album.
Posted on: 02/14/2020 03:10 PM
Express, I'd like to get the physical product at some point, but I noticed it was out of stock already at a couple of outlets. I'm ok with iTunes for the moment, but like you I prefer the physical copy. Meantime, I have those two demo versions of "From A Moving Train" and "Young Moon." A few subtle differences with them, and nice to have as part of my collection. "Young Moon" was always my favorite from "Hourglass."
SteveO
"You are one more posse to pass in the night, one more card to conceal..."
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report this post to administrator
|
Steve_Orchard
Member
Posts: 560
From: Iron Mountain-Kingsford, in Michigan's U.P.!
|
Re: New Human Nature album.
Posted on: 02/20/2020 09:58 AM
Kevin, Been listening to the Peace Revisited album here at home. Stellar effort for sure, and I think we all enjoyed your review. It spurred me to dig out the original "Light Of The World" music, which followed Dan's "Crossover" album. Some of you will remember that Dan provided vocals on at least 4 tracks to that project which I think was a 1989 release. The tracks were "Light of The World", "Blessed Are The Children", "Holy Redeemer" and "Child Of Israel." For some reason I thought those tracks would be part of the new album, but in re-listening to them, I thought they were fine. Put 'em all back-to-back-to-back and you have quite a great body of work that Dan did apart from Gerry and Dewey.
SteveO
"You are one more posse to pass in the night, one more card to conceal..."
|
| Back to top |
Quote
Report this post to administrator
|
Reply
|
|
