Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Ten years after the release of Songbird, an album that has since gone platinum, this new Eva Cassidy collection brings together yet more magical moments from one of America's most lauded singer-songwriter legends. Embracing Cassidy's usual kaleidoscope of styles--from country and folk to Appalachian and Celtic--Somewhere is a set of covers that reminds us of the singer's consummate musicality and all-encompassing vocal skills. Opening with an acoustic version of Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors", the album flows mellifluously through a series of wonderful tunes: a re-arrangement of "My Love is Like a Red Red Rose" (by Robert Burns); a previously unreleased (and studio-enhanced) live version of the bluesy "Ain't Doin' Too Bad"; a take on Aretha Franklin's deeply soulful "Chain of Fools"; and versions of classic country tunes like "Walkin' After Midnight" and "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain". The overall mood fluctuates between hushed intimacy and summery exuberance. Of special mention are the final two songs, a gorgeous acoustic arrangement of Gershwin's "Summertime", and the soaring title track, which carries the listener off towards the horizon in true Cassidy style. --Danny McKenna
Album Description
Eva's legend continues with Somewhere, a collection of songs previously unreleased on an Eva Cassidy album, including two songs co-written by Eva. "Somewhere" was written with Chris Biondo, and "Early One Morning," a traditional English folk song, was adapted and set to original music by Eva and Rob Cooper. Somewhere, perhaps the most diverse Eva album to date, constantly surprises, as Eva Cassidy once again takes us along on her unique musical journey.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was introduced to Eva Cassidy in the late 90s and have purchased every CD of her work released since then. This new release caught me by surprise, discovering it in Amazon's New Releases section on the very day it was released. Boy am I glad I didn't miss it! Despite Live At Blues Alley being one of my all-time Top 10 albums, this is in great danger of becoming my favourite Eva album to date.
It is certainly better produced than previous works (not over-produced) with the luxury of Eva's own backing vocals now being added into the mix, along with retrospectively recorded instrumental parts. The light and shade of the album, therefore, shows greater disparity than ever before. Eva's cover of Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colours is sung in her trademark mellifluous style, which, rather than wrenching out your heart and dancing on it in stilletto heels as Dolly does, simply bathes you in the love felt by the singer for her mother's kindness. My Love is Like a Red Red Rose and A Bold Young Farmer are drawn from the folk tradition that Eva seemed to have flowing through her veins. Both interpretations are without doubt the best performances of those songs I have ever heard. Her cover of Walkin' After Midnight is so different to the versions I know well (Patsy Cline and The Cowboy Junkies) that it took me a while to recognise - she brings a depth to the song I had not heard before.
Saving the best for last, though, the inclusion of the self-penned Somewhere as the album's closer is a masterstroke. I hope it is a hint of more of Eva's own songs lurking away on a shelf and destined for a future release. Somewhere is up there with her versions of Over The Rainbow, Fields of Gold and What a Wonderful World as an absolute masterclass in vocal performance. She moves from subtle-without-being-boring (eat your heart out Katie Melua) to storming into your ears and demanding your attention, without her voice ever losing its shape, its depth or its warmth (are you listening Christina, Mariah and the rest of the Wailers?). It's softly gospelly layered backing vocals, from Eva's own multitracked voice alone, support her stunning lead to passionate, triumphant effect. Even if you're not a fan of Eva, this last track alone will have you converted in an instant. It's not often you hear a genius at work, but this is one of those rare occasions. Buy it and revel in the glory of one of the best tracks ever recorded.
It is certainly better produced than previous works (not over-produced) with the luxury of Eva's own backing vocals now being added into the mix, along with retrospectively recorded instrumental parts. The light and shade of the album, therefore, shows greater disparity than ever before. Eva's cover of Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colours is sung in her trademark mellifluous style, which, rather than wrenching out your heart and dancing on it in stilletto heels as Dolly does, simply bathes you in the love felt by the singer for her mother's kindness. My Love is Like a Red Red Rose and A Bold Young Farmer are drawn from the folk tradition that Eva seemed to have flowing through her veins. Both interpretations are without doubt the best performances of those songs I have ever heard. Her cover of Walkin' After Midnight is so different to the versions I know well (Patsy Cline and The Cowboy Junkies) that it took me a while to recognise - she brings a depth to the song I had not heard before.
