Dan Fogelberg & Tim Weisberg: “No Resemblance Whatsoever” (1995/2025) CD Review

In 1978, Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg teamed up for an album titled Twin Sons Of Different Mothers. It was an interesting collaboration that resulted in the hit single “The Power Of Gold.” In 1995, they teamed up again for No Resemblance Whatsoever, the title a playful nod to the duo’s earlier album and the changes in appearance they’d undergone since then, and the album’s cover photo showing them in a similar pose to that on Twin Sons. In addition to a lack of beards this time around, there were also no hit singles. But a lack of hits does not mean a lack of good songs. Most of the songs were written by Dan Fogelberg, who plays grand piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, and keyboards on these tracks, and provides the vocals. Tim Weisberg plays C flute, alto flute, bass flute and piccolo. They are joined by Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Alex Acuna on percussion, Larry Cohn on keyboards and piano, Michael Landau on electric guitar, and Neil Stubenhaus on bass, along with some special guests. Originally the album was not released on vinyl, just on CD and cassette. But now it is being re-issued and it will be available on both CD and vinyl. It was been remastered by Michael Graves at Osiris Studio here in Los Angeles.

The album opens with a beautiful instrumental track titled “County Clare.” There is a soothing, dreamlike, almost magical quality to this piece. I’ve said it before, but I love music that is able to transport me in some way, and this track most certainly does that, and to a place far from the stress and anxiety of our days. Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg change gears then with “Forever Jung,” which begins with a strong pop beat. It soon develops into a rather cheerful number, a mix of pop elements with something of an ethereal element heard in Tim Weisberg’s work. And this track features a horn section made up of Tom Scott, Pete Christlieb, Joel Peskin, Gary Grant and Dick Hyde. It is ultimately an uplifting number. And I can’t help but love the song’s title. It too is an instrumental track, as is “Todos Santos,” which follows it. “Todos Santos” features some excellent guitar work as it begins. After a minute or so, it kicks in, and takes on a wonderful rhythm, bringing a smile to my face. There is something encouraging in this music, something positive, and I appreciate that.

The first song to feature vocals is also the first song not written by Dan Fogelberg. “Sunlight” was written by Jesse Colin Young (whom you know as the lead singer of The Youngbloods, as well as for his solo work). He included it on his 1976 record On The Road, but before that it was included on the Youngblood’s 1969 album Elephant Mountain. This version by Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg has a gentle, mellow, sweet vibe. That’s followed by “Isle Au Haut,” an instrumental track that begins with some pretty work on keys. A warm breeze soon comes in to lift us just a bit off the ground and carry us along. We can close our eyes, and know we’re safe, or we can watch the world move by slowly. Either way, we may slip into a dream, or understand that world itself has become one.

As “The Face Of Love” begins, it feels like it has the potential to be a hit, and includes some good work on bass. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “The workings of time/They are the face of love in motion/The workings of time/They are as secret as the sea/It seems such a crime/We should waste our love/Deciding whose fault it should be.” That’s followed by “Songbird,” the album’s second Jesse Colin Young number, this one the title track to his 1975 record. Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg deliver a really good rendition. I especially love Tim Weisberg’s lead in the second half of the track. “See him smiling/Feel his yearning/He’s trying to put some magic in your day,” Dan sings on this one. And it feels like these musicians are trying to put some magic in our day. We can use it, right? We are looking for some method of escape. “So let the music carry you away/So let the music carry you away,” Dan sings at the end. That is precisely the idea.

And speaking of magic, they next give us a song titled “Is This Magic.” This is a cool, smooth number, with something of a gentle Latin vibe. “Is it the voice of the whispering sea/Or is it the way we’re dancing/Is it the way that the moon/Hits your eyes/Or is this magic/Or is this magic.” Ah, the magic is in the way the moon hits her eyes, I suspect. And it’s in the music. “Is This Magic” is dedicated to Antonio Carlos Jobim, who had died the year before this album’s release. That song is followed by “Stasia,” a pretty instrumental track, another that is capable of transporting us. The album then concludes with “Windward,” which has an intriguing opening, immediately creating an interesting and appealing atmosphere. After thirty or forty seconds, a beat is established, and the song begins to emerge from that atmosphere, born of it. And it grows from there, finding a certain joy. This instrumental track is one of my personal favorites of the album.

CD Track List

1. County Clare
2. Forever Jung
3. Todos Santos
4. Sunlight
5. Isle Au Haut
6. The Face Of Love
7. Songbird
8. Is This Magic
9. Stasia
10. Windward

This re-issue of No Resemblance Whatsoever is scheduled to be released on January 24, 2025 through Omnivore Recordings, and will be available on both CD and vinyl.