Was just Listening to Dan Fogelberg...

One artist you may like is Bruce Cockburn (if you don't already heard him). I wouldn't really say he's like Fogelberg, but he is equally clever with lyrics (indeed excellent), and has great acoustic guitar playing. His voice quality different from Dan's, but he is a good vocalist. Most of his releases are excellent audiophile quality too - especially his vinyl releases. "Resume" is a good album to start with.

Also, New Riders of the Purple Sage - their first release.

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Hey Douglas,

I don't really have any recommendations for you, however, I do have a recommendation for a video series you might want to watch.

Since you mentioned "smooth rock", I thought you might find the "Yacht Rock" mocumentary series pretty funny. Go to Youtube and watch the 10 short episodes. Here's a link to the first one:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMTI8vg7A5U

This is really funny stuff and pokes fun at a music style that was very popular in the early '80s.

Sorry for the off-topic reply, but I find this stuff very funny and like to share the fun.....

Enjoy,

TIC

Have you tried going to Pandora.com? There for free you put in an artist that you like and they play songs of similar artists with all album and ordering data. I do not know if they go back as far as Folgelberg

Hi Doug,

Hope all is well with you.

I too am a big Dan Fogelberg fan for the very same reasons you note - IMO, he's really is a league of his own.

In the smooth Jazz/Acoustic category, I would strongly recommend anything from Jonathon Butler, especially his eponymous CD. Whenever auditioning kit in here in Hong Kong, I try to bring one of his CDs and without exception, the showroom will run out and pick up the CD. Another in this category you might enjoy would be Earl Klugh - his acoustic arrangements, both original and covers of other popular songs from the 70's, (especially "Laughter in the Rain") are just wonderful. The recording quality on both these gentlemens' CDs is exceptional.

Another fine standard I use when auditioning is Simply Red's greatest hits - wonderfully recorded, it's got everything - reggae, ballads, some Cole Porter, and a number of tracks with really wonderful orchestral backing.

A few standout pop items, all with crystal clear vocals that are beautifully recorded, in no particlur order . . .

Ronan Keating;
Gabrielle (UK singer);
Michael Learns to Rock (Strange name and not so popular in the US) - this group's CDs are a step above the norm with lots of superb melodic tracks with good use of classical backup;
Jamie Cullum;
Olivia Ong (Singaporean whom mainly sings Enlish);
Jeehna Lodwick (Phillipino whom resides in Hong Kong) Any one of her CDs will do the trick. Distinct vocals and recording quality that may be the best I've heard and are held in very, very high regard in Hong Kong;

For some techo-pop/jazz you may want to sample Jamiroqui. For some rock try Queensryche and INXS.

While I could go on all night, to me, these are standouts.

I'll be sure to PM you with other "finds".

Cheers,
Garry