Customer Reviews

Anne Murray

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

The title of this CD is pure genius. After 30 recordings, releasing a self-titled CD at this point in her career was a marketing high-point. This CD is note perfect. It is a superbly written, professionally sung and produced recording. The unfortunate thing is, hardly anyone heard it. This is an all too familiar story for Murray. Back in 1976-77, the releases "Keeping In Touch" and "Together" were both eclectic highly regarded albums - no one knew it. In 1991, after a series of lesser quality albums, "Yes I Do" was released to rave critical acclaim - the best material she had done since her late 70s heyday - again, it was ignored. The same fate befell this release, to a lesser extent in Canada as it did go platinum. Perhaps in 1996 if she was 20 years younger, she'd have had a legitimate shot at getting these songs on the radio. As a result, it was a struggle to find an audience for this superb effort, lost amongst the sea of over-the-top, cookie-cutter pop princesses whose vocal abilities pale in comparison with the style and perfect pitch of Murray.

The lead-off single "What Would It Take" was a great success in Canada. The adolescent Bryan Adams lyrics are tamed by the pen of Gretchen Peters who created a perfect AC-Rock groove. Stand outs here are "I Know Too Much", a great unique vocal arrangement piece and the wispy "Trust Me Baby, This Is Love". The powerful "The Other Side" is a finely crafted song of loss and life. The confident "Until I Was Loved By You" is pure joy to listen to with a great AC groove. The emotional "Good Again" wraps up the package just right, a fine song written by Ian Thomas on death, grief and grieving - thinly veiled as a tribute to her manager Leonard Rambeau.

This is Murray at the top of her game. As it was, only Anne's fans and those who were guided to this CD knew that this was one of her best ever. Ironically, it was only 3 years later in 1999 that the comeback was to occur. "What A Wonderful World" saw Murray's chart and sales resurgence reach the heights that it once was in the early 80s.

This CD was supposed to be Murray's comeback, re-establishing her as a commercially viable pop artist. Though not the commercial success that she or her manager Bruce Allen wanted, it proved a very important point. Through all the ups and downs over her 4 decades as a recording artist, the class and thus, the quality of her work and her voice remains her most endearing trait and cements her reputation as one of the finest vocalists ever.

There are some performers who feel the need to constantly reinvent themselves, insecurely latching on to any new musical trends that may come down the pike, and then there are artists who, by their sheer talent, remain contemporary and relevant no matter what the demographics, no matter what the generation. Anne Murray is planted resolutely in the latter category and the eponymously titled album "Anne Murray", is indicative of this. This is, unabashedly, a great pop/adult contemporary album. Anne is in fine voice, performing beautiful ballads like "Missing You", "Highway, Highway", and "Me Too" in her classic, inimitable style. Her duet with Bryan Adams is flawless. This catchy, upbeat pop number deserved to be a major hit record. On other cuts, such as "Shame On Me" and "That's The Way It Goes", Anne's gritty, straight-ahead vocals prove that she can rock with the best of them. There are few contemporary vocalists able to embrace such musical variety very convincingly. As usual, Anne Murray defies categorization. And as a result, a voice like hers will never go out of style.

Anne Murray's self-titled CD from 1996 is one of her finest, yet most underrated releases ever. It is dedicated to Anne's manager and friend of 25 years, Leonard Rambeau, who passed away just before Anne went into the studio to record this CD.

The emotion shines through on such ballads as "Highway, Highway", "Me Too", and "Missing You". The refrain on the first track mentioned starts with "Highway, highway, where you go I don't know, maybe closer to my dreams, maybe far away." For obvious reasons to anyone who ever hears this song, Anne's voice is so heart-wrenching on this track that it has often been referred to as "haunting". On two other great tracks she teams up with pop stars Aaron Neville ("That's What My Love is For") and Bryan Adams ("What Would it Take"). Beyond the Bryan Adams tune, Anne shows she can rock from the lead-off track with "That's the Way it Goes", and later with "Shame on Me". Words of wisdom such as "Take my advice, don't take advice from me" prevail in the song "I Know Too Much" which, in the refrain of the song, features one of the deepest bass voices ever heard. Anne says his voice was so deep that the walls seem to vibrate in the studio when they were recording the song! Murray wraps up the 13 track CD with the wonderful "Good Again" about losing someone we love. "Each and every moment floats away in the wind. You've got to learn to let it go; let a new one begin. Still, you'll cry when some leave before their time, but if you need a little something, it's right there in your mind, and you'll feel good again." I think we all can relate to that one.