Saving the best for last, though, the inclusion of the self-penned Somewhere as the album's closer is a masterstroke. I hope it is a hint of more of Eva's own songs lurking away on a shelf and destined for a future release. Somewhere is up there with her versions of Over The Rainbow, Fields of Gold and What a Wonderful World as an absolute masterclass in vocal performance. She moves from subtle-without-being-boring (eat your heart out Katie Melua) to storming into your ears and demanding your attention, without her voice ever losing its shape, its depth or its warmth (are you listening Christina, Mariah and the rest of the Wailers?). It's softly gospelly layered backing vocals, from Eva's own multitracked voice alone, support her stunning lead to passionate, triumphant effect. Even if you're not a fan of Eva, this last track alone will have you converted in an instant. It's not often you hear a genius at work, but this is one of those rare occasions. Buy it and revel in the glory of one of the best tracks ever recorded.
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As a long time Eva Cassidy fan this album caught me off guard. It is not the smooth flowing series of ballads one would expect from this singer yet in many ways it just could be something better! The album is a direct response to recording companies who originally tried to limit Eva to one type of music. Eva had the ability to master Standards, Country, R&B and Folk and herein lies the proof.
Fans of Eva's cover of "Fields Of Gold" will be quick to internalize the heartbreak in "A Bold Young Farmer", sung with trademark vocals which attack the nervous system faster than any virus known to man. Another folk selection, "Red Red Rose", is a close second in this emotional breakdown category because it is sung more true to it's origin as a Burns poem than as a bold ballad. This rose is a true love letter sung as if written on parchment.
The award winning album, Live At Blues Alley, might have been even better had it included two songs from this new album. "Ain't Doin' Too Bad" retains her vocals from the historic Jan 3, 1996 appearance while also adding a new backing by original band members plus a horn section. If you ever wondered what Eva would have sounded like accompanied by the full complement of musicians she deserved this is the answer. Fans of the band will applaud the piano introduction by Lenny Williams, Keith Grimes's guitar solo and Raice McLeod's "made to order" drums. Chris Biondo, Eva's long time producer and band member (bass), is superb in his producing of this track.
Eva's country music fans will immediately notice the Dolly Parton song, "Coat Of Many Colors", and an americana version of Don Hecht's "Walkin' After Midnight". In both songs, Keith Grimes offers sublime support on guitar.
Eva sings without the safety net of her regular band in "Early One Morning". The album liner notes contain a photo of Eva's handwritten lyrics offering the first of two songs that indicate her skills progressed far beyond interpretation. Dobro and slide guitar work by Rob Cooper are perfect complements to Eva's vocals.
Reinventing American Popular Song Standards was one of Eva's most unusual skills. Those who applaud her treatment of Irving Berlin's "Cheek To Cheek" on the Blues Alley release will quickly agree that she has pulled another musical rabbit out of a tophat with her version of the Gershwins "Summertime". This take is one that sits so easily under a shade tree that you will spend hours trying to think of similar versions. Don't waste your energy. Eva's folk based interpretation is a true original.
Any discussion of Eva's potential as a songwriter is now closed with the addition of the recording's title song, "Somewhere". Co-written with Chris Biondo (music), Eva's lyrics are far from casual and suggest a longing for love that may also apply to her need to create music..."and I like an arrow straight for love I went again". Fans of Eva Cassidy will only understand her full creative force when they hear this song complete with her own multi-voice background vocals, dynamics that change within verse, and phrasing that always finds the maximum emotion. To borrow from the lyrics, "for a moment or for a lifetime" this is Eva Cassidy.
Fans of Eva's cover of "Fields Of Gold" will be quick to internalize the heartbreak in "A Bold Young Farmer", sung with trademark vocals which attack the nervous system faster than any virus known to man. Another folk selection, "Red Red Rose", is a close second in this emotional breakdown category because it is sung more true to it's origin as a Burns poem than as a bold ballad. This rose is a true love letter sung as if written on parchment.
