5 comments about Deeper Still.

1. I recently downloaded "Deeper Still" from Itunes & it quickly became a new favorite of mine. Every song on this CD is beyond beautiful and "deep", containing important life insights & connecting with feelings we've all experienced at one point or another in our lives.
   
   In each song Beth connects with her listens in a most beautiful & profound way - it is truly awesome!
   
   I would categorize this music as folk or folk-rock. However, on this particular CD, there is also a celtic-flare to several of the songs.
   
   So, if you like "folk-rock"-type music & music that touches your heart, then this CD is for you! I honestly can't recommend it highly enough!



2. This disk came after Chapman not only weathered her husband's cancer death (inspiration for SAND AND WATER) but made it through her own bout with breast cancer. Unfortunately, where her husband's tragedy made for beautiful art in the case of SAND AND WATER, Beth's own affliction didn't seem to bring the muses as readily. There are some wonderful moments here, but overall it's not as consistent as SAND AND WATER was in plumbing the depths of her emotions. As in the past, it's on the uptempo numbers Chapman falters while the ballads are surefooted and nearly universally stellar.
   
   HIGHLIGHTS:
   "Every December Sky" uses the fallen leaves of autumn as a metaphor for mortality. ("And every leaf of fire lets go/melting in the arms of Earth and snow") Bonnie Raitt guests along with frequent songwriting partner Annie Roboff on "Wait for the Way", an ode to having patience while "time heals all wounds". The title track is the finest paraphrase of "it's better to have loved and lost" I've heard. A pennywhistle and Vince Gill's harmony bolster the track, summed up in its final line "you will always have what you gave to love". "Sleep" is Chapman's paean to world music, incorporating Native American flute, Tibetan bowl, Conch shell and street sounds of an Indian market in its unorthodox arrangement. Chapman imagines death as a place with "wondrous wings and blinded eyes/that see even beyond seeing/The same heartbreaking sorrow/The same unspeakable loveliness/All at the same time/How beautiful and sad". "Feathers Bones and Shells" reminds us of how fragile life is, that "nothing escapes/the wind blowing through/the feathers, bones and shells". Beth's accompanied only by her piano and John Catching's cello. "There's a Light" is a non-denominational hymn of sorts, asserting "To this world we will die/but our hearts know/We'll see more on that side/when the door opens wide/We will fly, we will fly/we will all go". The restrained arrangement never allows itself to crest into bathos. Emmylou Harris and Kimmie Rhodes add subtle harmony as Chapman ends the album with the antithesis of opener "World of Hurt".
   
   LOWS:
   The mechanized electronic drum drone of "All for the Love" feels out of place in the context of the mostly organic sounds Chapman has offered on the bulk of the album. It's no so much "poor" as poorly used. It might have been better held onto for a future project where it would sound of a piece. It may just be incredible coincidence, but "All Comes Down to Love" sounds AMAZINGLY close musically to the PUSH STARS "Drunk is Better than Dead". At least, I'm hoping it's just astounding coincidence. The acoustic guitar parts are identical..the song is OK but the smell of plagairism ruins it for me.
   
   BOTTOM LINE:
   This still is quite a contemplative album and not "sunny pop" by any means, but it's not as laden with melancholy as SAND AND WATER was. Though I feel S.A.W. was a better work of art, you may find yourself putting this one in the player more often.



3. Very simple lyrics and comes with lyrics on the jacket too! I love this CD. Listened to it all day yesterday and today... If you like her previous Sand and Water be warned this is much different. It is quite religious but not in a preachy way, more spiritual. All the songs seem quite good, except I can't seem to figure out "deeper still". Guess what? I think that's a good thing! Keep searching, and if you are thinking about buying this CD I would strongly recommend it!



4. On 1st hearing, this Jennifer Warnes 'sound-alike' conveys a religious-leaning and a preoccupation with the meaning of love. For macho males, the album could be a put-off; for those with more sensitivity, a spark of fascination could happen. For it is quickly evident that this lady is sincere in the poetry she writes. Hints arise of the writings of e.g. Leonard Cohen, Dougie MacLean, Nanci Griffith, and others. The support she is given by other singers such as John Prime and Vince Gill is unobtrusive and pleasant, and I wanted to play the album again immediately.

