Customer Reviews

American Tune

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

New music from the Eva estate. This album will be a huge seller, and may outdo "Songbird". I will say this though, nothing to date surpasses "Live At Blues Alley" (the true Eva CD). Nevertheless, this is still a fantastic album.

"American Tune" is a collection of 10 songs featuring covers of some very humble tracks including Cyndi Lauper's "True Colours" and The Beatles "Yesterday". The title track of course being a Paul Simon cover..

Included on this album is another version of "God Bless the Child" which she did as a duet on her album with Chuck Brown titled "The Other Side".

The highlights on the album are "The Water is Wide" and "You Take me Breath Away" - so beautiful they will bring tears to your eyes.

This may be the last of Eva's recordings, so grab yourself a copy and disappear for awhile.

American Tune joins a formidable collection of albums that cannot be matched by any other female vocalist on this planet. Eva is in a class of her own. She brings her unique interpretations and style to any track she covers, and, in doing so, makes it her own.

The Eva magic is there. A breathtaking interpretation of American Tune, the title track written by Paul Simon, is of the highest standard. Her musical prowess and interpretation of Simon's telling lyrics of the "American Dream", conveys both the triumphs and the heartaches of immigrants' expectations once they had arrived in their promised land, America. With her voice alone, Eva can convey to the listener both the hopes and the dreams of these new American citizens. American Tune is a powerful track but Eva lifts it to new heights. American Tune now belongs to Eva. Her name will become synonymous with American Tune - America's new Anthem.

The runaway winner on the album is You Take My Breath Away. This is the most beautiful love song - lyrics by Claire Hamill 1973. The melody, the words and Eva's divine interpretation intoxicates you. I have found it impossible not to keep replaying the track, it's just so hauntingly beautiful to the ears, heart and soul. It is reminiscent of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and has that same special quality that brought Eva to the attention of the UK's music lovers. I expect You Take My Breath Away soon to be capturing the hearts of music lovers world-wide. This track is impossible not to fall in love with. You Take My Breath is pure Eva at her exceptional best.

Eva Cassidy, musical phenomenon of the 21st Century.

When I first discovered Eva Cassidy five years ago, through her CD Songbird, I wept to discover that she had passed away due to melanoma. Her voice was unlike any I had ever heard, at once powerful and filled with emotion, but still calming and soothing to the soul. Each time a new Eva Cassidy CD is released, I wonder how it could ever compare to the earlier work. I have never been disappointed. Time After Time, Imagine, and, now, American Tune are all outstanding.
Taking tapes from studio work and live performances, American Tune, again demonstrates Eva's incredible range and versatility. It's difficult to choose a favorite track, but her covers of True Colors and Yesterday are incredible.
For the longtime Eva fan, this will be another jewel for your collection. If you've never heard Eva, do yourself a favor, close your eyes and listen. She'll take your breath away.

I don't know if I can be objective about Eva Cassidy's music . . . I'm too much of a fan of her unbelievable talent. "American Tune" is a collection of gentle music, or at least it comes out that way when Eva sings it. Even the selections that could possibly be sung raucously are mellow. This lady is amazing!! There is no music genre she can't handle with her awesome voice. Oddly enough, one of my least favorite tracks is The Beatles' "Yesterday". Eva sings it well, but Lenny Williams' piano accompaniment is bland and lacks imagination. I have always loved his piano on her previous recordings, so this was a big disappointment. The addition of Dan Cassidy's violin is a nice touch, however. My two favorites are "The Water is Wide" and the beautiful "You Take My Breath Away", which sends chills all over me. Billie Holliday and Cyndi Lauper would be pleased with her renditions of "God Bless the Child" and "True Colors". The up-tempo "Hallelujah, I Just Love Him So" and "It Don't Mean a Thing (If it Ain't Got That Swing)" are fun. Another song I'm not crazy about is "Dark Eyed Molly" . . . but when Eva sings it, I still have to listen. Her clear, pure voice is always a pleasure to hear, but her music is finite and I will hate the day when there will be no more of her recordings. Get every Eva Cassidy CD you can find!

I work in a music store, and we got a promotional copy of this album, and since I never heard anything by Eva Cassidy up to this point, I desided to throw it in. From that first time I heard this album, I was blown away... I had really no prior knowledge of this album or the type of music Eva Cassidy did in the past, so I was telling everyone that even though it's all cover songs, it's just simply amazing... I love music and I love all types of music and now I'm a fan of Eva Cassidy's. So if you never heard Eva Cassidy's songs, check out American Tune, I think you too will be blown away!