The award winning album, Live At Blues Alley, might have been even better had it included two songs from this new album. "Ain't Doin' Too Bad" retains her vocals from the historic Jan 3, 1996 appearance while also adding a new backing by original band members plus a horn section. If you ever wondered what Eva would have sounded like accompanied by the full complement of musicians she deserved this is the answer. Fans of the band will applaud the piano introduction by Lenny Williams, Keith Grimes's guitar solo and Raice McLeod's "made to order" drums. Chris Biondo, Eva's long time producer and band member (bass), is superb in his producing of this track.
Eva's country music fans will immediately notice the Dolly Parton song, "Coat Of Many Colors", and an americana version of Don Hecht's "Walkin' After Midnight". In both songs, Keith Grimes offers sublime support on guitar.
Eva sings without the safety net of her regular band in "Early One Morning". The album liner notes contain a photo of Eva's handwritten lyrics offering the first of two songs that indicate her skills progressed far beyond interpretation. Dobro and slide guitar work by Rob Cooper are perfect complements to Eva's vocals.
Reinventing American Popular Song Standards was one of Eva's most unusual skills. Those who applaud her treatment of Irving Berlin's "Cheek To Cheek" on the Blues Alley release will quickly agree that she has pulled another musical rabbit out of a tophat with her version of the Gershwins "Summertime". This take is one that sits so easily under a shade tree that you will spend hours trying to think of similar versions. Don't waste your energy. Eva's folk based interpretation is a true original.
Any discussion of Eva's potential as a songwriter is now closed with the addition of the recording's title song, "Somewhere". Co-written with Chris Biondo (music), Eva's lyrics are far from casual and suggest a longing for love that may also apply to her need to create music..."and I like an arrow straight for love I went again". Fans of Eva Cassidy will only understand her full creative force when they hear this song complete with her own multi-voice background vocals, dynamics that change within verse, and phrasing that always finds the maximum emotion. To borrow from the lyrics, "for a moment or for a lifetime" this is Eva Cassidy.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is an incredible album, I've only had it a few days but it's already one of my absolute favourites. I can't believe these tracks haven't been released before, they are so good! It's also extremely varied, more so than any previous Eva album. Bold Young Farmer and Red Red Rose are just about equal to anything on Songbird and Won't Be Long gives anything on Live At Blues Alley a run for its money. The songs which feature new instrument recordings are also great, especially Chain of Fools which sounds seriously funky and up-to-date. My favourite track has to be Somewhere which finishes the album, it's like nothing I've ever heard before, very powerful and moving. I would strongly recommend this album to all Eva Cassidy fans, enjoy!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bought for a friend
My Aunt in Denmark asked about this and I used Amazon to get it. Overall service, price and delivery was superb. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Jethro
Beautiful voice.....
Have a couple of Eva's CDs and was worried there may be duplicates, but there were none. Never get bored of her wonderful voice, I'm just pleased to find a CD I did't have as she... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. Susan E. Fryer
Beautiful
This is a great CD in my view. Eva's rendition of Somewhere over the Rainbow is something I could listen to over and over and over again. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Kate
eventually right
The cd itself is great. It's a good album. However, when I got this album, the wong disk was inside it, and it took several emails to get it sorted out.
Published 10 months ago by funkyduc
Amazing
An amazing album, Eva has such a unique voice and sings beautifully I will never get tired of listening to her.
Published 12 months ago by Bobjazz
eva cassidy music cd
I bought this as a present for someone else who is very happy with it. Nice gentle soothing music.
Published 20 months ago by Mrs. Wendy Hope
unusual mix
Eva has that unusual mix of potency and style which is so rarely found these days in popular music.
Published 21 months ago by IM
Somewhere by Eva Cassidy
I absolutely love Eva Cassidy's story, magnificent recordings and beautiful song renditions. Each time I buy a new CD I find a new hidden gem of a song, 'Somewhere' is literally... Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2009 by E. Jones
I found it disappointing
I'm a longtime fan of Eva Cassidy's wonderful voice and style. I think I have all her albums and those albums provide a lot of the background music for my life. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2008 by Book Lover
Music from the graveyard shift
'The graveyard shift' in radio are those late late hours when all good folk are tucked up in bed and Alan Partridge-esque DJ-s are playing undemanding soulful muzak to factory... Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2008 by Arthur Dooley
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Music > Easy Listening
- Music > Pop
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