   I consider this album to be special. This assumes that we can put aside inhibitions and listen openly to the content of the songs. Some are upbeat; many are slow and reflective.

   As for the recording, the information informs us that numerous sites are used for the recordings. On good equipment this shows: in lack of clarity and in digital 'edge' to the voice. In what seems a common style in US C & W recordings, there is little ambience and the sound does not open up enough; my 'ScanSpeak' tweeters appear to have taken a vacation! A quick check with a digital editor shows clipping; with minor clip restoration, plus slight presence lift, the sound becomes more acceptable.

   Do listen to the poetry...




5. I wanted to rate this CD 5 stars, but I think that rating should be reserved for rare works that truly stand far above the run of the mill. This one is close, but rates only 4 in my book because, despite the extremely moving tunes and gorgeous lyrics, Beth Nielsen Chapman is only an average vocalist.

   This is an extremely moving CD from beginning to end. It might not lift your heart, but it will stir your soul. And art is about moving you in some way, even if it is not always upbeat and happy.

   Other reviewers have commented on the famous singers who have lent thier talents to back-up vocals. This, I think, is a tribute to the strength of the material that Ms. Chapman has created.

   Other reviewers have also commented on indvidual songs. The one that moved me most is called, "Sleep" as I recall. On it, Ms. Chapman sings of "The same heartcrushing sorrow, the same unspeakable loveliness... all at the same time." These lyrics could describe the entire CD.

5 comments about Spider-Man Theme.

1. I first heard this cd when my neighbor played it. I had to have it! I am so very happy that there are young vocalists like Michael Buble. I love men who just sing beautifully. I'm glad he helped revive such fabulous songs from some of the best vocalists of days gone by. If you want a bit of fun, get this cd. It's Michael Buble!



2. The title song was, when I purchased this album, of little interest to me. However, the multiple versions of SWAY, including the longer play version, make the entire album worth the price....particularly if you really enjoy Latin rhythms and the wonderful voice of Michael Buble.



3. Because I'm a Buble fan, I thought it might have various songs from the movie "Spiderman." I was wrong...it was one long recording of the same song....



4. I am a big fan of Michael Buble, and I was happy to see that several versions of SWAY were on this cd. Very fun mixes. I have even been enjoying the SpiderMan song, much to my surprise.
   
   I wanted the version of SWAY from the Vegas CD, but you can't download just that song, and I didn't want to purchase the whole cd.
   
   If you're a fan, you'll enjoy the mixes.



5. This CD is for you if you are a die hard Spider Man fan or a groupie of the same song of sway remixed 6 different ways. As for me, I got a headache.

5 comments about Don't Stop Believin'.

1. First, I loved this album growing up, and I am glad to finally have the remastered import CD version. However, the packaging was a great disappointment not only for this CD, but all the Olivia Remastered CDs. Sure it comes with a booklet of lyrics and pictures from the original albums, but EVERY photo is so grainy that it looks absolutely amatueristic. This includes the front and back covers and the photos inside the booklet. I would have sworn they were booklet copies if I hadn't purchased them from Amazon directly.



2. This was the first Olivia Remaster I got, as I suffered for years of only having this album on Cassette (went through two of them actually) Not only was I completely grateful I had this on cd, I was BLOWN AWAY by the sound quality of this particular release in comparison to my MCA Cds.
   
   My favorite song is A Thousand Conversations. The Kangaroo song is Corny, but makes me smile. I also love Every Face Tells A Story, an underrated single. And of course, Sam and the title track are just wonderful. A Really really great record. You also get the priviledge of hearing her sing accapella on the intro to Last Time You loved. Great Idea for Olivia.



3. ONJ went to Hollywood from London, but stopped on her way in Nashville to record the best album she's ever made. The title cut is breathtaking and is oh, so very true. I love A Thousand Conversations, Compassionate Man, and Hey Mr Dreammaker. As a 2 sided album, the weakest song on side one was New Born Babe, but it's still a beautiful song. Side 2 brought probably her last country hit, Every Face Tells a Story, and, of course, Sam. The two songs after that are the weakest points, if I had to choose one. But she makes up for it with The Last Time You Loved. It is simply one of the most beautiful songs she's ever done, and with a minimum of vocal overdubbing. John Farrar didn't let many songs go without 2 or 3 Olivia's singing together. On this one, he did. The lack of overdubs shows that she was/is a really good singer and not just a beauty, which many thought that's all she was. Sometimes, Mr. Farrar forgot that. This album should have been her comeback, before Grease. Her sales were beginning to slack, and continued to do so until Grease, but this one should have put Livvy back on top.



