Garden of Eden

By the time this came out the 70's was coming to an end. As far as Passport were concerned the only member this had in common with the other lineups was ground founder Doldinger himself. The rest of the classic lineup had gradually shed members over the course of the previous two albums. This addition of Passport tended much more toward the progressive fusion side of the bands nature than anything as dance oriented as before. Of course this also meant they were more experimental and bound to do the unexpected. They even found their first vocalist in guitar player Kevin Mulligan. So here they went for their most overtly conceptual album. What the concept defines itself as is something of a mystery. With witty cover art possibly depicting a satire of creationism,a celebration of Darwinism or possible a little of each this album begins with an instrumental suite starting with the cinematic disco styled "Big Bang" through the gentle title song up through the heavier prog rock styled "Light II". From there it's onto "Snake",a somewhat jazzier song for this album. "Gates Of Paradise" features Mulligan singing on a flamboyantly melodic combination of dance/soul and gospel music,complete with female vocal chorus. "Dreamware" also returns to that dance flavor with a slick,hook filled arrangement. It's one of my favorites here along with "Children's Dance",another funk number with a heavy swinging flavor to it too. Mulligans other vocal number in the almost country-western styled "Good Earth Smile" isn't bad but isn't a favorite of mine personally. Does'nt mesh well stylistically with this sort of album mainly. Granted this particular lineup of Passport were'nt quite as individual as the earlier lineup in terms of innovative instrumentation. In fact,sometimes the band didn't seem to know what direction to take itself. But they still had this certain sound that no one else really has. Doubt this will go down as Passport's most powerful statement because one or two of the songs are out of place. On the other hand it's home to a handfull of some of their best music and really not a bad way to close out their first decade.

I always thought Passport was one album away to being a classic fusion group. With great musicians like Curt Cress and Kristian Schultze, a little more work from such titles as Infinity Machine and Cross Collateral could have given Passport a name right up with other fusion bands such as Weather Report, and given the Germans their own voice in this genre.Instead there was a measure of frustration as Doldinger changed lineups and directions with each album. I always kept buying their albums hoping for the slam dunk I was sure was going to happen.Garden of Eden is the last Passport Album I liked. I say that because I've never heard an album after that where I've liked so many songs. In the others I could only find one, maybe two numbers at the most that I liked.Yes it didn't help that the music changed, the 80s came in and fusion became more formula. I saw that as a perfect chance for Passport to better itself and put out some hot releases while everybody else was doing mediocre - instead Passport fell in line and released yawners along with everybody else.It helped that Yawners were in.Garden of Eden was their last good album. In the vinyl version side 1 is the theme of a mixture of scientific and biblical creation with Big Bang, The Garden of Eden trilogy, and Snake. Passport paints a non stop wonderful picture of the creation of the Universe, The coming of Adam, then Eve and then their antagonist, the Snake. Of those Snake is the most outstanding piece, the haunting bass line, the steady walking drum, the rattle of the Snake's tail, the bells, and the electronic Choral background layered over Doldinger's soulful sax solos.Then I found the other side and the remaining songs a let down, I mean you just created a perfect visualization of creation, paradise and paradise lost. Where do you go from up? The remaining songs can't maintain the energy. This is why I title it "Not Quite" It's not quite the great Passport album it should have been.

I am a fan. So far, there is not a single Passport album I have not enjoyed. I hope you will, too.

A lot of jazz fans and critics bellyache about the addition of vocals to any instrumental artist's recordings. What these people don't understand is that many of these artists never wanted to be stuck in the jazz category in the first place. Although Passsport music is primarily jazz, it is much more than that. To me, their music is meant to express or invoke a mood, and this album is one of their first that used vocals to do so. This is not my favorite Passport recording, but not the worst by any means. This is simply one of those albums with tunes that stick with you because of how they make you feel.

Despite the change in lineup, this is still a strong album/CD and I like the "Eden" theme, Klaus D. is the driving force behind Passport and the "new" lineup still can sound unmistakeably like Passport. Having typed that, I do wish jazz musicians would stick to instumentals and forego any vocals but this album/CD is still worth the price.

