This Magnificent Distance


This Magnificent Distance is Chris Robinson's second solo album, released on June 29, 2004. The album draws on a vast panorama of Americana music—rock, blues, folk, country, soul and elements of jazz.

Reception

The album generated some praise from a variety of outlets. It earned a four-star review in the June/July issue of Blender, in which Clark Collis cited “the singer’s heartfelt howling and dynamite harmonica playing.” Harp magazine's Jaan Uhelszki praised Robinson's “rebel-hearted romanticism, tales of ruined innocence, and the quest for personal liberation”, while Tracks’ Holly George-Warren noted how “Prominent keyboards and eloquent guitar work make the bucolic ‘Girl On The Mountain,’ the majestic ‘When the Cold Wind Blows…’ and the nostalgic ‘ Train Robbers’ sound like Fillmore East jam sessions...A grittier mood envelops the harmonica-driven ‘Piece of Wind,’ in which Robinson's political convictions surface.”

Track listing

All songs written by Chris Robinson, except where noted.
  1. "40 Days" – 4:37
  2. "Girl on the Mountain" – 7:05
  3. "Mother of Stone" – 3:45
  4. " Train Robbers" – 6:42
  5. "Like a Tumbleweed in Eden" – 5:08
  6. "When the Cold Wind Blows at the Dark End of Night" – 7:59
  7. "...If You See California" – 4:44
  8. "The Never Empty Table" – 5:06
  9. "Eagles on the Highway" – 4:38
  10. "Surgical Glove" – 6:01
  11. "Piece of Wind" – 5:08
  12. "Sea of Love" – 5:22
  13. "Like a Tumbleweed in Eden " – 5:08
  14. "Prayer For The Gravity Man" – 2:30
Several early pressings incorrectly list "Sea of Love" as track 11 and "Piece of Wind" as track 12, but they are in the correct running order when played.

Personnel

Chris Robinson: vocals, guitar, harmonica
Paul Stacey: guitar
Jeremy Stacey: drums, percussion
George Laks: keyboards
Audley Freed: guitars
Ethan Johns: drums
Richard Causon: keyboards
George Reiff : bass guitar

Credits

Paul Stacey: co-producer, engineer, mixing
Chris Robinson: co-producer
Ian Cooper: Mastering