The Innocent Age
The Innocent Age is the seventh studio album and only double album by American singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg, released in 1981. It was one of his most successful albums: three of his four Top 10 singles on the Billboard pop chart, "Same Old Lang Syne", and "Leader of the Band" ) were from this album, as well as another Top 20 single in "Run for the Roses". All four also reached the Top 10 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart, with "Leader of the Band" reaching number 1 on that chart.
The album includes his song "Times Like These", from the 1980 Urban Cowboy soundtrack. Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Glenn Frey and Don Henley are prominent contributing vocalists.
The Innocent Age drew its inspiration from Thomas Wolfe's major novel Of Time and the River.
The Innocent Age was originally released as a two-LP vinyl set and later as a two-disc CD set.
Critical reception
retrospectively described the album as "beautifully orchestrated, imaginatively conceived, and obviously well thought out, it works as an artistic statement and also includes some of Fogelberg's most universally appealing and commercially successful music." The Rolling Stone Album Guide deemed the album "banal and overblown."Track listing
All tracks written by Dan Fogelberg, except where noted.Personnel
- Dan Fogelberg – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, Coral electric sitar, bass, percussion, acoustic piano, tambourine, vocals, electric piano, Minimoog, Prophet-5, cowbell, lap steel guitar, ARP String Ensemble, tack piano, ship's bell, bowed psaltery, electric lead and rhythm guitars, hammered dulcimer
- Mike Finnigan – organ
- Michael Utley – acoustic piano, electric piano
- Al Perkins - pedal steel guitar
- Kenny Passarelli – bass, broken twigs
- Norbert Putnam – bass
- Russ Kunkel – drums, cymbals, congas, timbales, percussion
- Don Alias – African drums, congas, cowbell, güiro, shakers
- Marty Lewis – tambourine, additional percussion
- Joe Lala – congas, timbales
- Jimmie Fadden – harmonica
- Michael Brecker – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Tom Scott – tenor saxophone
- Jerry Hey – piccolo, trumpet
- David Duke – French horn
- Jesse Ehrlich – cello
- Gayle Levant – harp, Celtic harp, concert harp
- Sid Sharp – violin
- Glen Spreen – brass quintet arrangements
- UCLA band – orchestra
- Lawrence Fogelberg – orchestral arrangements
- Joni Mitchell – vocal descant
- Heart of Darkness Chorale – choir
- Richie Furay – harmony vocals
- Don Henley – harmony vocals
- Emmylou Harris – vocals
- Mike Brewer – harmony vocals
- Glenn Frey – harmony vocals
- Chris Hillman – harmony vocals
- Sid's Raiders – choir
- Marc Gottesman – choir director
- Dan Fogelberg – producer, cover photography
- Marty Lewis – producer, engineer, mixing
- Kosh – cover design
- Andy Katz – cover photography, liner photography
- David Awells – liner notes
- Thomas Wolfe – text
Charts
Album
| Year End Chart | Peak position |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 19 |