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Jon Anderson

3 Ships

Review by Gary Hill

This Christmas disc by Yesman Jon Anderson features some traditional and some original holiday music. The songs vary from fairly traditional (but modernized) to quite modern. This is really quite a good album and a wonderful experience for the season.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: The Early Years Volume 1 at garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-The-Early-Years.

Track by Track Review
Save All Your Love
Save All Your Love is a short song in the poppy/prog mode of early Anderson solo work (Song of Seven era).
Easier Said Than Done
This composition has a feel somewhat in-between Anderson`s Animation period and the sound of Jon and Vangelis. The Vangelis link is definitely understandable, since Vangelis is credited with the writing on this one.
Three Ships
An Anderson arrangement of a traditional Christmas song, this one is heavily vocal based. The music is quite electronically founded, again somewhat in an Animation era mode.
Forest of Fire
Jungle sounds begin this cut, a percussive, rhythm based number.
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Another traditional Christmas song, this arrangement is quite lush, featuring layered vocals and bells. It is sort of a modernized, but yet conventional arrangement.
Save All Your Love (Reprise)
This is a somewhat different rendition of the album opener.
The Holly And The Ivy
The Holly And The Ivy is another cut which seems to capture a traditional Christmas spirit while bringing to it more modern textures.
Day of Days
A Jamaican texture pervades the early segments of this cut, bringing it into sharp contrast with the rest of the album. The number is at times a lushly orchestrated pop/rock number with some musical surprises.
2.000 Years
A very brief and traditional sounding Anderson original Christmas number, this one is a definite winner.
Where Were You?
Another Anderson composed Christmas song, this one is in the electro-pop-rock style of Animation.
Oh Holy Night
A traditional Christmas song, this is arranged in quite a fresh manner, and features a soulful female vocal break.
How It Hits You
How It Hits You is an electronic Anderson original.
Jingle Bells
This charming and brief rendition is sung by Anderson`s daughter Jade, who, at the time was quite young.
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