25 Demos

Margo Guryan

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 4, 2001)
• Original Release Date: September 4, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Oglio Records
• ASIN: B00005NTPG
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #194,194 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
When 25 Demos was released in 2001, songwriter Margo Guryan had only recorded one album in her entire career, the 1968 minor classic Take a Picture. This collection of demos from the '60s and '70s (plus one from 2000) proves that the LP wasn't a one-off fluke. The compilation features versions of a number of songs from Take a Picture, but it also includes other fine material from the '60s: "Thoughts," "Come to Me Slowly," and the exquisite "It's Alright Now" are standouts from that period. The '70s tracks show that Guryan still had her touch during the Me decade. A version of "I Think a Lot About You," which was released as a single by Mama Cass, gets a pleasant reading here, while "I'd Like to See the Bad Guys Win" evokes the sly sensibility of early Randy Newman. Possibly the best (and definitely the oddest) '70s song is "The Hum," a piece inspired by the infamous 18-minute gap found on one of the Watergate tapes. Its nearly wordless chorus is both catchy and strange. 25 Demos is a must for Guryan fans. --Fred Cisterna

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars candy coated raindrops, March 17, 2004

By	lady detective "sakura kitty" (east coat) - See all my reviews

I love demo work- and Margo Guryan's proves to be astonishingly beautiful. It's the kind of music that makes you want to twirl around in the sunshine & if that sounds nauseating- you can just walk down the street with your headphones on, with an extra bit of swank in your step.

Her voice has a bit of that candy pop appeal- but it isn't sickly sweet- if you're into The Beach Boys, Adventures In Stereo , April March or The Mamas and the Papas, then I think you can count on loving this cd!

Not only does it come with the lyrics- mMrgo has made comments about each of the songs. i love how she manages to sugar infuse a song about Watergate! What charm! What fun!

Highly recommended!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Margo is Number One!, September 17, 2001

By	R. Riis "rriis" (NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Excellent! Although these tracks are demos, the arrangements are unexpectedly full (strings, woodwinds, backing vocals) and could easily pass as finished commercial recordings. Guryan's vocals are as charmingly ethereal as always and she has a rare gift for melody and nuance in her songwriting. Although many of the songs overlap with those on the terrific "Take a Picture" many are heard here in quite different arrangements, making this an essential purchase. What a joy it is to have a "new" Margo Guryan recording available!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT STUFF!!, September 10, 2001

By A Customer

This album is amazing!!! If you love TAKE A PICTURE, you'll really love 25 DEMOS. Not only are there the original demos (they sound like records to me) of you favorite TAP songs - SUN, LOVE SONGS,WHAT CAN I GIVE YOU, SUNDAY MORNING (better than the TAP version), etc., but you get all sorts of other goodies including a brand new demo of a killer old song - GOODBYE JULY (I actually heard this song on a Japanese version of Linus Of Hollywood's LET YOURSELF BE HAPPY). Anyway, this album's killer and there's lot of it!