4. I got to meet Olivia one time, and this CD (wish I'd brought the LP) was the only item of the hundreds of momentos I own, I asked her to autograph. Awesome, one of a kind. Furthermore, it's structure (song selection and order) remind me a lot of the long deleted If You Love Me, Let Me Know, the album that made her a star, but with all original songs instead of covers.
   She should have recorded all her albums in Nashville. Simply the best work she has ever done. The title cut should have been a huge hit, especially considering the time of release



5. First off, let me say that I am a proud fan of Olivia Newton-John's and I have been for many years. Something about her voice soothes me and I often play her records when I need to relax and 'de-stress'. This album, in particular, is one of my favorites to unwind to. I especially love the title track. Listen to the lyrics and you'll discover that the song is one of her most inspirational and comforting songs. It basically says that no matter how bad things are going in your life, you have to keep holding on and doing your best and eventually you'll pull through. The rest of the album is equally soothing and many songs are quite lovely especially the biggest hit on here the longing 'Sam' as well as the bittersweet 'A thousand conversations'. The one song I could do without is the somewhat annoying 'I'll bet you a kangaroo' but it isn't all that bad and the quality of the other songs on the album makes it easy to overlook this one small misstep. Overall, I highly recommend this album to people who want to hear an album of songs that soothe the weary mind and touch the heart.

5 comments about Watching the White Wheat: Folk Songs of the British Isles; King's Singers.

1. The Kings Singers are great, and this is probably my favorite of their CDs. No too-catchy tunes (like "What shall we do with a drunken sailor" on the Annie Laurie CD). Just terrific music, sung very well.



2. I love this cd, the king's singers are one of my favorite groups ever and this is one of my favorite cds of theirs.



3. A mix of the traditional and the modern which is itself timeless. I bought the CD to replace my cassette which was lost in a theft. I've owned this album for over 20 years and it remains a must have.



4. I loved The Kings Singers since their debut album (now available on CD). This recording is one of many fine albums they have made. The musical arrangements are sensitive, and enhance the character of the simple tunes selected. Daryl Runswick and Gordon Langford, veteran Kings Singers arrangers, wrote several of them, but there is also a lovely arrangement of The Star of the County Down by Howard Goodall (who has written all the music for Rowan Atkinson's TV shows and the themes for Red Dwarf and The Vicar of Dibley).

   I love every single track, but here are a few particularly interesting ones:
   John Rutter's arrangement of Barbara Allen
   Early One Morning, arranged by one of the group (Jeremy Jackman) Daryl Runswick's arrangements of O Waly, Waly and She Moved Through the Fair
   Watching the White Wheat (sung in Welsh)

   Highly recommended.




5. This is a performer's CD! I bought this CD in college, and it's still one of my treasured favorites for what it does: it captures the essence of near-flawless performance...diction, intonation, lyrical expression...the overall musically of this group is not enhanced by studio post-production. You get the same live as you get with this recording, and if you've done small ensemble work before, you'll love this recording. They even have 11 of these 16 songs in a songbook entitled "The King's Singers' Folk Songs" (Faber & Faber), with every note on the CD turned into spots on the page.

5 comments about Convertible Music/From the Hip.

1. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1JETSPVZVEUIR My name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician (check me out on Amazon!) and retro music enthusiast. If you enjoyed this review make sure to check out my Amazon user profile to check out my other reviews. I am always up for making new friends and discussing the music I love!!!



2. Do you really [i]need[/i] 21 tracks of Josie Cotton music? Do you really need her two main LPs jammed into a single compact disc? "Need" may be a bit strong, but this fun slice of Big 80s novelty new wave is great cruising music.
   
   
   
   
   
   Collectables Records has done a great service, putting Miss Cotton's two LP's, [i]Convertible Music[/i] and [i]From the Hip[/i], out on one disc. Yeah, there's some filler. A lot of filler. But the filler's inoffensive. And the standout tracks are must-owns.
   
