Dino Valente

Artist: Dino Valente
Label: Koch Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 099923793021
EAN: 0099923793021
ASIN: B000006J61

Release Date: 1998-03-17

Dino Valente

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Singer-Songwriters

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Tracks:

Time
Something New
My Friend
Listen To Me
Me And My Uncle
Tomorrow
Children Of The Sun
New Wind Blowing
Everything Is Gonna Be OK
Test
Shame On You Babe
Now And Now Only

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What was going on in 1968 when Dino Valente recorded this album? Well, he had already written "Get Together" for the Youngbloods, been in and out of jail a couple of times, and put in time as lead vocalist for San Francisco's Quicksilver Messenger Service. While bouncing around Manhattan's East Village, Valente then teamed up with famed Dylan producer Bob Johnston to record his only solo effort. This album typifies the hippie-folk-troubadour syndrome with strumming, reverb-laden 12-string guitar and romantic odes of passion and heartbreak. Valente's pliant warble practically floats alone on these 12 strange songs. While this music is folkish in nature, Valente's vocals display an offbeat, almost jazzy inflection reminiscent of the late Tim Buckley. <I>--Mitch Myers</I>

Customer Reviews:

In The Heart Of The Sixties.......2007-03-17

It's been scientifically proven that "Get Together", written by Dino Valenti (not on this CD) is the emotional center of that golden, innocent era. This CD is a musical and lyrical brother to that great song.

There is an innocence and naivete to Valenti that some may find silly... but personally I find it refreshing and life affirming to briefly escape back into the warm days of my youth.

The melodies and guitars are shimmering and beautiful, Valenti's voice is a perfect echo of 1969...warm and earnest and sometimes strident.

I briefly owned the 8-track tape 35 years ago, and debated over whether I would be dissapointed in the music if I purchased it now. In fact, I like it far more now than I did when I was 18.

If you like Valenti's more melodic work in Quicksilver, "Everybody's Been Burned" by David Crosby, "On The Way Home" by Neil Young... or if you just want to recapture "The Bright Elusive Butterfly of Love" (I'm laughing as I type this), I think you'll like this CD.

Definitely not a classic, but not an embarrassment either.......2006-11-17

This single eponymous, solo release from Valente of Quicksilver Messenger Service fame is, like the other reviewers have noted, definitely a relic. With that label comes certain connotations--it is a piece trapped in a specific time period, but it is also somewhat of a buried treasure. I've found both of these observations to be at least partially, but not completely true.

Dino's definitely representing a spaced-out hippie mentality with his style and romance-obsessed lyrics. That's true, but his sound on this particular record is pretty cool, with some sweet reverbed horns, 12-string, and a voice that sounds (at its best) a lot to me like Johnny Rivers. Unfortunately, this same production/arrangement sound gets a little bit bland once you realize that the entire album sounds basically the same, so the second half isn't too memorable. This isn't really helped by his spacey, second person lyrics, that leave some to be desired. In the end, it's kind of like a more amateurly-played "Astral Weeks" without strong songs. I can't really recommend any of the songs over others, since they are mostly about the same things and sound the same, except for "Me and My Uncle," which is actually a surprisingly good, dark folk-style ballad. Nonetheless, I do enjoy the atmosphere of this record, and would probably still buy it if I had a second chance.

In the liner notes, Dino is called the "underground Dylan." He may have played in folk clubs (but who didn't?), but aside from that and attempted hairstyle, Valente has little resemblance to Dylan's songwriting skills. Unfortunately, this isn't the missing link or keystone for your obscure record collection (but hey, you can't win them all), but like I said, I still do listen to it sometimes and don't regret buying it. You may enjoy it more than I did, but it may at least be worth owning regardless.

Kind of ridiculous but has its moments.......2004-07-10

I have to agree with the reviewer from Berkeley: "Dino Valente" is at once ridiculous and sublime. It's one of those records that you listen to with a mixture of ironic and authentic admiration.

As with Lee Hazlewood (with whom he shares a less-than-splendid singing voice), part of the fun of listening to this record is the disparity between the persona he tries to project in his songs (soulful mystical wise man/casanova) with his whine/warble of a voice, so-so lyrics, and average-verging-on-homely looks.

At the same time, there are moments on this record (and on some of Hazlewood's) of genuine beauty/coolness. Sometimes within the same song you'll find the ridiculous coexisting with the sublime.

Throughout, his acoustic guitar and voice are bathed in thick soupy psychedelic echo. A couple of tracks feature some overdubbed backing tracks, but for the most part, the show is just Dino, his voice, and a guitar in an echo chamber.

Favorite tracks: "Everything's Gonna Be Ok", "Time" (with its soaring chorus), the epic "Children of the Sun", "Me and My Uncle", and the wordless experimental "Test".

Open-minded fans of Tim Buckley, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and the Incredible String Band might find themselves simultaneously sniggering at/enjoying this record.

Deja vu all over again.......2002-03-18

I remember "making out" to this album back when I was VERY young and now my youngest is about to graduate college. You do the math. But I always loved Dino's nasal voice and kind of whiny delivery of beautiful lyrics. Childen of the Sun was my favorite. I don't know whatever happened to him. Buying this on CD was so cool because it doesn't skip or remind me of the margaritas and beer we used to spill on our LP's. Can you imagine? Very cool to listen to and remember a different time.

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