Top 10 Dan Fogelberg Songs

Photo: Epic Records [Public domain]

Our Top 10 Dan Fogelberg Songs takes a look at the songs of a brilliant songwriter who released his first album in the 1970s. Dan Fogelberg’s songs attracted both the folk, rock and pop audience while achieving mass stardom. His lyrics and melodies bled through with a tenderness and beauty that captivated music fans. A golden voice, a magical pen and an acoustic guitar sound that wrapped it all together into an artist for the ages. There is not a person alive in the modern world who grew up in the 1970s and 80s that was not affected by a Dan Fogelberg song.

The 1970’s were a time when the singer songwriter flourished. Artists like Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, Joni Mitchell, Don Mclean, Paul Simon and many more all understood how to ride the line between pop, folk and sometimes jazz. Dan Fogelberg songs added another dimension. It was an almost mystic sound that was in essence ahead of its time. Dan Fogelberg passed away in 2007 at the age of 56.

Our top 10 Dan Fogelberg songs list is a tribute to this wonderful artist. Its is our way of expressing our thank to Fogelberg for contributing in a most beautiful way to this world. It’s a small representation of his body of work that we hope inspires you to check out all of his great songs and albums.

# 10 – Nether Lands

Opening up our top 10 Dan Fogelberg songs list is the beautiful track entitled “Nether Lands.” We didn’t know whether to open or close our list with this amazingly beautiful song. If this song does not inspire you, please check the temperature of your skin. When we compose our list of the ten most beautiful songs ever written, this one will be right at the top.

Dan Fogelberg’s Nether Lands was the title track of the album Nether Lands The record was released in 1979. The album bore its title from the city of Netherland, Colorado in which the record was recorded. A great cast of musicians performed on the album including Don Henley and Joe Walsh of The Eagles.

# 9 – Aspen / These Days

If the first Dan Fogelberg songs did not capture your undivided attention to this brilliant man, than this one should complete the job instantly. The beautiful opening track “Aspen/These Days,” from the magnificent Captured Angel album is on full display here. Like we said in the opening paragraph, the stunning voice and emotional guitar playing are fueled by such magnificent melodies. It’s all here in this mesmerizing track.

# 8 – The Power Of Gold

Dan Fogelberg recorded two albums with jazz musician Tim Weisberg known for his brilliant flute playing. The first album was released in 1978 entitled Twin Sons of Different Mothers. The majority of the songs on the album were written by Dan Fogelberg. The two musicians released a follow-up album in 1995 entitled No Resemblance Whatsoever. The album’s closing track

“The Power of Gold,” was the closing track on the album Twin Sons of Different Mothers. The songs was released as a single 1978. “The Power of Gold,” was a top 40 hit peaking at number 28 on the United States Billboard Hot 100.

# 7 – Part Of The Plan

In 1974, Dan Fogelberg released his second album entitled Souvenirs. It was a brilliant album the Showcase fogelberg’s deep song writing skills. The album was produced by legendary guitarist Joe Walsh. The souvenir album would also feature many of Joe Walsh’s future bandmates of The Eagles such as Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner and, of course Joe Walsh. The record also featured the sweet sounding vocal of Graham Nash. The album’s opening track was the beautiful song “Part Of The Plan.” The song was released as the second single from the record after the first single release entitled “Changing Horses.”

# 6 – Run For The Roses

Most legendary and brilliant artists like Dan Fogelberg will release at one time or another during their careers a masterpiece. Springsteen had his Born to Run, Bob Dylan had Blood on the Tracks Prince Purple Rain so on and so on. Dan Fogelberg released his masterpiece in 1981. It was a two record set entitled The Innocent Age. The album presented fans with some of the best music of Dan Fogelberg’s career. Dan Fogelberg had four top 20 hits on the album. These are not just pop songs these are works of art. R

Dan Fogelberg’s song “Run For The Roses,” was the fourth single released from the album. It was released in 1982 a year after the album had been released.

# 5 – The Language Of Love

If there were any doubters that Dan Fogelberg could rock, just have them check out this video. The emotionally charged rock tune “The Language Of Love,” was released on the album Windows and Walls. The song “The Language Of Love,” would become another top 20 hit for Dan Fogelberg peaking at the number thirteen position on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Once again another Eagles band member sang backing vocals on a Dan Fogelberg songs as Timothy B. Schmidt loaned his golden vocal chords to the track.

# 4 – Love Gone By

Dan Fogelberg’s ability to apply all elements of county, rock, pop and folk into one fabulous style is clearly evident on this gem of a song. Dan Fogelberg’s “Love Gone By,” was released on the album Nether Lands. The song “Love Gone By,” was also issued as the album’s single. Don Henley sang backing vocals on the track.

# 3 – Longer

As we come close to the top of our top 10 Dan Fogelberg songs we turn to one of the artist’s biggest hits. The song “Longer,” was released on the album Phoenix. The album was released in 1979. “Longer,” hit number two on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song hit number one on the US billboard adult contemporary Hot 100. It was in fact, Dan fogelberg’s highest-charting song of his career.

# 2 – Leader Of The Band

Dan Fogelberg composed one of the most beautiful songs that anyone has ever written in tribute to their father. Its as heartfelt and real as it gets. The song “Leader of the Band.” was released on Dan Fogelberg’s wonderful album The Innocent Age.

# 1 – Same Old Lang Syne

As we close out our top 10 Dan Fogelberg songs list we turn one final time to The Innocent Age album. If ever there was a song that painted a pictures as vividly in story fashion it was Dan Fogelberg’s “Same Old Lang Syne.” The story of running into an old lover on Christmas Eve is both painful and beautiful. Setting it up in a supermarket on a snowy evening, Dan Fogelberg instantly captures the listener. We feel is joy, his pain. It’s the ultimate story of ‘The One That Got Away.’ We are left speechless at the end of the song when the snow turns into rain. Our words do not do this song justice. Take a listen if you’ve never heard this one before, it will stop you in your tracks.