   
   
   
   
   Miss Cotton does a great cover version of Looking Glass's other hit, "Jimmy Loves Maryann." Track 21, "Way Out West," ends the disc on a fun note. But the absolute you-gotta-have-it track is the memorable "Johnny, Are You Queer?" Pure fun. When that one played on the radio during the new wave era, you just stopped what you're doing and gave it a close listen. You'd be thinking: she's not really saying that, is she? Well, she was. (And, for the record, I think he was. Listen to you heart, girlfriend.)
   
   
   
   
   
   You want it. You need it. Give in.



3. Other than the Go-Go's, I don't think there is another performer who to me personofies the 80s new wave LA surfing fun style music like Josie Cotton. Both of them took a new look at music by taking their immediate tunes from the 60s, Josie & The Go-Go's didn't so much rely on the synth style and keyboards that were happening in new wave as they did take the old 60s girl groups and the 60s organs and put them into music that deserves to be played loud and while driving a convertible to the beach - no doubt I'm sure how Josie came up with the title to her debut album.
   
   After the localized success of Johnny Are You Queer? on the Bomp label (note: Go-Go's were performing Johnny Are You Queer? before Josie got a hold of it), Josie signed to Elektra and with her brought Bobby & Larson Paine, the brothers who wrote and produced that immortal single; what the boys and Josie came up with is one bright number after another - 11 songs that interestingly enough don't sound dated at all; perhaps the likes of bands like OK Go etc. listened to their fair share of Josie??
   
   No matter what song is played, you turn it up just a tad louder, you sing along, you want to be in LA in 1982 and head to the beach - the keyboards and Farfisa organs are perfect, the driving surf guitars, the drum breaks, Josie's almost hiccup vocals, it's really too incredible for words.
   
   "He Could Be The One" (#5 on my Top 100 Singles of the 80s) leads off the album and as you bounce and sing, you just get more and more glorious results - "I Need The Night Tonight", "Another Girl" (it looked like you/ with another girl) "Systematic Way", "Bye Bye Baby" - it's sassy, (do what you do/ that's okay cuz I'm through with you/ bye, bye, bye baby say goodbye/ I can't feel sad cuz I feel so free), it has backing boy vocals (we got a good thing going girl) - and it's an all out jumpy little ditty wrapped around hooks so big you'd think it would've been the biggest thing of 1982 but when released as a single it didn't go anywhere!
   
   There is even a very heart felt little ballad "No Pictures Of Dad" (she's alone and it's hard to accept/ in this world it's keep or be kept/ No pictures of dad/ and she doesn't want to do what her mother did, oh no) but not in the ballady way of say Ms. Diana Ross but more like the Go-Go's "Everything But Party Time", I love it of course.
   
   Josie even covers one of my fav 60s songs "Tell Him" and let me say does it just that new wavy way it should be, try not to sing and dance to this one.. I dare ya!
   
   As I think about it, I really can't think of a much better album at the moment and when/if I ever get around to coming up with my all time favorite albums of all time, you can bet this will be very high on that list. Unfortunetly the album isn't on CD as itself but in a rash of pure CD genius, the folks at Oldies put the CD out as a two-fer with Josie's next album:
   
   JOSIE COTTON - From The Hip (1984 - Elektra)
   For some reason, Convertible Music was not the stellar seller one would have expected it to be, so Josie came up with some more songs and in 1984 launched From The Hip, a more synthy new wave set than the predessor, it didn't however mean that Josie had lost any of her power or ear candy.
   
   The lead off single "Jimmy Loves Maryann" is almost as ingenius as anything on the first album, telling the story of a hoodlum and the good girl, it was Josie's precursor to (and much better) "Skater Boi" (etc. including perhaps Swivek's own Johnny Misunderstood), the album also includes what is probably my all time favorite Josie song "Gina" (Gina don't you run with him/ I'm talking to you like a friend); some of it doesn't work as well as the first album, a rockabilly "Straight Talk" and "Come With Me" are too produced to be fun, and though the doo wop ode of "Life After Love" is fun, it sounds too early 80s synth produced like Diana Ross (why do I keep mentioning her?) on "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?"... but it's still a great piece of music and though it's not as good as Convertible Music, I really can't expect that. I mean that album is pop fun personified.



4. Great trip down memory lane and stands the test of time.....Love Her and Her Music!!!!



5. Excellent buy! I had 'From The Hip' when I was in high school and still love it!

5 comments about On Broadway.

