Even at the outset, Dan Fogelberg seemed to have everything going for him: tremendous talent, an exceptional stockpile of songs, an unassuming approach and a host of famous friends on whom he could readily rely. That was borne out by the fact that with only his second album, Souvenirs, he was able to establish himself quickly as a singer/songwriter possessing both promise and proficiency. His music was appealing on several levels, given that it shared a sound that positioned him within the Southern California musical mainstream and a place of prominence that he enjoyed alongside the Eagles, America, Jackson Browne, Poco, the Flying Burrito Brothers and other outfits that shared a similar sensibility. In that regard, he also appealed to the masses, with songs that were suggestive yet spare, intimate and yet accessible, all at the same time.
While his debut Home Free, released two years earlier, leaned on a more countrified approach and gained only limited notice as a result, Souvenirs, released in November 1974, eschewed any specific melodic constraints, courtesy of a set of songs that put the emphasis on compelling choruses that easily made an immediate impact. The tack paid off, landing the album within the top 20 and culminating in sales that equated to double platinum status. It didn’t hurt that he had a star-studded cast of musicians that shared space with him on the marquee, chief among them Joe Walsh, who not only oversaw the album’s production, but also played guitar on 10 of the album’s 11 tracks. He wasn’t alone; other members of Fogelberg’s ensemble included Eagles Glenn Frey and Don Henley, Graham Nash, Gerry Beckley of America, percussionist Joe Lala, veteran session drummer Russ Kunkel, pedal steel player Al Perkins, and a pair of exceptional string arrangers, Paul Harris and Jimmie Haskell. From: https://bestclassicbands.com/dan-fogelberg-souvenirs-review-6-23-2111/
