In my opinion Cloud Nine is one of if not
the best of the later years George
Harrison albums. It was produced by George
and Jeff Lynne (ELO) which adds some orchestration to some of the songs making them
sound bigger.
Like many of my reviews I don't know how I'm going to write them until I start
on them, even then sometimes I change in mid-stride my approach. This album is
mostly light and airy maybe that is what the title Cloud Nine means.
I wasn't sure exactly how to write the review for this album so I will do the
track by track thing:
Cloud Nine: The first track is also the title track. It makes some sense
like the tradition of naming song titles with the first line of lyrics.
Sometimes there is no title track. Anyway, this song I guess could be described
as a sort of rock love ballad with a little bit of pep.
That's What it Takes: This song is one of the better mixes of the Harrison solos with Lynne's ELO sounds. The use of the
harmonies gives it a soft heavenly sort of sound. It acts as a kind of preview
of The Traveling Wilburys Sound.
Fish on the Sand: This one reminds me some of Harrison's Tribute to John
Lennon All Those Years Ago sound wise. The title and some
of the lyrics sort of suggest an awkward relationship.
Just For Today: A soft and slow tune that just sort of floats
around giving a light peaceful air. The piano reminds me of Lennon's Imagine then
with George's solo about mid-way I
picture it as a slow-dance prom song with a little bit of that pseudo 1950s
rockabilly.
This is Love: Another of the high ELO influenced songs. Part of it I almost expect to hear Roy Orbison joining in on it.
When We Was Fab: George’s
tribute song to his Beatles years.
It has that signature George Harrison
weirdness to it. It mixes the eeriness of the cello sounds from Eleanor
Rigby mixed with the I Am The Walrus Oooohh Chorus
with kettle drums just to add some bounce. It finishes with some of George’s sitar sounds.
Devil's Radio: I think this song is making a statement about
subliminal advertising and televangelist type preaching. Hidden agendas and how
that evil influence. Then again maybe that is reading too much into it.
Someplace Else: Another slow prom dance song. I almost feel it is a
second John Lennon tribute song that
or pinning for a lost love.
Wreck of the Hesperus: Another one I’m not sure what to say. It is a
good song I just don’t know how to explain it. It has a story song feel to it.
Breath Away From Heaven: Part of it has that Old Japanese kabuki
tip-toeing type sound that one would expect from a John Lennon song not a George
Harrison song.
Got My Mind Set On You: This is the second of the first two singles
released from this album When We Was Fab was the first one. It
is a fun but simple song. It is also a cover song originally recorded by James Ray in 1962 as “I’ve Got My Mind Set on You”. “Weird Al” Yankovic recorded the
parody (This Song’s Just) Six Words Long on his Even
Worse album.
In conclusion this is an overall excellent album. I would recommend it as an
introduction to George Harrison’s albums
especially his later ones.
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