1. This is a somewhat difficult to find title, but well worth the effort. Ms McArdle has had a marvelously strong voice since originally creating the role of Little Orphan Annie in the Broadway production of "Annie" (aside: I was lucky enough to catch her in London at the Victoria Palace Theatre, and I don't recall ever having as much fun at a musical production either before or since). In any case, the now grown up lady is all too underrepresented on CD, and if you like show tunes, this eclectic grouping will leave you wanting more from this terrific singer. Her rendition of Never Never Land is straightforward and breathtakingly lovely. Some of the other choices are curious and a matter of taste(too much Lloyd Webber for me), but her interpretations are difficult to fault.



2. This cd grew on me. At first, I dismissed it because of the pop-style arrangements that Andrea McArdle's husband, Edd Kalehoff, put forth which doesn't fit with a traditional Broadway style that Andrea does so well.
   
   However, because I am a big Andrea McArdle fan, I decided to continue to listen to this cd. She sings these songs really well, has tremendous diction, and shows tremendous range of character. The arrangements work better with 60s songs like "Easy To Be Hard" from Hair and "Pinball Wizard" from The Who's Tommy. I actually listened to the originial Pinball Wizard but I like Andrea's version more--which says a lot because I almost always prefer the original version of songs more. However, it's not really my type of song, so you can take that for what it's worth.
   
   Her daughter, Alexis Kalehoff, does her parents proud with a really sweet version of "Castle On A Cloud" from Les Miserables.
   
   Overall, many of the songs on this album could have been better arranged, but it still is worth buying if you are an Andrea McArdle fan since she hasn't recorded that much. I hope she gets the opportunity to record a lot more as she is one of the bright talents on Broadway, with a distinctive, likable voice and deserves more cds and chances to show her stuff.



3. This is a great Broadway CD sung by the quintessential Broadway voice of Andrea McArdle!!! Don't miss it! Her voice sparkles with a clear, true sound. Truly masterful!!!
   
   She opens with "Never Never Land" and sings it with the kind of warmth and wonder that only Andrea can give with such spirited generosity. It is simply the best interpretation of that song that I have ever heard recorded, live or otherwise. Similarly, many performers have recorded "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," but only Andrea actually sings the song with the depth of emotion and range it was meant to have and thereby evokes a truer response from the listener. As the song builds, she remains centered and delivers her strength from resources within, as opposed to allowing her vocal to go wide, as some performers have done in the past, to substitute for lack of technique or emotion. Likewise, her version of "Buenos Aires" is relentless as it should be. As she takes us into the bridge, she does so with a brightness that is fresh and natural to the meaning of the song and its position in the musical as a whole, while at the same time staying away from the typically pumped up false bravado that lesser talents have superficially imposed upon it. The beauty and intimacy of "Starlight Express" is painted as a soulful lullaby that awakens an enchanting dream world just beyond the imagination of the listener. Her personality is illuminated in her music as well as in her choices and she reveals a quality that is quite personal, lovely, and accessible.
   
   Perhaps it is Andrea's persona that we remember as the wide-eyed child singing about "Tomorrow" that makes "I Dreamed A Dream" so bittersweet. Yes it is meant to be bittersweet, but when Andrea sings it, it takes on a cache that is deep, beautiful, brilliant, and at the same time heartbreaking. Even though all is lost for her character Fantine, Andrea weaves a message bearing hope for future generations.
   
   Opening the album with "Neverland" and closing with "Tomorrow" is of course a stroke of genius. Andrea gives her signature song added resonance as an adult, reminding us of new possibilities contained in every fresh moment. She has given us the voice that hearing her sing for the first time as a child promised it would become. Andrea McArdle is not only a force to be reckoned with, but more importantly, a talent to be celebrated. I believe Andrea McArdle and "Tomorrow" is that rare blend of singer and song that happens only once in a very long while. Like Judy Garland and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," and Barbra Streisand and "People," Andrea McArdle and "Tomorrow" will be remembered and treasured for all the tomorrow's to come.



