Dan Fogelberg & Tim Weisberg – No Resemblance Whatsoever
This duo was always a bit laid back in their showcase. But there was always a place for such soft rock music – Kenny Rankin’s, Michael Smotherman’s & the well-defined storytelling beauty of many Dan Fogelberg solo songs.
This effort was the second collaboration for the late Fogelberg & partner Tim Weissberg who with their beards on their first LP (1978) looked almost like brothers – hence the title of this 2nd LP (1995) sans the facial hair.
The set opens with a lovely reflective instrumental “Country Clare” to set the stage for the direction these songs would go. The first 3 songs are instrumentals that display the excellent playing of Tim Weissberg (C flute/alto flute/bass flute/piccolo) & Dan. Not quite as wild as Ian Andersen (Jethro Tull) or Thijs van Leer (Focus) Weissberg was a bit more fluent & sophisticated.
There are 10 Fogelberg-Weisberg-produced tunes on No Resemblance Whatsoever (Drops Jan. 24/Omnivore/Warner Bros/42:10) recorded in both L.A. & Colorado. At times the music borders on the sublime jazzy explorations of Mark-Almond (classical guitarist Jon Mark & reeds man Johnny Almond) who performed songs closer to a city setting than a California-styled breezy showcase. However, when Fogelberg sings Jesse Colin Young’s (The Youngbloods) “Sunlight” he steps into the soft light expressive vocalization of Jon Mark (“What Am I Living For?”). And he does it well.
Weisberg’s flutes add carbonation to Fogelberg’s flavorful voice. The interludes like “Isle Au Haut” are rich in the Mark-Almond tradition though that band was a bit jazzier & atmospheric. Dan & Tim are closer to that genre than say, The Eagles. They don’t possess the commercial-mainstream circuitry that was evident in many Loggins-Messina pieces.
“The Face of Love” does have a catchiness sweetened by a good arrangement & could’ve been a good Eagles/Doobie Brothers tune. There’s little here that suggests that these melodies are too mellow, informal, or easy-going. The duo adds punch & often delivers with a musical potpourri that’s consistently pleasing. Yes, some are confectionary (“Songbird”), but the majority have many delights, both vocally & instrumentally.
There aren’t foot-stomping songs but “Windward” the final song is a vibrant instrumental mix that’s well-punctuated & showcases the playing skills of Dan & Tim. No showboating just well augmented impressive performances.
Highlights – “County Clare,” “Forever Jung,” “Todos Santos,” “Sunlight,” “Isle Au Haut,” “The Face of Love” & “Windward.”
Musicians – Dan (lead vocal/grand piano/keys/bass/strings/acoustic, electric & classical guitars/bgv), Larry Cohn (keys/horn & string arrangements/acoustic piano), Michael Landau (electric guitars), Neil Stubenhaus (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), Alex Acuña (percussion), Pete Christlieb, Joel Peskin & Tom Scott (saxes), Dick Hyde (trombone/trumpet), Gary Grant (trumpet), Julia Tillman Waters, Maxine Willard Waters & Oren Waters (backing vocals).
Cover photo courtesy of Reisig & Taylor. A 10-page stitched lyric insert is included. CD @ Amazon + https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/no-resemblance-whatsoever/ & https://timweisberg.com/discography/no-resemblance-whatsoever-1995/ & https://www.danfogelberg.com/