<p>I thought I was the only one old enough to be sad. Dan was a great songwriter, and oh geej, 56!.. i think I’ll go put “Longer” on the Cd player and dance with the old guy I live with (!)</p>
<p>He was an amazing poet - lyrics like his just don’t show up that often.</p>
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<p>Another huge fan here. My favorite was “Part of the Plan”. I can still remember playing it over and over while I typed a paper spring of senior year in college (my roommates must have loved that!)</p>
<p>Love, love, love him. RIP. </p>
<p>Here’s my favorite cover of Scarecrow, by Solas: [Another</a> Day - Solas Music - Yahoo! Shopping](<a href=“http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Another%20Day:1922000016]Another”>http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Another%20Day:1922000016)</p>
<p>Stars is such a beautiful lovesong.</p>
<p>such a wonderful soul. I am so sad he had to leave before the rest of us. I loved the way he was unafraid of being emotional in an era where the Allman Bros ruled the part of the south I lived in…guys and girls both dug Dan Fogelberg. Leader of the Band…might be my fave.
I last saw him live in Nashville. He played for a benefit with James Taylor, Amy Grant and both Minnie Pearl and Robin Williams showed up for some odd stand-up routines. Amy Grant organized it to honor her father’s career as a doctor at Vanderbilt…and raise money for a good cause.
Our mayor at the time was Bill Boner. Please just imagine what Robin Wms did with his appearance in the audience… and I thought Minnie Pearl was going to have a stroke. I used to see her visiting the sick in the local nursing homes…she was actually a very educated and thoughtful woman…</p>
<p>My cousin sang “Longer” at our wedding. I remember having to take the album in and play the song for the minister of music of our church to get him to approve it since it was not a “church song”. It is still “our” song.</p>
<p>We still own (albums) Souvenirs, Netherlands, Captured Angel,Phoenix and Twin Sons of Different Mothers and an old turntable to play them on. DH was a big fan.</p>
<p>Leader of the Band was/is my favorite. I can’t hear it without happy/sad tears–reminds me of my Dad. Flights of angels sing you to rest, Dan. I’ve heard “the other side” is better.</p>
<p>PackMom - Had to run upstairs and check…and there between the Bob James and the Firefall records, I found the Fogelberg…and yes, your collection is identical to ours…right down to the Fogelberg/Weisberg “Twin Sons of Different Mothers”. </p>
<p>My husband was the collector too…and his priorities were about the same as curmudgeon’s. His first internship paycheck was blown on the stereo equipment (as well as many subsequent paychecks) leading to a lot of ramen meals. And he invested in the ‘fancy’ stereo shelving…CINDERBLOCKS and 2x4s. No whiskeybarrels for him. ;)</p>
<p>He was a very sad fellow when he heard the news.</p>
<p>And he invested in the ‘fancy’ stereo shelving…CINDERBLOCKS and 2x4s. No whiskeybarrels for him.</p>
<p>When W and I married in '81 I upgraded to her decorative cinderblocks and redwood planks.</p>
<p>My favorite is “To the Morning” 1975</p>
<p>(ha curmudgeon! 1981…also the year dh and I were married!)</p>
<p>This thread made me go look.
We have a crate of albums in our storage room. No Dan. Husband kept Neil Young, Jim Croce, Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens, Elton John, Carly Simon and James Taylor. A few others but the rest over the years have disapeared.
Sadly we no longer have a working turntable.
Curmudgeon- my husband had the cinderblock shelving system. The amazing thing is we are still using the Akai receiver he bought at age 16. We did get rid of the huge speakers a couple of years ago. That stereo was his 2nd big purchase after getting a job. The first is a surfboard that still is in our garage.</p>
<p>I’m still sad that Dan is gone. For me, The Innocent Age was the vinyl that saw the most wear… I’ll now purchase a few of his albums that I don’t own – in his memory</p>
<p>I used to lose myself listening to Netherlands with headphones - sounds so much more incredible than just over the speakers. I was so depressed last evening; finally realized that I was feeling older than I want to be. Commented to H that it’s weird to see these artists whose music means so much to me dying before their time; John Denver, Harry Chapin, and now Dan Fogelberg. I was lucky enough to see lots of concerts (I too spent more than I should on turntable, vinyl and concert tickets) but never got to see Harry Chapin (was on my way from work to see his concert the night he was killed on the LIE).</p>
<p>Time to go and hug my kids.</p>
<p>sewbusy-- I recall that too – had college friends who also were headed to see Harry Chapin only to learn he had died in that accident. It really affected them at the time. My brother heard him quite a few times growing up – he’d show up at the high school gym and play free mini concerts for the kids. Lots of new stuff. I remember my brother telling us about his story behind “Cat’s in the Cradle” (and rolling my eyes at the time). His widow and family are still active in local charities. “Circle” is one of my all-time favorites.</p>
<p>Also heard Harry in concert several times. Our kids grew up to his music. When we’d go on long roadtrips, we’d play his music and they loved it as much as my H and I did. 
A frequent trip was through PA on 81 and whenever we’d near Scranton, they’d insist on listening to 30,000 lbs. of Bananas. He was a good soul who died too young. Dan Fogelberg and John Denver, too. All were such an important part of our college years. We had several JD songs played at our wedding.</p>
<p>An only child alone and wild
A cabinet maker’s son
His hands were meant for different work
And his heart was known to none
He left his home and went his lone and solitary way
And he gave to me a gift
I know I never can repay</p>
<p>A quiet man of music
Denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once
But his music wouldn’t wait
He earned his love thru’ discipline
A thundering velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Took me years to understand</p>
<p>The leader of the band
Is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs thru’ my instrument
And his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I’m just a living legacy
To the leader of the band</p>
<p>My brother’s lives were different
For they heard another call
One went to Chicago and the other to St. Paul
And I’m in Colorado
When I’m not in some hotel
Living out this life I’ve chose
And come to know so well</p>
<p>I thank you for the music
And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom
When it came my time to go
I thank you for the kindness
And the times when you got tough
And papa I don’t think I said
“I love you” near enough</p>
<p>The leader of the band
Is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs thru’ my instrument
And his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I’m just a living legacy
To the leader of the band
I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band</p>
<p>Story behind “Leader of the Band”:
[The</a> Leader Of The Band ~ Lawrence Fogelberg ~ Dan’s Father](<a href=“http://everon.50megs.com/lawrence_fogelberg_the_leader_of_the_band.htm]The”>The Leader Of The Band ~ Lawrence Fogelberg ~ Dan's Father)</p>
<p>Thank you binx. What a nice story.</p>
<p>My husband and I would see Dan anytime he was within a hundred miles of us…our favorite was a concert at Waterloo Village where we grew up in NJ - an evening of just the man and his guitar…awesome!</p>
<p>My favorite Dan songs are “Believe in Me” and “Ghosts” - I thought of the latter’s lyrics when walking down the halls of my high school at my 20th year reunion:</p>
<p>Sometimes in the night I feel it
Near as my next breath
and yet, untouchable
Silently the past comes
stealing
Like the taste of some forbidden
sweet.
Along the walls; in shadowed
rafters
Moving like a thought through
haunted atmospheres
Muted cries and echoed laughter
Banished dreams that never
sank in sleep.
Lost in love and
Found in reason
Questions that the mind can find
no answers for
Ghostly eyes
Conspire treason
As they gather just outside the door…
Every ghost that calls upon us
Brings another measure
in the mystery
Death is there
To keep us honest
And constantly remind us
we are free.
Down the ancient corridors
And through the gates of time
Run the ghosts of days
That we left behind.</p>