4. All I can say is this album is a big disappointment!!! It was cheaply produced and it shows!! No big orchestra or big band to back up Andrea. Her selections of songs are badly chosen for her. What is Andrea singing Rock for? Pinball Wizard and Starlight Express ??? The arrangements for the song show no imagineation!!! As for Andrea's voice.. it still is powerful... this album just doesn't show it . Please Andrea if you ever get a chance to record another album... get somebody with taste and talent to produce for you. As I stated this album is a big disappointment... well maybe "Tomorrow" will big a better album for Andrea!!!



5. Nobody belts out a song like Andrea McArdle. Ever since she captured our hearts as "Annie" she has given every note of every song her full attention. Her voice has matured over the years and she still has that amazing range -- now with extreme polish. I could have done without "Pinball Wizard", but loved all the other selections. There is nothing like hearing Andrea sing "Tomorrow" -- whether she's 14 or 34. I can't wait for "On Broadway Part II" -- hopefully, it's in the works.

5 comments about Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot.

1. If you like Gordon Lightfoot then you won't like this. Listen to music samples before you buy. The tribute by the Cowboy Junkies (The Way I Feel), is superb and complements the original and would be the only reason to buy this.



2. We love Gordon Lightfoot music. I wanted to like this, I asked for it as a gift, and finally got my hands on this through Amazon.Com. It has it's moments, but all to many of the performances are bland. One of the truest points the ALL MUSIC GUIDE makes about most all Tribute albums is that they make you long for the original artist. That is sure the case here. With few exceptions the renditions of the Lightfoot classics and album tracks don't hold a candle to the originals.
   .
   COWBOY JUNKIES, "The Way I Feel" was superb, and the folks who compiled this disc must have felt the same way, as they opt to open the set with this promising number. A cool, funky guitar snakes its way thru the tune, while the drums keep the pace and acoustic guitars compliment Margo Timmons fine vocals.
   If the rest of the CD had one half the innovativeness that this song has it would be a Canadian classic garnering Juno favour.
   But alas the great moments pretty much stop there.
   Oh, there are other nice performances, smatterings of nibble guitar play or a contemporary sound here and there.
   .
   American defector JESSE WINCHESTER is a nifty choice on "SUNDOWN" and that is the second best moment. With it's percussion and slick wah-wah fret work, it rocks well. Jesse at least puts his own vocal spin and arrangement on one of Gordos more bluesy numbers. A singer song-writer like Winchester is a smart choice for a CD such as his.
   .
   Neither RON SEXSMITH (DRIFTERS) nor BRUCE COCKBURN (RIBBON of DARKNESS) made much of their opportunities, in my opinion. I have enjoyed moments by SEXSMITH in the past. As for Bruce...If I had a rocket launcher, why I'd...
   .
   BLUE RODEO are a great band, and while they don't win me over entirely with their version of a unsung Lightfoot classic, "GO GO ROUND", I'll grant them a pass. They do not harm the song. The liner notes point out that this may not be one of Gordon's personal favs, but his 1960's folk generation lyrics offer some nostagic fun for me, so I give BLUE RODEO a mild thumbs up.
   .
   One of the ubiquitous COLIN LINDEN's many side projects is BLACKIE & the RODEO KINGS, and they do a serviceable rendering of "SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE". It is one of the numbers that makes me want to run to my record collection and pull out GORDON's original, because the way he subtly eases into the chorus is so inspiring. COLIN and the band rough house it up a bit on this one, and while all is not lost, it just seemed better suited as a slower balled that a rocker. The playing is fine -the vocals a stretch. But COLIN, who doubles as executive producer on the project and sits in on many of the sessions, is all right in my books and a wonderful guitarist, so I'll give him a passing grade. His intentions are always well meaning.
   .
