track 1) Beautiful News Definitely hearing a couple in the Felix/Rascals influence. Once you get past Felix, which is really just strongest on the first track, there are many great great tunes here.
track 2) Shirtful of Apples This rests deep within the acid folk of Jimmie we love. Inescapably beautiful. Makes this LP worth the price of admission indeed!
track 4) Streets Of The Harbor Another stunning track, could have been on "Isle Of View", seamlessly.
I picked up "Isle of View" (I love you) in 2000 after reading an article comparing him to Nick Drake which after digging in, do not really see the comparison. I also picked up Original Tap-Dancing Kid and The Dragon is Dancing at the same time and ever since have become a big fan.
track 11) Moon On The Water This is a stunningly beautiful track... what we know and love Jimmie best for. Perfect closer! Enjoy. I have a compilation with many of these, but not all and some are wonderful discoveries. I am finally collecting these last three Spheeris albums, as I share them with you all... hope you are lovin' this musical journey as much as I.
I don't see the comparison--at all. I would compare him more (vaguely) to Dan Fobelberg, another early 70's artist I love. Although Dan lived much longer to achieve his even more musical goals-- his life was also sadly cut short..
Jimmie Spheeris – The Dragon Is Dancing Label:Epic – PE 33565 Format:Vinyl, LP, Album, Terre Haute Pressing Country:US Released:1975 Genre:Rock Style:Folk Rock, Soft Rock, EtherealTracklist Hide Credits A1The Dragon Is Dancing Electric Piano [& Mini Moog] – Chick CoreaA2Sighs In A Shell Acoustic Guitar – Michael MallenWritten-By – Jimmie Spheeris, Michael MallenA3Tequila Moonlight A4Snake Man A5Love's In Vain Piano – Jane GetzA6Lost In The Midway B1Eternity Spin Piano, Synthesizer [Arp] – Paul LewinsonB2Sunken Skies B3Summer Salt B4In The Misty Woods Backing Vocals – Morgan Ames Harp – Dorothy Remsen Percussion – Henry Lewy Piano [& Arp] – Paul LewinsonB5Blown Out Piano, Synthesizer [Arp] – Paul LewinsonB6Blue Streets Companies, etc. Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute Credits Bass Guitar – Johnny Pierce (2) Co-producer – Paul Lewinson Design – John Brogna, Ron Coro Drums – Bart Hall Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Geoff Levin Horns – Bob Findley, Chuck Findley, Gary Barone, Jim Cowger Mastered By – Bernie Grundman Photography By – Bart Hall Producer, Engineer – Henry Lewy Saxophone, Flute – Jim Cowger Written-By, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano – Jimmie Spheeris Notes Recorded & Mastered at A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA. Full-color liner with image of Spheeris on one side, lyrics/credits on reverse - signed off with the words "For The Dreamers And Clowns Of Earth". Also: 'Chick Corea appears courtesy of Polydor Records and Forever Unlimited Productions'. Jimmie Spheeris Memorial Gallery: Discography, lyrics, restored cover art and more
Several noted jazz artists appear on this great LP...see above. track 1) The Dragon Is Dancing wonder of wonders, the dragon is dancing stilling the thunder with movements so slow silence of silence, the dragon is dancing stilling the violence, his beauty unfolds morning of mornings will follow behind him sparks from his angry tongue will come - and spill the sun wonder of wonders, the dragon is dancing waking from slumber older than space hunger of hungers, the dragon is thirsty to come from under shedding his face darkness of darkness, dissolving behind him dancing alone the darkness is done he comes - to spill the sun wonder of wonders, the dragon is dancing the flame is flickering, turning to fire wonder of wonders, the dance disappearing leaving the flames to burn in the mire (C) (P) 1975, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
track 2) Sighs In A Shells Beautiful...Jimmie's strength in song revealed in a lilting, jazzy number here. have you seen her in the midnight water moon on her wet skin, soul in the sky swear she was born Farther Neptune's daughter black ocean sways in her eyes sighs in a shell beckon you to the swells "Dive in" she calls "Let yourself fall" moonlight is riding the water like jewels the sandpiper's hiding afraid to be seen but she'll call to him softly his wings like a spool unwind in the night, unfold in a dream sighs in a shell come and roll on the swells "Dive in" she calls "Let yourself fall" sighs in a shell come and roll on the swells you want to come on but you look and she's gone (C) (P) 1975, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
track 3) Tequila Moonlight A nice toe tapper twilight lit the gray streets tenement dinners fill the night air down on the corner Maria is waiting her hands in her pockets, perfume in her hair Pepe come runnin' he lifts her with laughter, so high off the streets they walk past the crowds to Emmanual's diner lost in a love that is pure and so sweet you know that love finds someone while tequila moonlight pours from the sky to the city below and I don't know why your hearts are so heavy come on, light up, light up, and let yourselves go morning comes so brightly over the river, the water turns gold Maria wakes Pepe with kisses and laughter shines like a bright sun, lighting his soul light up, light up, and let yourselves go soon they'll be married love in a circle forever goes round twilight returns with a dream of a baby it floats to the full moon and makes it a crown you know that love finds someone while tequila moonlight pours from the sky to the city below and I don't know why your hearts are so heavy come on, light up, light up, and let yourselves go... (C) (P) 1975, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
