The Innocent Age is a double album by American singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg, released in 1981. It was one of his most successful albums: three of his four Top 10 singles on the Billboard pop chart ("Hard to Say" (no. 7), "Same Old Lang Syne" (no. 9), and "Leader of the Band" (no. 9)) were from this album, as well as another Top 20 single in "Run for the Roses" (no. 18). All four also reached the Top 10 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart, with "Leader of the Band" reaching number 1 on that chart.

The album includes his song "Times Like These", from the 1980 Urban Cowboy soundtrack. Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Glenn Frey and Don Henley are prominent contributing vocalists.

The Innocent Age drew its inspiration from Thomas Wolfe's major novel Of Time and the River. The Innocent Age was originally released as a two-LP vinyl set and later as a two-disc CD set.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[2]

The Rolling Stone Album Guide deemed the album "banal and overblown."^[2]

All tracks written by Dan Fogelberg, except where noted.

Dan Fogelberg – producer, cover photography
Marty Lewis – producer, engineer, mixing
Kosh – cover design
Andy Katz – cover photography, liner photography
David Awells – liner notes
Thomas Wolfe – text

Dan Fogelberg – lead vocals (1, 2, 4–6, 8–10, 12, 14, 17), backing vocals (1, 2, 4–6, 8–10, 12, 14), acoustic guitars (1–3, 5, 7, 9–12, 14–16), electric guitars (1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 14), Coral electric sitar (1), bass (1, 2, 6, 8, 14), percussion (1, 9, 14, 16), acoustic piano (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 17), tambourine (2), vocals (3, 7, 11, 15, 16), electric piano (4, 8, 16, 17), Minimoog (4), Prophet-5 (4, 10, 13), cowbell (5), lap steel guitar (9), ARP String Ensemble (10, 13), tack piano (11), ship's bell (12), bowed psaltery (13), electric lead and rhythm guitars (15–17), hammered dulcimer (17)
Mike Finnigan – organ (4, 5, 10)
Michael Utley – acoustic piano (12, 16), electric piano (15)
Al Perkins - pedal steel guitar (6, 11)
Kenny Passarelli – bass (4, 5, 10, 17), broken twigs (10)
Norbert Putnam – bass (9, 12, 15, 16)
Russ Kunkel – drums (1, 2, 4–6, 8–10, 12, 14–17), cymbals (4), congas (15), timbales (15), percussion (16)
Don Alias – African drums (1), congas (1), cowbell (1), güiro (1), shakers (1)
Marty Lewis – tambourine (9), additional percussion (14)
Joe Lala – congas (16), timbales (16)
Jimmie Fadden – harmonica (6)
Michael Brecker – soprano saxophone (8), tenor saxophone (10)
Tom Scott – tenor saxophone (15)
Jerry Hey – piccolo (12), trumpet (12)
David Duke – French horn (12)
Jesse Ehrlich – cello (3)
Gayle Levant – harp (3), Celtic harp (13), concert harp (13)
Sid Sharp – violin (13)
Glen Spreen – brass quintet arrangements (7a)
UCLA band – orchestra (7b)
Lawrence Fogelberg – orchestral arrangements (7b)
Joni Mitchell – vocal descent (1)
Heart of Darkness Chorale – choir (1)
Richie Furay – harmony vocals (2)
Don Henley – harmony vocals (10)
Emmylou Harris – vocals (11)
Mike Brewer – harmony vocals (12)
Glenn Frey – harmony vocals (15)
Chris Hillman – harmony vocals (16)
Sid's Raiders – choir (17)
Marc Gottesman – choir director (17)

Chart (1982)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	6
Australia Albums Chart^[3]	38

Year End Chart (1982)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	19^[4]

Single	Chart	Position
"Same Old Lang Syne"	Adult Contemporary	8
"Same Old Lang Syne"	Pop Singles	9
"Hard to Say"	Adult Contemporary	2
"Hard to Say"	Pop Singles	7
"Lost In The Sun"	Mainstream Rock	45
"Leader of the Band"	Adult Contemporary	1
"Leader of the Band"	Pop Singles	9
"Run for the Roses"	Adult Contemporary	3
"Run for the Roses"	Pop Singles	18

^ AllMusic review
^ ^a ^b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 254, 255.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 115. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Top BIllboard 200 Albums of 1982". www.billboard.com. Billboard Magazine. January 2, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2020.