   CONNIE KALDOR, is one of the biggest missteps. It's not even that it sounds bad (or good), the harmony vocals actually work well. It's just so hard to take on Gordon's best song, and maybe just one of the greatest songs ever written and try to do anything the same (or different) and make it work. It begs for the original. Gordon Lightfoot nailed "IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND". The words are pure poetry and when Lightfoot sings them you feel as if you are the person he sings of. Like a Michael Jordan jump shot, Babe Ruth's swing, Mona Lisa's smile and Fitzgerald's "Gatsby", perfection should be left untouched. The guitar chords and moving strings (NOT piano keys) also help make HIS masterpiece work. I have heard Gordon Lightfoot sing IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND hundreds of times and he never fails to get me to turn the volume up. CONNIE I'm sorry, I just had to the the volume down.
   .
   I liked TERRY TUFTS take on "FOR LOVIN' ME", the mandolin is such a under-used and effective instrument. This song takes on a life of it's own while still paying tribute to the tune it salutes. Hey anyone that can include a 7-string guitar, dobro and mandolin, is OK in my books. Thanks for taking a chance.
   .
   HARRY MANX, "Bend in the Water". Undistinguished glop.
   .
   TRAGICALLY HIP, like BLUE RODEO have earned a certain amount of respect throughout Canada, to some degree North American, as well as success internationally. However BLACK DAY is not my favorite LIGHTFOOT, nor is this the best thing I've heard by T.H. Like much of the album, it reminds me that there are better versions of this song, and better songs in the LIGHTFOOT canon. Sure it is a song written about a tumultuous time in America, but to drive that point home with overly load, aimless guitar chords and screeching vocals, doesn't work for me. A quick glimpse at the back cover photo on the CD sleeve shows Gordon apparently covering his ears. Tragically, this might be the song that made him do it, I'm afraid.
   .
   What can one say about Canadian veteran MURRAY McLAUGHLAN. Straw hat, and old dirty hankies... Now here is a guy that deserves a chance to cover Gordo. And he does Canada proud. Like a Canuck Steve Goodman. He takes a fairly obscure song and turns in a solid performance. Bonus points for the use of a penny whistle. It is one of the more elegant moments on the album. Take a chance and succeed. I believe I can tell that he respects the music he is celebrating. Way to go, Murray, moping a face like a shoe.
   .
   MARIA MULDAUR, haven't heard from you since "MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS" (Take Your Camel to Bed). This is no MIDNIGHT and while you may be a lightweight, you are no GORDON mimic. Failer.
   .
   Word to JAMES KEELAGHAN, don't mess with CANADIAN RAILROAD TRILOGY. That song is GORDON's domain, and really out of everyone's league, even on a tribute album. Like trying to re-record "Hey Jude", just shouldn't be done. Period. You want to sing about Don Quixote or Maid Marion, that's one thing, but don't try to toast to the living and drink to the dead.
   .
   SYLVIA FRICKER's QUARTETTE, won't make me forget Gordon's "SONG FOR A WINTER DAY", nor SARAH McLAUGHLAN's version, for that matter, but it is a song that plays well and is well sung in 4 part harmony. It is a fine LIGHTFOOT moment and always sounds nice as part of my Christmas collection. Four Strong wind-pipes, you might say. Well done ladies, well done.
   .
   AENGUS FINNAN, word to the wise, unless your name is Stompin' Tom Connors and you think k.d. lang is a young hipster, please don't bother writing weak tribute songs on so-so tribute albums. Doesn't work that way. Sophmoric at best.
   .
   Overall there are some nice moments but they are off set by just as much manusha. Like goldilocks' porridge either to light or to hard. But some of it is just right. Bonus points for not including any cloying song resembling a ship wreck on the Great Lakes. Gordon Lightfoot wrote many classic songs, that is not one of them.
   .
   As for the title of the album "BEAUTIFUL", wouldn't it have been nice to have someone like k.d lang (who feted Canadian song-writers with her own fine CD last year) or the Sarahs Harmer or McLauchlan, or Kathleen Edwards, or Jann Arden, or Chantal Kreviazuk, or even someone like Amanda Marshall, take on the song the album is named after? It is missing from a CD entitled: BEAUTIFUL. What gives, with that?
   
   
   
   --I don't think you can ever do your best. Doing your best is a process of trying to do your best. - Townes Van Zandt



3. ...is beautiful. A delight to hear Canadian singer/songwriters celebrating their natonal treasure.



