Dancing In The Dragon's Jaws (1979)

Product Summary Label: TRUE NORTH RECORDS/KA UPC: 00620638028728 Release Date: 4/7/2009 Buy.com Sku: 210819696 Item#: M4LKT7 Buy.com Sales Rank: 25332 Format:  CD Song Listing Disc 1 Song Title Sample 1. Creation Dream ~ Bruce Cockburn 2. Hills of Morning ~ Bruce Cockburn 3. Badlands Flashback ~ Bruce Cockburn 4. Northern Lights ~ Bruce Cockburn 5. After the Rain ~ Bruce Cockburn 6. Wondering Where the Lions Are ~ Bruce Cockburn 7. Incandescent Blue ~ Bruce Cockburn 8. No Footprints ~ Bruce Cockburn 9. Dawn Music ~ Bruce Cockburn 10. Bye Bye Idi ~ Bruce Cockburn   Album Notes and Credits Notes & Personnel Info Personnel: Bruce Cockburn (vocals, guitar, dulcimer, chimes, synthesizer); Pat Godfrey (piano, marimba, background vocals); Larry "Sticky Fingers" Silvera (bass, background vocals); Robert Boucher (bass); Ben Bow (drums, background vocals); Bob DiSalle (drums). Recorded at Manta Sound, Toronto, Canada between May and June 1979. Include liner notes by Nicholas Jennings. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Personnel: Bruce Cockburn (vocals, guitar, dulcimer, synthesizer); Bob Boucher (bass guitar); Benbow (drums, background vocals); Bob Disalle (drums). After nearly a decade spent in relative obscurity outside of his native Canada, Bruce Cockburn finally made a dent in the US market with the Top 40 hit "Wondering Where the Lions Are" from 1979's Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws. The album continues the jazz-inflected folk he had been pursuing on his past several releases, but with a heavier emphasis on the worldbeat rhythms that would play a larger part in his music in the years to come. This album is the gentler side of Bruce Cockburn, beautiful and searching, with his acoustic guitar once again at the forefront; his intricate, yet melodic patterns the perfect backdrop for his poetic ruminations on spirituality and nature. From the opener, "Creation Dream," his vision of the Earth's genesis to the meditative "No Footprints" Cockburn is overcome by the wonderment of God's work. Even amidst the "concrete vortex" and "people looking ill-at-ease," there's a sense of peace and overwhelming faith that runs throughout. Only "Incandescent Blue" (coincidentally the only song written outside of Canada) exhibits the kind of urban tension and consciousness that would become so evident in his work throughout the next decade; although he still finds a sort of respite in the chorus with its "white birds...[soaring] away free." Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws, though it can't match the sheer power of his next few releases, may be his most beautiful record, as well as an excellent culmination of his '70s work. ~ Brett Hartenbach Producer: Eugene Martynec Engineer: Frank Kitson; Gary Gray   Compilation Appearances Strangers World Honor-A Benefit For The Honor Emmylou Harris Presents Concer Six Strings North Of The Border Rough Guide To The Music Of Canada Beautiful Guitar Music For Small Rooms 2 Peace Songs (can) Sowing The Seeds:10th Anniversary Dancing Alone:tribute To William Hawk Tribute To The Mississippi Sheiks:thi   Associated Artists and Works Occhipinti, Michael   Technical Info Release Date : 04/07/2009 Original Release Date : 1979 Catalog ID : TND 287 Label : True North Records (Canada) Number of Discs : 1 Studio/Live : Studio Mono/Stereo : Stereo SPAR Code : n/a UPC : 00620638028728   Professional Reviews Q (7/95, p.138) - 3 Stars - Good - "...The inspirations behind Cockburn's AOR stylings are his Christian convictions, strong environmental concerns and a loathing of genocide and oppression. If it sounds over-worthy, surprisingly it isn't."