Murray's been in the business more than 35 years, has sold more than 40 million records, and is still selling out concert halls. There's a reason for this. Anne is truly one of the legendary superstars of our time, and this is one of her best releases ever. If you can't find it here, it's still available through Anne's music store at annemurray.com. Anne Murray - 1996 is a must for any great music collection.

Originally released in 1996 to a horde of collective "Who cares about Anne Murray" comments by critics (try to find one review on this album in any "mainstrem" magazine), pop radio (who would rather play the drivel of Britany Spears, The Backstreet Boys, and N'sync) and country radio (too old, sorry), this album is one of her finest ever. I have been an Anne Murray fan for over 25 years, having in my personal collection almost all of her albums, including a few HARD TO FIND ones, on CD. I am continually amazed by this album - her range is outstanding, the songs tug at your heart one minute and lift your spirits high the next. You don't have to be an Anne Murray fan to enjoy this album.

Anne Murray's qualitiy of repertoire is better than ever in this album that brings us 14 fabulous brand new tracks to prove that as time goes by, her astouding voice and excellency of songs simply soars over adjectives like sublime, astounding, superb, astonishing... In tunes like "Me Too" , "The Other Side" and "Good Again" you feel your heart getting filled with the purest deepest emotion from the soul of a love song. Whereas in extraordinarily upbeat tracks like "I Know Too Much" , "Shame On Me" , "Until I Was Loved By You" or "What Would It Take" ( This one signed by Brian Adams, who plays and sings on it ) you simply make sure that buying this fabulous CD is adding a priceless treasure to your collection with stupendous excellent quality music ! A "MUST" have item...

It is a shame that radio programmers in the United States failed to shine a spotlight on this tremendously good CD. Pushed to the sidelines of country radio by bland cookie cutter acts and not played on contemporary pop radio because of an apparent imagined old-fogie image, Anne Murray has recorded a CD so perfect for Adult Contemporary radio that programmers should be kicking themselves for not playing tracks off of this CD. Confidently sung, masterfully produced, Murray's choice of material is grade-A. "The Other Side", "Until I Was Loved By You", "I Know Too Much" and "Good Again" are new, fresh and excellent. Proceed to your nearest record store and ask for this. Discover what many already know - this is her finest ever.

This is nothing more than a blatant repackage (for the Umpteenth time) of Anne's early "What About Me" album, without the studio version of the title track. If you don't already have it, it might be worth it to you, but I doubt it. The recording has been reissued so many times I imagine the tapes must be threadbare by now (and the vinyl version I purchased in the 70s didn't sound too good). Proceed with caution.

What can I say that hasn't already been said by other reviewers. I've been a fan of Anne's for years and I have most of albums and this is one of her best. Her voice is perfect and song choices are wonderful.

By far the best album in Anne's extensive catalog! If you own any of Anne Murray's LPs, you should have Annie, Love Song, You Will, and this self-titled masterpiece.

Somehow she snuck this rocker album into her repertoire. She leaves a memorable impression with the opener, "That's the way it goes" and it's one surprise after another from there. Her fans complain that this is an overlooked album, but who cares? Buy it and enjoy!

I bought this CD after seeing Anne Murray in concert recently where she sang many of the songs featured on this CD. The only thing I can say is that this CD is probably her finest release. Every song is beautifully sung and produced. I can't say enough how often I'm playing this. And if "Me Too" is not one of her best recordings ever, then I don't have an ear for fine pop music. Don't hesitate. Buy this CD. Now. You won't be sorry.