4. I think I speak for most people when I say that tribute albums only tend to make you want to hear the originals again. Maybe that is the point, but usually you only want to listen to the cover versions once and then sprint to the original album never to return. This album is an exception. First of all, most of the artists are Canadian and that lends an air of sincerity and empathy to their vision of the song. Second, notice that no one tried to tackle "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". That shows that these artists know better than to try to better a signature song and that they had the wisdom to mine the vast Lightfoot songbook and highlight the more obscure, yet accessible songs. Gordon Lightfoot has long been underrated as a songwriter with eclectic tastes in music and a keen ear for a poetic lyric. This album goes a long way toward showing how Lightfoots songs could be interpreted many ways without losing the power or sincerity of the lyric. The arrangements are fresh and modern. While this can often be jarring, in this case it is refreshing since it refocuses your attention to the lyric. One particular highlight for me was Connie Kaldor's reading of "If You Could Read My Mind". This is a song that we have all probably heard in the supermarket or the mall a hundred times, but Ms. Kaldor's spare interpretation brings back the poignancy of the lyric and, as she points out in her notes, the songs works when changed to a woman's point of view, showing how universal the feeling of the song is. That is but one highlight of this album. This album will not replace the Lightfoot originals in your collection; it is not intended to. But it may compel you to make room beside them for a heartfelt homage to a Canadian legend.



5. solid CD--varying quality, as most tribute CDs are. I'm not sure why the Miami reviewer feels his/her OPINION of particular songs is more valid than the previous reviewer's. These are individual opinions; there is no "correct" view of a song. Get over yourself and enjoy the music--or not--without pronouncing that someone with a different opinion from you is "not a real fan."

5 comments about Edith Piaf: Her Greatest Recordings 1935-1943.

1. Edith Piaf: 30th AnniversaireI bought both of these recordings for my husband. It was one of the better presents I ever got for him. He is throughly enjoying both of them.



2. What a delight to hear Edith Piaf's lovely voice! Lovely songs, and it is well done.



3. Once she has won your heart, you will want this collection to hear how she developed as a performer -- and came to be a great symbol of France in the 20th Century



4. Adds depth to a music collection; sound quality of old recording makes it interesting



5. Having heard a song by Edith Piaf while watching the movie "Saving Private Ryan" and being captivated by the sound of her voice, I decided to venture into a completely new direction in my listening library. I must admit that I have not been able to take this CD out of any player that happens to be around me! Even though I have no idea of the lyrics, Ms. Piaf has the ability to draw you in and make you feel like you understand exactly what she is saying. She is joyful, tragic, coy, sad, dramatic, and ultimately she leaves me with the feeling of her devotion to her art and her time in history.

2 comments about Arthur Godfrey Time.

1. Am I alone in the onion patch? Why isn't one of Mr Godfrey's most evocative tunes present on this - or any - available CD collection. Please, somebody in the business get your act together - gives us I'm A Lonely Petunia In An Onion Patch (fee-yew!).



2. This album brings me right back to the kitchen in the Bronx, where my mother had a small, white radio,sitting on a shelf, tuned to Arthur Godfrey's program. I loved listening to that show, while eating breakfast. I recall many of the songs that are on this CD!

5 comments about Shine.

1. i agree with one of the other reviewers in that she ought to pick a style and get good at it.
   to be honest,all her songs sound exactly the same,not because the music is bad,,but because her voice has one style and thats it.
   
   the only thing she has to offer,is her face/body on the cover of the album.
   if she didnt have them looks,or that body,OR she didnt appear on the cover to begin with,, do you realy think we would have ever heard of her??
   
   haha
   get real.
   save your money
   roy



2. She is not real listenable over all tracks. Interesting one time around,really needs better material.



3. Theresa's album took a few listens. Her talent is clearly evident as a vocalist, song-writer and instrumentalist. Once she decides which direction she wants to take her music, then I believe she will be an artist to reckon with. Having seen her live, I can say that the best Theresa Andersson experience is the live one. Pop Diva or Pure American (by way of Sweden)Songwriter? I hope she chooses the latter. This album is definitely worth the investment!
   Mark, Jacksonville, Fl.



4. Watching the Brooke Ellison story and hearing the song "It's Gonna Be OK" I knew that the talented Theresa was behind the scenes of this heart warming story! What a treat to see her in the movie and hear her sing that song, it was PERFECT!!!!!!
   The whole CD is fresh, funky, soothing to your soul!



5. Theresa Andersson is a triple threat. She sings like an angel, plays the fiddle with devilish glee, and writes heartfelt and insightful songs. She is the most naturally gifted artist I've heard in years. SHINE is a great listen. "Connected" is a nice pop romp, "Shine" has an infectious melody, and "It's gonna be OK" will soothe your soul. Theresa is an inventive female singer/songwriter with a true gift for melody. Shine is a nice reflection of her talent.