Sense of Direction

Sense of Direction

Track Listings

1. Sense of Direction - Walt Dickerson

2. Aunt Monk - Merl Saunders

3. Theme for a New Day - Azar Lawrence

4. Long as You're Living - Abbey Lincoln

5. I'm Trying to Find a Way - Stanley Cowell

6. Keep the Faith - Mel & Tim

7. Panther - Dexter Gordon

8. Cleopatra and the African Knight

9. To the Establishment

10. Red Clay - Freddie Hubbard

11. Communication - Ahmed Abdul-Malik

12. Dorian - Roy Haynes

Tracks:

Amerita/Sense of Direction
Losin' the Humbles
Shopping Bag People
Nogales
Reaching Out
Right Now
Before You Reach the Grave
Milwaukee Truckin' Blues (Chipper's Song)
Amerita/Sense of Direction [Single Version][*]
Reaching Out [Alternate Version][*]
Right Now [Extended Version][*]

Customer Reviews:

better than a plum,but not a peach either.......2006-11-15

OK, I've waited for this cd to be re-issued,without chopping up the
title tune.Well here it is,intact this time, and with bonus tracks,and
they really cleaned up the sound, but wait a minute.If you listen really
closely you'll hear that they mastered this CD from an L.P.I know the sound of a needle traveling thru a groove @33,1/3 rpm and it is slightly
noticable in several spots on this disc.That aside Sense of Direction(the
entire CD) sounds fabulous.I highly recomend it...Now let's release Flying
The Flag!

Sounding Good..........2006-11-06

As a long-time fan of Climax Blues Band, I have been waiting for this one for a while, now. A previous CD release of 'Sense of Direction' (on Plum Records) had a serious flaw in my favorite song, in addition to so-so sound. Really, how can you lose about 20 seconds of music in the middle of a song and not notice it?

This new Fuel Records release at least corrects that deficiency. 'Amerita/Sense of Direction' has been restored to its full 6:08 length, the sound of the album as a whole has been cleaned up, and three bonus tracks have been added. The single version of 'Amerita/Sense of Direction' actually appears on some other import compilations listed as simply 'Sense of Direction,' since the edit for the single consisted largely of hacking off the 'Amerita' section of the piece. The extended version of 'Right Now' is good for completists, but doesn't add much overall. The surprise of the package is the alternate version of 'Reaching Out,' which is a much shorter and radically different arrangement of the song.

Overall, 'Sense of Direction' was always one of my favorite Climax Blues Band albums, right behind the 'FM/Live' live album. The title track, 'Nogales,' 'Losing the Humbles' and 'Reaching Out' combine to make this an album well worth owning.

So why only 4 stars? Fuel Records did an acceptable but not great job on this reissue. The remastering is good, but not as good as I would like it to have been. A sticker on the jewel case cover promises Extensive Liner Notes!, but the package delivers a four-page booklet (one piece of paper, folded in half), no pictures, two of the four pages taken up by the British and American covers of the original album, and one short essay whose central thesis could be summed up as "It isn't very good, but here it is." The company couldn't even get the name of the album right; it's shown on the disk as 'Straight Ahead.' If you're that blase about delivering a quality product, why not let someone else do it, and do it right?

But this is still about music, and this album is well worth buying on that basis. Thirty-two years later this is still an excellent album, and it deserves a place in any serious music collection.

Average customer rating:

Sense of Direction

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000NJWJGQ
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Average customer rating:

first-rate debut
First rate from start to finish!
First rate from start to finish!
Excellent CD from a Popular Long Island Band
Unimaginative but Mechanically Good

A Sense Of Direction
Jackalope Junction
Manufacturer: Shadow Brook Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Contemporary Country | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000IOFY
Release Date: 1998-04-01

Tracks:

To Wander In This Way
Never Sung A Love Song
I Surrender
Savannah Rose
The Doghouse
A Sense Of Direction
Four Wheels
Louisiana
The Ballad Of Jackalope Junction

Album Description

A Sense Of Direction is the debut release from New York's Jackalope Junction...nine tracks of energetic melody-driven country rock with a deep Southern groove.

