njswede wrote:

He played this live. One man, one guitar, no tape loop.

One of my first CDs for my Discman, along with Fagen's Nightfly.
 

I was in SF, back then, and there was an ongoing rumor that Michael Hedges was going to show up at Sweetwater in Mill Valley. like any day now, but the bartenders couldn't be bribed to call should he show up 

Then, wham, the unbelievable true news about a car crash. 

It took a while for that to feel real.

 carmelmik wrote:
Shadowfax, that's a group that could be played here, I have The Dreams of Children, most excellent.

Yeah, Michael Hedges was taken too soon, kudos to RP for keeping his music alive.

Saw  him open for Shadowfax in Santa Cruz and he was simply amazing.  So sad when he was killed in what I believe was a single car crash at a young age.

It's kind of astounding that a talented artist like this was signed to the Windham Hill label and wasn't picked up by the big record companies.  I wonder where the talent scouts were.

10 - haters fuck off with your dumbass opinions

This.  Sometimes,  someone is born to play like this,  and this song. 

This reminds me of the talented young Yasmin Williams, who I just saw perform live last week-- would be great to se her in the rotation!

It’s beautiful, thank you. I spent a lot of time with that album.

 DanFHiggins wrote:

...and a tape loop.

Too new-agey. Background music. Agree that he is a skillful guitarist but no soul. 

 david16 wrote:

Who?

This is an artist painting with sound.  
  

@BillG where did you see him live, I want deets :0

One man, One guitar

Wow still amazing

 Dave_Mack wrote:

Same! MH and T&P at Varsity.

 DanFHiggins wrote:
 

Saw him at the Strawberry Music Festival in the 90's when the festival was at Camp Mather in the Sierras.  That was awesome.  He could stop an entire crowd and hypnotize them for 2 hours straight.  

I am a guitarist and I am fortunate that RP connected me to Michael Hedges' artistry years ago.   RIP Michael.

 coyote620 wrote:
 
I was there and BTW, it's in DC

I was fortunate enough to meet Michael H to interview him, after a gig in London where he opened for Suzanne Vega. Was astounded, like everyone there, at his skill, passion, and pure flow of the music that came through him. He had a presence like no other, a beautiful soul. Even seeing him play close up it all seemed impossible, especially when the harp guitar came out. And then he would sing as well...

The Jabberwocky was typical Hedges, he performed it with his whole body. The last time I saw him was in Birmingham , Alabama - he had Michael Manring on the Hyperbass with him. 

He is sorely missed and very fondly remembered. We went to see Pierre Bensusan (after whom Michael H named a track) a couple of years back and talked with him about Hedges' influence on him, which was and is considerable. Pierre played So Long Michael for us - was poignant and powerful. 

Rest in Music Michael...

One of the most beautiful guitar pieces of all time, damn I love this tune

 dig wrote:
 
He was this good in concert - Rickover's Dream on here is live and amazing. He was pretty funny too. Told a story of traveling on a plane at night and the pilot told them they were over the Grand Canyon. Guy in window seat starts taking pictures with his flash. Michael wondered if he should try to explain to the guy that you can't light up the Grand Canyon at 30000 feet with a flash.

 Tellulah wrote:
 Also to Antonio Forcione, who is absolutely superb at this type of guitar playing.

Way late to the party, but brilliance...
How did I miss this artist? Duh.

You are likely right unless they played before the  mid 70s.  I saw him in '81 in Sacramento and no one I knew of played in his somewhat forceful style.   khardog145 wrote:
 

I guess new agers get baked too

This music never ceases to amaze me. A modern genius.

If you people like this you should really listen to Calum Graham, a young guitar player but really talented. The song Nomad is one of my favourites, I really hope it will be played by RP some day!

Back when this was released, CDs -- the first digital audio format -- were just being put into production.  Working midtown Manhattan and seeing a Sony CDP101 compact disc player with a short stack of the very first CDs for sale in the US, I brought home a player and this album. Good stuff!

Well hell to this yeah! Enjoying it very much. Seems there's much to enjoy, as I think this is the same number that started when I walked in the house... about 3 hours ago. 

 david16 wrote: 
I believe they were most likely influenced by him, as he pioneered this technique.  Someone correct me if mistaken, but I'm pretty sure.
 

