[FM] FAME Review: Rod MacDonald's "Into The Blue" written by Guntram Gudowius

[David N. Pyles]

Into The Blue
Rod MacDonald

Box 2152

web page: http://www.parallaxpro.com/rod/

GADFLY 256
Gadfly Records, Inc.
P.O.Box 5231
Burlington, VT 05402
1-888-9GADFLY
gadfly1@aol.com


http://www.gadflyrecords.com

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Guntram Gudowius
(GuntramG@pride.de)

One of the moving forces of the Fast Folk musical magazine and other
singer/songwriter ventures that were based in NYC during the late 70's and
early 80's, MacDonald has put out records and CDs for about twenty years.
Several of his songs have been covered by Garnet Rogers, Gordon Bok and
others.

Into The Blue is the latest collection of songs by a singer who moved from
the melting pot of NYC to the beaches of Florida. Though still a social
critic, his point of view changed a bit and the breezes of Caribbean
Rhythms celebrate "the good life" as well.

The CD opens with a catchy, happy blues tune about a traveler looking
forward to returning to his wife in "Seven Days".  In "I Have No Problem
With This" he describes the changes that occurred in the life of a person
whose values changed as he climbed the ladder of financial success. "Best
Defence" is considered a quiet song in these strident times, a slow and old
car not to be part of the fast pace. In "Days Of Rain", he comes up with a
few suggestions of what to do when the hurricane passes by but you still
get rained on.  "Here's A Song For You" is a wedding present. MacDonald
takes a tongue-in-cheek view of Southern life from the snowbirds'
perspective in "It's A Tough Life".  He describes Florida's natural history
and the threat to ecological balance by more suburban homes in "Aucilla
River Song".  MacDonald uses the example of the crash of an passenger
airplane several years ago in "Deep Down In The Everglades" which deals
with the sensational media. "Lightning Over The Sea" is an autobiographical
sketch of MacDonald and his wife's lives in Florida and he sings of his
love of flying a small air plane in "Into The Blue". He wonders about his
"Fear" while living in the country with the greatest military, and evokes
Native American spirit in "Sun Dancer". He praises the advantages of being
an old fashioned singer with an acoustic guitar  in "Six Strings And A Hole
Big And Round". The last cut is "The Cure For Insomnia", an instrumental
which prominently features the kalimba which irritated my nerves.


MacDonald's clear voice delivers all songs with conviction and passion and
the pleasant and sweet melodies comfortably carry the lyrics of both the
fast and slow paced songs. Except for the kalimba, it's a fairly
traditional singer/songwriter accompaniment consisting mostly of acoustic
guitar, bass, percussion and some keyboards. The production by MacDonald
and his long time musical partner Mark Dann is smooth as we've come to
expect from this team and it never interferes with the stories. So, sit
back and listen!

Rod MacDonald - vocal, acoustic guitar, harmonica and kalimba
Mark Dann - electric and acoustic bass, drums
Bradley Ditto - slide guitar, acoustic guitar and harmony vocal
Ric Pattison - congas

Bob Noble - piano, organ, strings and keyboards
Allan Aunapu - acoustic guitar
Michael Moses - frame drum, clay pot, triangle, gourd, shaker and kalimba
Bill Walach - mandolin
Tracy Sands - harmony vocal
Evi & Gin Weintraub - harmony vocals

Edited by: Paula Gregorowicz

Copyright 2000, Peterborough Folk Music Society. This review may be
reprinted with prior permission and attribution. 


================
David N. Pyles
Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
P. O. Box 459
Brattleboro, VT 05302-0459
(802) 257-0336 Mon-Thur 9:30am-4:30pm
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames/fame.htm
=====================
All my relations beneath the sun
I can see myself mirrored in everyone
Still I can forget to see myself in y closest ones
As if the reflection of my nearest mirror
is too much to bear so I can't even hear or
see the truth      as if I needed proof

(So I'm gonna) Sing out a small word for such a big thing
Sing out a small word for such a big thing

from A Small Word by Brian Cutean