Customer Reviews:

first-rate debut.......1999-09-05

Having heard much about this band in the local press I had very high expectations and was not disappointed! A Sense Of Direction is a rich collection of songs that reveals something different and new with each listen. My favorites are the opening song, "To Wander In This Way" and the title track. Songwriter Dave Isaacs has a great ear for melody and a talent for writing majestic, sweeping epic songs. Check this one out if you want to hear where country music is headed in the next millenium!

First rate from start to finish!.......1999-07-18

This is one of the most impressive independent releases I've ever seen. The songwriting is first-rate....great hooks and thoughtful lyrics performed with passion and conviction. Even the design of the CD itself was clearly given great care. All told, a first-rate product and I can't wait to hear more.

First rate from start to finish!.......1999-07-18

Excellent CD from a Popular Long Island Band.......1999-06-03

One listen to this cd and they had me hooked. I totally enjoy this cd from start to finish, from the sadness of To Wander in this Way to the hopefullness of the Ballad of Jackalope Junction, a story is being told that captivates me each time. It's hard to choose a favorite song since each track has a special feel and beautiful lyrics. Dave Isaacs writes songs the old-fashioned way, with strong melodies and sing-along hooks. I consider this sophisticated country no twang and pick-up trucks. Elegant, wonderful music. A pleasure to listen to time and time again.

Unimaginative but Mechanically Good.......1999-05-29

I was somewhat saddened at the overall package. Seems like a showcase for someone more obsessed with himself than with creating an artistic statement. So much more could have been done lyrically with the ideas that were presented. The songs were mostly unimaginative and bland with few exceptions. I was expecting MUCH more from this CD from the reviews I have heard and from the word of mouth form people who have seen them live.

Average customer rating:

A Superb Album
Poor "Sense Of Direction"

A Sense of Direction
Walt Dickerson
Manufacturer: Ojc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

To My Queen
Relativity

ASIN: B000000Z85
Release Date: 1992-02-17

Tracks:

Sense Of Direction
Ode To Boy
Togetherness
What's New
Good Earth
Why
You Go To My Head
If I Should Lose You

Customer Reviews:

A Superb Album.......2001-02-11

I'd give this four and a half stars if I could. It's a superb album by a band of brilliant, unfairly ignored players. I'm not sure what vexes the reviewer below so; Dickerson's melodic imagination is fleet and rich on this release, and the virtually forgotten Austin Crowe is excellent. A warm, swinging release, much more accessible than Dickerson's later really "out" stuff, but still full of lively ideas.

Poor "Sense Of Direction".......2000-11-12

Walt Dickerson's second album for Fantasy, "Sense of Direction," is definitely a sophomore slump. Where the first album, "This Is Walt Dickerson" (see my review), galloped along at a delightful pace thanks in large part to the drumming talents of a young Andrew Cyrille, "Sense of Direction" seems to have lost its way. While there are some enjoyable moments, the title track and "Togetherness" in particular, I can think of dozens of recordings of the standards performed on this disc ("What's New," "If I Should Lose You," "You Go To My Head," etc.) that are more interesting than the ones captured here. The band here is good -- Austin Crowe returns from the debut album on piano, Edgar Bateman is on bass and Ernest Guillemet on drums -- but they are not nearly as coherent and consistent as on the brilliant "To My Queen," which Dickerson would cut the following year in 1962. This OJC reissue is a limited edition so fans of Dickerson will want to pick this up quickly, but newcomers will be better served starting with "To My Queen" or the debut disc.