I ordered this a while back and had to return it. The front pic looks like Eden Kane. However, the album it advertises is certainly not. It is completely different.

Excellent record in great condition. Plays superbly

Ich habe Passport erst im zarten Alter von 51 Jahren kennen gelernt, eigentlich relativ zufällig, doch mir hat die Musik auf Youtube gefallen und so habe ich mir die beiden Original Album Series zugelegt und somit gleich mal 10 Alben mein Eigentum genannt, dieses Album habe ich mir regulär zugelegt. Ich bin absolut kein Experte auf dem Gebiet des Jazz oder Jazzrock, daher will ich jetzt nicht hier großartig mit irgendwo anderen gelesenen Fachausdrücken herum "gescheiteln", mir gefällt einfach der Großteil dieser Musik und dieses Album eignet sich so richtig zum Tagträumen. Es gibt auch Nummern mit Gesang auf diesem Album, eine absolute Traumnummer ist für mich "Good Earth Smile", also mit Schlager (wie an anderer Stelle geschrieben) würde ich sie keinesfalls vergleichen...……...und weil sie mir so gut gefällt, anbei den Songtext:Good Earth SmileSun and moon and starsShining on the landGolden corn grainRunning through my hairSun and moon and starsForests in the rainClouds are rolling onOut across the plainGood Earth smileSee that my life is LongWill to liveRaise up your voice and songGood Earth smileTake all my fears awayNight withoutWaiting for break of daySummer fades awayWatch the stubble burnWarm my bodyWhile the seasons turnWinter fades awayFlows into the skyLiving`s gonna beBetter by and byGood earth smileSee that my life is LongWill to liveRaise up your voice and songGood earth smileTake all my fears awayNight witoutWaiting for break of dayGood earth smileSee that my life is LongWill to liveRaise up your voice and songGood Earth smileTake all my fears awayNight withoutWaiting for break of day

Selten entfernte sich Klaus Doldinger mit Passport so sehr vom "Kerngeschäft" der Gruppe, dem Jazz-Rock. Mit "Garden Of Eden" wagte er sich 1979 in seichte Gewässer vor - das allerdings sehr gekonnt. Der markante Groove der vorangegangenen Platten ist überwiegend einer poppigen Marschrichtung gewichen, wobei der Akzent erstmals in der Passport-Geschichte auf dem Gesang liegt. Gitarrist Kevin Mulligan zeichnet hier für die Vocals verantwortlich, aus dem Background sind noch weitere Gastsänger zu hören. Dabei driften die Songs teilweise ins Schlagerhafte ab, teilweise hören sie sich auch wie Nummern aus einem Musical an ("Good Earth Smile" und "Gates of Paradise").Das ist nicht jedermanns Geschmack, und es wäre ein Leichtes, diese musikalische Ausrichtung hier als kitschig und trivial zu verreißen. Doch man muss Doldinger eines lassen: Jedes Stück ist perfekt arrangiert, geht ins Ohr und bleibt dort ein Weilchen hängen. Allem voran das dreiteilige Titelstück. Passport-Tradition hin oder her: Auch diese Eingängigkeit spricht für Qualität und letztlich auch für die Vielseitigkeit des Komponisten, der etwa zur selben Zeit den ebenso düsteren wie epochalen "Boot"-Soundtrack schuf und live mitreißenden Jazzrock spielte (nachzuhören auf der im Folgejahr erschienenen Doppel-LP "Lifelike").Zwischendurch bietet "Garden of Eden" aber auch typische Passport-Stücke ("Snakes" und das wunderbare "Dreamware"). Das finale "Childrens Dance" ist dann der Rausschmeißer: klingt ein bisschen wie ein nicht enden wollendes "Verstehen-Sie-Spaß"-Jingle.Beim Personal konnte Doldinger neben Mulligan u.a. auf Henrik Schaper (Keyboards), Dieter Petereit (Bass) und Willy Ketzer (Drums) zurückgreifen - in meinen Ohren eine der besten Passport-Besetzungen.Fazit: ein überraschendes, etwas gewöhnungsbedürftiges Passport-Album mit Ohrwurm-Charakter.

Tudo perfeito!