- Audio Cassette (22 April 1991)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Columbia
- ASIN: B00005LXUP
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Audio Cassette | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Four years after her smash hit cover of Ketty Lester's "Love Letters", Alison Moyet heralded the release of her "Hoodoo" album with the searing "It Won't Be Long." It might have earned a Grammy nomination and critical kudos but it scared the bejaysus out of inane pop-pickers on playlist panels. So much so, in fact, that the two subsequent (and more commercial) A-sides from this set would be utterly sidelined.
Alison Moyet had clearly found her voice and a strong artistic vision. "Hoodoo" at once embraced her soulful roots, her pop sensibilities, a taste for shouty blues/rock and her unrivalled talent for smoky chanson. "Footsteps," with its soulful horn section and superglue hooks, slinkily opens proceedings before "It Won't Be Long" comes along to strip emotional paint. Next is the jewel in this album's crown, the hauntingly beautiful "This House." Imbued with longing and loss, it never once falters into saccharine balladry and its failure to become a global smash remains a mystery. It remains one of the very finest songs of Moyet's career. Elsewhere, the lilting "Wishing You Were Here," the skittering electro-reggae of the gorgeous "Back Where I Belong" and the strident pizzazz of the funky title track keep the standard at a very satisfying high.
Overall, "Hoodoo" is a very dark album. The wonky feminist call-to-arms of "Rise" is bedded in a swampy arrangement and "My Right A.R.M." is a dense mood-piece. Closing the album is the gospel tinged "Find Me," which has 'modern standard' written all over it.
It is a mark of this album's strength that, all these years later, it still packs a punch. True, some of the arrangements and production are 'of their time' ('Never Too Late,' for instance) but the quality of the performances and the writing remains awe-inspiring. It is fair to say that the real Alison Moyet emerged with the release of this album. She found her voice and started to use it in fine style
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After a long search, I finally managed to aquire a copy, and on first hearing I was left tearing a strip off myself for not buying it when I saw it on the shelf in HMV back in 1991. What was I thinking? Maybe I was left a little cold by 'Raindancing'? Who knows...anyway.
Opens with 'Footsteps', a belter peppered with funk-horn arrangements. Lyrically more mature and vocally, well, shall we say, unrestrained. A brilliant start thought I.
'It won't be long' follows carrying on the pace already set and why this didn't dent the charts in the UK is anyones guess. 'This house' appears in a re-worked format compared to the 'Love Letters' b-side version, and brushes up well. A very deep and meaningful track, with obvious references to (her) marriage break-up.
The tone is raised aptly by 'Rise', a feminist rant, emploring the downtrodden to elevate themselves. Excellent vocal range displayed here, and backed by the Mint Juleps (and, if anyone owns a copy of their version of 'Every kinda people' going spare, make yourself known!)
'Wishing you were here' brings it down again, and then my personal fave, the title track 'Hoodoo'. Similar style track to the opener, with Alison proclaiming that Mr Freeloves 'credit' won't buy him love at her door.
'Meeting with my main man' is another fast-paced rocker with unbridled vocals, and then follows the infidelity laced 'Back where I belong'. Brilliant.
For me, it loses tack on 'My right ARM' (Yazoo throw back & 'Never too late', but finds the thread again with the closer 'Find me', a gospel tinged track bolstered by the vocal talents of the three black guys from London Beat.
Overall, a gem. You get a feeling that this is where she probably wanted to be in 1984, but Columbia wouldn't let her. So, if you spot a copy, buy it. You won't be disappointed.
Opens with 'Footsteps', a belter peppered with funk-horn arrangements. Lyrically more mature and vocally, well, shall we say, unrestrained. A brilliant start thought I.
'It won't be long' follows carrying on the pace already set and why this didn't dent the charts in the UK is anyones guess. 'This house' appears in a re-worked format compared to the 'Love Letters' b-side version, and brushes up well. A very deep and meaningful track, with obvious references to (her) marriage break-up.
The tone is raised aptly by 'Rise', a feminist rant, emploring the downtrodden to elevate themselves. Excellent vocal range displayed here, and backed by the Mint Juleps (and, if anyone owns a copy of their version of 'Every kinda people' going spare, make yourself known!)
'Wishing you were here' brings it down again, and then my personal fave, the title track 'Hoodoo'. Similar style track to the opener, with Alison proclaiming that Mr Freeloves 'credit' won't buy him love at her door.
'Meeting with my main man' is another fast-paced rocker with unbridled vocals, and then follows the infidelity laced 'Back where I belong'. Brilliant.
For me, it loses tack on 'My right ARM' (Yazoo throw back & 'Never too late', but finds the thread again with the closer 'Find me', a gospel tinged track bolstered by the vocal talents of the three black guys from London Beat.
Overall, a gem. You get a feeling that this is where she probably wanted to be in 1984, but Columbia wouldn't let her. So, if you spot a copy, buy it. You won't be disappointed.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have reviewed this work already, but in the time between my 'finding' an original copy and it's recent re-issue and have come to appreciate this album more and more. I therefore feel it deserves as much good press as possible.
If you are a fan of 'Hometime' but are unfamiliar with both 'Hoodoo' and 'Essex', then I suggest that you start here first and , bearing in mind that this album is 12 and a half years old (not that it sounds dated in any way), prepare yourself for real treat. It knocks 'Hometime' into a cocked hat, as far as I'm concerned. Don't get me wrong-'Hometime' is class; this is just something else. Less polished, more raw emotion, rock & soul.
I won't repeat what I've said already (read my review of the original Columbia release) but I will add that I have changed my view on the tracks I didn't appreciate. The rest just get better. It is the most played Moyet album for me, and gets an airing at least once, maybe twice a week.
Favourite tracks? Footsteps, Hoodoo, Rise, Back where I belong..
If you are a fan of 'Hometime' but are unfamiliar with both 'Hoodoo' and 'Essex', then I suggest that you start here first and , bearing in mind that this album is 12 and a half years old (not that it sounds dated in any way), prepare yourself for real treat. It knocks 'Hometime' into a cocked hat, as far as I'm concerned. Don't get me wrong-'Hometime' is class; this is just something else. Less polished, more raw emotion, rock & soul.
I won't repeat what I've said already (read my review of the original Columbia release) but I will add that I have changed my view on the tracks I didn't appreciate. The rest just get better. It is the most played Moyet album for me, and gets an airing at least once, maybe twice a week.
Favourite tracks? Footsteps, Hoodoo, Rise, Back where I belong..
Now that it is commercially available again, don't hanker over it. Give the girl the credit she justly deserves for a much ignored body of work. It won't disappoint.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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