Average customer rating:

Sense of Direction
Climax Blues Band
Manufacturer: Airmail Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000IY0GO8
Release Date: 2006-10-30

Tracks:

Amerita/Sense of Direction
Losin' the Humbles
Shopping Bag People
Nogales
Reaching Out
Right Now
Before You Reach the Grave
Milwaukee Truckin' Blues (Chipper's Song)
Reaching Out [Short Version][*]

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Average customer rating:

My favorite Climax Blues album
Beautiful Music
all time classic
Mixed Bag But "Amerita/Sense of Direction" Is Fantastic!
A "Must Have" Classic

Sense of Direction
Climax Blues Band
Manufacturer: Plum Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Amerita/Sense Of Direction
Losin' The Humbles
Shopping Bag People
Nogales
Reaching Out
Right Now
Before You Reach The Grave
Milwaukee Truckin' Blues (Chipper's Song)
Bonus Track: Reaching Out (Short Version)

Customer Reviews:

My favorite Climax Blues album.......2007-02-15

I was introduced to this album in 1976 and have loved it ever since. I just got this remastered CD which is every bit as great as the original vinyl. My only problem with this is the guy who wrote the "liner notes". He talks about "embarrassing lyrics" in Shopping Bag People. He also uses such phrases as "underwhelming blues vamp", and calls "Amerita", "a slowed-down version of 'Lola'" - ?!?!?!. All I can figure is the band either owes him money or backed over his hearing aid back in the day. Lighten up, Liner Man. This is a great, fun, bluesy CD. The beautiful guitar work in "Sense of Direction" still gives me goosebumps every time. No matter where I listen to this CD, it always makes me feel like I'm in a dark little bar after a couple of beers, relaxed and grooving. It's a wonderful blues album.

Beautiful Music.......2006-05-04

The three best albums by Climax Blues Band, IMHO, were "FM Live", "Sense of Direction" and "Real to Reel".

Of these, FM Live is now available on a terrific remastered CD; "Real to Reel" is not available at all!, and "Sense of Direction" is available only on a poorly-transferred CD. This one desperately needs to be given the "Rhino" treatment; it's a great album; best tracks are "Amerita/Sense of Direction" and Nogales. I've always loved this album, and was listening to it tonight and reminiscing about all the times I'd played it in High School & College (back in the '70's).

all time classic.......2006-03-31

See the title. Should be on your list of top albums, period.

Mixed Bag But "Amerita/Sense of Direction" Is Fantastic!.......2003-06-01

This album is such a rare treat. No other band really combined progressive rock with the blues in such a manner as on this album. It was a double edge sword for the Climax Blues Band. The blues purists hated "Amerita/Sense of Direction" and the proggers felt the same about the disco-laden "Reaching Out". The other cuts are very good...just a mix of different styles. "Shopping Bag People" is a pleasant blues-riff because of Haycock's slide guitar. "Right Now" has a kick-back boogie-woogie feel. However, Haycock's searing guitar work on "Sense of Direction" is a mind blower and worth checking out at any cost for those who love great classic rock. Yes, it is that good and puts this album over-the-top ranking this as one of the best albums that Climax Blues Band ever released. Highly collectible!

A "Must Have" Classic.......2002-08-12

I rank this CD right up there with Aerosmith's "Get Your Wings",
Kansas' "Song for America", Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog", and
Pink Floyd's "Wish You were Here".

Average customer rating:

Sense in Direction
Powder
Manufacturer: Carol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000257L3
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Average customer rating:

Sense of Direction
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Beat Goes Public
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000003L96
Release Date: 1995-11-21

Tracks:

Sense of Direction - Walt Dickerson
Aunt Monk - Merl Saunders
Theme for a New Day - Azar Lawrence
Long as You're Living - Abbey Lincoln
I'm Trying to Find a Way - Stanley Cowell
Keep the Faith - Mel & Tim
Panther - Dexter Gordon
Cleopatra and the African Knight - Johnny "Hammond" Smith
To the Establishment
Red Clay - Freddie Hubbard
Communication - Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Dorian - Roy Haynes

Average customer rating:

If All Else Fails
For the Horizon
Manufacturer: Aux Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000CAET3C
Release Date: 2005-07-13

Tracks:

A Killer's Instinct
Eight Thirty
Death Of A Salesman
Uncertain Doubt
What A Lovely Solutiion

Product Description

"If All Else Fails" is the debut release for For The Horizon. Five songs about love and death never sounded so good.

Average customer rating:

Sense of Direction

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000GBE4K0
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Music:

Music

music

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