track 4) Snake Man Another rocking folk number snake man come crawlin, he got venom in his eyes he'll bite you excite you, put fever in your thighs this boy is poison for some, but he's heaven for others make a hurricane come, under the covers don't put out the fire; the flames just grow higher Mr. Snake man can can he come on laughin, how he's conquered the dragon he swayed him and slayed him, now he's pullin' his wagon he'll part the seas of your soul and then he'll slither into it like a snake in the hole, you'll beg him to do it don't t put out the fire; the flames just grow higher Mr. Snake Man can can he'll make you shed your sweet skin, release the power within now won't you let him? he's gonna teach you to flow, where the mystery wind blows now won't you let him? don't t put out the fire; the flames just grow higher Mr. Snake Man can can... (C) (P) 1975, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
track 5) Love's In Vain A lovely jazzy dreamy number you've been away so long I looked into your eyes and found you'd gone in the ruins of a love that lingers on I will remember you and hold on to the fine time that we knew sing a memory or two, when there's nothin' left to do when your love's in vain it's a low and dirty shame I thought I heard you call my name but it's just the wind in the restless rain that won't stop falling it won't stop falling i guess I've never known the way to make the best of sleepin' alone you were water that I bled from this life of stone I will remember you and hold on to the fine time that we knew sing a memory or two, when there's nothin' left to do and when we meet again smile - let your eyes pretend that you're sorry when your love's in vain it's a low and dirty shame I thought I heard you call my name but it's just the wind in the restless rain that won't stop falling it won't stop falling (C) (P) 1975, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
track 6) Lost In The Midway Perfect...a beautiful closer to side 1. I'm lost in the midway, drunk in a dream stumbling backwards, forever, it seems over my shoulder, one eye's fixed cold the other is wandering ahead on the road and each path is winding with you in between you just sit there laughing I'm lost in the sideshows, blind in the gleam this old house of mirrors leads nowhere, it seems but how the lights dazzled, as the ferris wheel rolled I came for a free ride: it cost me my soul the past and the future - and you in between you just sit there laughing all over the midway, when the bright lights go out I hear the clowns crying - tears for the drought so dark and so dusty, the midway is blue winding forever - I can't find my way thru I'm lost in the midway, drunk in a dream stumbling backwards, forever, it seems (C) (P) 1975, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
Side two...a nice overview first. AllMusic Review by Alex Henderson....5/5 stars One of Jimmie Spheeris' Epic titles of the 1970s was his third album, a classic titled The Dragon Is Dancing. The album was produced by Henry Lewy, a well-respected producer/engineer who had an impressive track record when he entered the studio with Spheeris in 1975. In addition to working with Joan Baez, Neil Young, and Procol Harum, Lewy was the engineer on many of Joni Mitchell's best albums. Lewy always had an ear for singer/songwriters, and he proves to be quite an asset to Spheeris on reflective, contemplative gems like "In the Misty Woods" and "Blue Streets." Between Spheeris' heartfelt singing and writing and Lewy's imaginative production, The Dragon Is Dancing never fails to hold the listener's attention.
track 7) Eternity Spin Nice guitar driven rocker with Jimmie's unique sound Great production by henry Lewy once again. I've known you such a long long time from lifetime to lifetime you are there from a distant star to this dirty bar we've come so far to come nowhere and I've been everything you desired from your frozen slave, to the master of your fire but we can try it again; another round my friend eternity's spin is about to begin and I've known you such a long long time from century to century you are the one from the wind blown girl to the handsome boy you're the Captain, the black queen, the moon and sun and I've been everything you required I have been wind and earth, water and fire but we can try it again; another round my friend eternity's spin is about to begin (C) (P) 1975, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved
track 8) Sunken Skies The title reveals a classic beauty that I really love, a song I put on a personal "greatest by Jimmie" set. you make me feel like flying out of the sky's cocoon I wave goodbye to planets the suns and stars and moons you make me feel so good like a kid again riding wisdom's wind so free you make me feel like flying the sunken skies of me you're never asking questions as I fade away and wave goodbye to rights and to wrongs and games to play I'll dive into your swells and the ancient wells that flow so far away you're never asking questions but the answers come your way... (C) (P) 1975, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