There are soooooo many guys out there doing this better... Come on RP, get with it!

I used to DJ at our local community radio station
in the 80s
I wore this record out

Mezmorizing.  Fluid.  Beautiful.

 Imkirok wrote: 
I think you have to watch Michael Hedges play to appreciate him fully. Did you know, Imkirok, that most of the notes you hear played on this track are coming from his left hand on the frets? As far as I know, Hedges originated that technique. (Other artists followed him, of course).

Hedges was frikkin' amazing! And way ahead of his time. (RIP)

This is one of those tracks that makes me wish I could rate it 11, "Beyond the Gods."

 RonF wrote: 
Not real obvious for me.  Cool stuff, but not "godlike" IMO. 

10 - obviously

A regret in life that I didn't get to see this guy play. 9>10.

Superb, beautiful.

 ljhumbix wrote: 
nothing else. 10 + infinity

"10 - Godlike". What else?

First heard this back in the mid eighties on a Windham Hill sampler cassette.  Loved it then and love it now.  As others have noted, there have been many imitators since then, but no one has bettered what Hedges, Will Ackerman, Liz Story, Shadowfax, or Nightnoise were doing thirty years ago when WH was founded by Ackerman to feature contemporary instrumental music.

 I remember the first time I heard this - around 1984 on a turntable. I didnt know that it was possible to create brilliance like this. I  was lucky to see him before he died. Nowdays there are a multitude of fingerstyle players emulating this and I've heard most of them - IMHO no one has what he had - he was first and foremost a composer not a technician.

What a huge huge loss.  Tragic.

11... oh wait! Is not 11 available to vote?

Used this song in the soundtrack of a multimedia show "The Grand Canyon of the Midwest." (About Chicago architecture.) heard it here now almost 30 years later and had flashes of wonder at the song and PTSD at keeping 36 slide projectors running. 

I remember when he died.  Car wreck in Albion if I recall.  Used to have this album on vinyl back in the day.

Outstanding!  when he played it often sounded like 2 guitars.  watching him live was truly a treat.  

 bluematrix wrote: 
What you said. He created his own style which not has surpassed since. Given all the superb guitarists out there you'd think that would be impossible, but Michael Hedges really stands alone.

 Pedro1874 wrote: 
EVERY time his music is played the volume MUST go up!

Wish you would have been a better driver Michael

Your creations are appreciated for all time!

RIP Michael.  Utter genius and exemplifying the true meaning of the word.  Just beautiful.  

This man redefined what you can do with an acoustic guitar.

Plays with a similar style as Fink.

As I so often write, there's a fine line between elegaic and ho-hum. This song was the wrong side of it on first hearing, and has now slipped into elegaic. It's all down to mood, I guess...

10, next

There are so many acoustic guitar players attempting this style....please stop! This is it.

One of my only 10's here on RP. Just... beautiful. 

 Stingray wrote: 
I totally disagree! I saw Chris Hedges live once. All he did was talk politics the whole time, and didn't play a damn thing.

Good, but prefer CHRIS HEDGES!

Genius that is! A small wood building in Davis, CA, the Palms, we were blown away.

Genious. I wish Michael was still with us. 

 BBoyes wrote: 
Probably one of the best post comments I have ever seen on Radio Paradise.  Well said.

This is brilliant.  
Was lucky enough to see him at Blues Alley in DC years ago.  Great small venue.  It was like he was in your living room and very casual. 

A brilliant musician who died way too soon. Just glad I got the chance to see him a couple times in concert. True genius. Nice to hear this. Thanks.

Always a favorite...

 sajitjacob wrote: 
I remember that feeling well when a friend played this for me on vinyl, on a really good Hi Fi system.  I bought the album for myself as soon as I was able and still cherish it .  RIP Michael.

With all the songs that have been written over hundreds of years I sometimes wonder: hasn't it all been done? It seems like there are a finite number of notes, tones, techniques, etc with which to work, especially if you limit yourself to one instrument. What can anyone still do that is original? Here's one answer, which still sounds as fresh and original now as it did when released.

He is definitely missed. 

Beautiful music...

what happened to him is a real tragedy...

 

10+ for composition, technique, melody, rhythm, and feeling. 

Bookmarking

can never say anything bad about Michael Hedges - he was, and always will be, amazing!!