First I would like to commend the designer of the album for the most beautiful cover. The beautiful picture of Eva Cassidy herself in a lovely rural western setting is so fitting for a singer of such high stature, beloved by millions all over the world.

Eva Cassidy had a wonderful habit of singing songs better than the original singers and exceeding even what the writers of the songs envisioned. There are so many examples of this in her previous other albums. Of course this also happens in this album. True Colors was originally sung by Cindi Lauper and lately by Kasey Chambers. Eva's interpretation is superb. I read she practiced this song many, many times so she must have loved this song.

The Water is Wide was lately sung by Charlotte Church. Eva did such a good job on this song (The water is wide I can not get o'er, And neither have I wings to fly). She puts so much of her heart and soul in this song and that is why the listener gets back so much.

I first heard Stan Rogers singing Dark Eyed Molly. It seems this ballad was made for Eva Cassidy. It fits her voice so well. (No fiddle tune will take the air, But I will see his swift feet a dancing). Eva executes the narrative style of this love song to perfection.

American Tune was sung and written by Paul Simon. Eva Cassidy has made this into an American patriotic song and put so much life and meaning to its lyrics. (And I dreamed I was flying, And high up above, my eyes could clearly see The Statue of Liberty). Paul Simon will be proud to hear Eva's version. This song will long be remembered.

Eva Cassidy sings the best version of Yesterday compared to anybody. She did not hold back her full soul and blues strength in this melody. The piano skill of Lenny Williams and violin by Dan Cassidy back up Eva superbly.

Finally, after believing I have heard Eva's best, I listened to the last track "You Take My Breath Away" and I am reduced to a pulp and brought to tears. (I`m gonna stand on a mountain top, And tell the news, That you take my breath away). This could be Eva's best song ever. Thank you, Keith Grimes for your electric guitar accompaniment and discovering Eva's rehearsal tapes. I predict the American Tune CD will outsell the Songbird CD and become a classic. I give Eva Cassidy a 1000 stars rating for her album American Tune.

No on can top Eva Cassidy. Her powerful, rich voice is absolutely perfect. She interprets these songs in just the right way, with so much emotion that they seem to have been written just for her. The blues/jazz feel to this album is just right. I'm not a big fan of blues/jazz, but I simply cannot fault this album, or any of Eva's albums.
If you enjoy a truly lovely, powerful voice, and songs sung from the heart, I don't think you can do better than Eva Cassidy.

Today is a day when I've been reminded that we live in a wonderful world.

It is August and the sun is shining in the garden. For the last hour, time has wrapped around me in a hauntingly beautiful sequence of songs - Eva Cassidy's 'American Tune'.

My wife bought me the CD this morning as she knew I had liked 'Songbird'.

As we listened to the directness of the interpretations and the sympathetic backing musicians, I reflected that the spiritual shiver I always get in the silence at the end of 'Songbird' is here in all ten tracks.

A voice from over the rainbow has blessed us again

I am a big Eva Cassidy fan. I play Songbird and her Live album a lot. But I think American Tune might be my favorite Eva cd. I play The Water is Wide over and over on my commute to work - and it's an hour drive! I never get tired of it. I also just love her Dark Eyed Molly, American Tune, and You Take My Breath Away. I play those four songs continuously and am in heaven listening to her. The Water is Wide is as beautiful as Somewhere on Songbird. You just can't beat Eva Cassidy for the pure, angelic voice. Buy this album!!!

When I first discovered Eva Cassidy five years ago, through her Songbird CD, I wept to discover that she had passed away due to melanoma. Her voice was unlike any I had ever heard, at once powerful and filled with emotion, but still calming and soothing to the soul. Each time a new Eva Cassidy CD is released, I wonder how it could ever compare to the earlier work. I have never been disappointed. Time After Time, Imagine, and, now, American Tune are all outstanding.
Taking tapes from studio work and live performances, American Tune, again demonstrates Eva's incredible range and versatility. It's difficult to choose a favorite track, but her covers of True Colors and Yesterday are incredible.
For the longtime Eva fan, this will be another jewel for your collection. If you've never heard Eva, do yourself a favor, close your eyes and listen. She'll take your breath away.