More proof that God takes the good ones.   that's why Neil Young and Van Morrison are still here.
MH also inspired Eric Roach another percussive guitarist who I once played with and was far too young to die, he went on to coach Newton Falkner et al.

I've loved this piece since I had it on vinyl in college. 

 nook wrote: 
AMEN

 bachbeet wrote: 
So jealous

I have a lot of his CDs and this one is one of his best.  I saw him a couple times live and he put on really good shows.  Yet another musical genius who died way too young.

truly godlike guitar work

 d-don wrote: 
Yes.

 DanFHiggins wrote: 
Saw him in the Gordon Center for performing arts in Reisterstown, MD in the late 90's, so glad I got to get even just one of his shows in before he passed.  Two? I am very jealous!  The first time you are in such awe, it is hard to take it all in....

 Felix_The_Cat wrote: 
Nice one.

Blimey! I nearly forgot to breath, for a second there. Gosh.

There are many videos on youtube displaying his talent.  Just him alone on a stage sounding like a symphony.

Aerial Boundaries...like acoustic visions

How this can be rated anything lower than 10 is beyond me. Genius, pure and simple.

Any similarities to Bruce Cockburn's "End of all rivers"?

Great work

nor even a marginal nor ho-hum............ 

 oldsaxon wrote: 

 Groogrux69 wrote: 
 Twice,
1st time - 10 feet from him - One Step Down  - club Wash. DC  1988?

A true magician 

 sbegf wrote: 
Larry Turley proves your wife right.  

White Zin, however?  Ugh. Might as well drink Gallo Jug wine or Yellowtail.

Not one sucko-barfo. How many songs can say that?

and now : feel good only 

 jmassoglia wrote: 
What about red Zindfandel?  That is often my wife's favorite varietal.   :)

 ronniegirl wrote: 
Here - have a glass of chilled White Zinfandel. Perfect for a hot summer afternoon with a set like this one...

One of the reasons I LOVE radio Paradise SO much, is that EVERY time I tune in, there is such an amazingly eclectic mix of old & new, it sounds like an awesome mix-tape me or one of my friends would make. Thank You, Radio Paradise, for making my life better through music <3

 ronniegirl wrote: 

Again.  Just closed my laptop and lost all stress.  Where is that wine?

 dpvest wrote: 
Bummed, never got to see him.

 vicariance wrote: 
Unfortunately, some people classify any piece of music which is slower than 140 beats-per-minute, as "boring" or "elevator music".

 Dave_Mack wrote: 
Saw T&P in there in 80 or 81, when we lived a few short blocks away and  old Palo Alto was semi-affordable

saw him play at the palms in davis and the crest in sac-town.  miss u michael...

 Sorcha wrote: 
Me tooooooo!  Early 80s, yes? Do you remember seeing Tuck and Patti there too?  Not as amazing as MH, but very nice too.

I remember this song so many years ago...still a classic!!!

It only sounds like elevator music if you don't realize it's one guy all by his lonesome.

Rest in peace, Michael. *sigh*

 ronniegirl wrote: 
Please allow me to join you in your bliss....  This is just painfully, exquisitely perfect music.

Believe I heard this about 25 years ago on a Wyndham Hill sampler bootleg tape purchased in Dubai.  Still outstanding

Oh my, what a set.  Mark-Almond The City, they Michael Hedges.  I am very blissful.

 LastChance wrote: 
Exactly! Just did the same... down tools and tune in - a really nice piece. Thxs RP!

Saw him with Leo Kotke when I was just a lad. Great show, from what I remember. This music will always remind me of my childhood and simpler times...

Saw Mr. Hedges live in Chico years ago. One person on stage, making incredible music, this tune included. In some senses, yeah, he's just another really good musician who died young. But it worked for me. 9.

This had me transfixed the first time I heard it.  Beautiful to this day.

This is one of those songs that makes me stop what I'm doing and listen. Every time I hear it.

 spigolli wrote: 
He did, but I still think it's a great piece of music.

 vicariance wrote: 
When I find me an elevator that plays stuff like this I'm slingin the hammock and kickin off the sandals. 9

Normally, this high of an average rating would be shocking to me, but in this case, I totally understand the universal appeal.  It's like elevator music, but perfect.