Beautiful World [Import]

Take 6 | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 21, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B00006329W
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,011 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The mother of all jazz vocal groups is not really a jazz vocal group at all. As if their 11 Grammy nominations in seven categories don't underscore that point enough, Take 6's 10th album is a collection of well-known pop hits from the '60s, '70s, and '80s, all with a spiritual message. Their complex vocal harmony arrangements, like that on the traditional tune "Wade in the Water," have always attracted the attuned ear of jazz fans, while also bringing in people who like gospel, funk, and pop. Even hip-hoppers recognize how the group has influenced the neo-soul movement with fresh sounds like those on "Fragile" and "A Lovely Day." The composers of the tunes on Beautiful World, which was co-produced by the group and bassist Marcus Miller, are as familiar as the songs themselves: Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, Sting, Peter Gabriel, and Donald Fagen. The result is perhaps the most accessible Take 6 album to date. Even taking into consideration their varied history and lofty record sales, Beautiful World is a remarkable disc. --Mark Ruffin

Product Description

The Grammy winning vocal group takes on excellent renditions of songs by Curtis Mayfield, Peter Gabriel, Sting, and Bill Withers. The album features guest artists David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, and Lalah Hathaway. 13 tracks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fresh new TAKE on some very familiar tunes, May 24, 2002

By 

R. McRae (Saugus, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beautiful World (Audio CD)

On the first listen, your verdict may be indecisive. That was the case with me three days ago, when I popped this CD into the stereo with great anticipation. Then I played it a second time. And a third. And so on, and so on, etc., etc., etc! And that's what I've been doing each day since the initial release of 'Beautiful World'. Oh, my final verdict? OUTSTANDING!

This latest release from the "Super 6" will blow you away. Try to stop listening; you won't find it easy to do. I guarantee, any true lover of good music, will enjoy some of the most brilliant songwriting, recorded by one of the most gifted vocal ensembles ever. You'll be pressing play, each time Track 13 finishes. And try to pick a favorite song. I'm finding that extremely difficult to do, with each new arrangement being done to perfection. The accompanying artists(Album Producer Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Lalah Hathaway, Kirk Whalum, Michael "Patches" Stewart, Marc Antoine)will have even "a cappella purists" overwhelmed with their silky smooth instrumental flavorings. Once again, a whole new and innovative direction for Take 6, yet always with a very spiritual base.

Now if you'll excuse me, I feel another 'Beautiful World' listening coming on.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very, very good album, May 4, 2004

By 

Homeschooling Single Mom - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beautiful World (Audio CD)

Having been a Take 6 fan for years, I recognize I may be biased in this review. Their peppy and at times elevator-music harmonies may not be tolerable for some people for an entire album, but I really enjoyed the fresh perspective that their diverse vocals offered on many of these classics. My favorites are "Don't Give Up," where they take Peter Gabriel's African musical influences to their logical conclusion; "Wade In the Water," where doubling the octave and picking up the tempo helped to underscore a sense of urgency and pleading that is usually not found in most people's versions of this old spiritual; and the beautiful, soaring rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Someday We Will All Be Free," which will give you chills. It's not a perfect album, however. As some other reviewers have mentioned, some numbers that suffer from a lack of originality in the vocal arrangements. I especially didn't care for the phoned-in "Love's In Need Of Love Today," which dragged on far too long, as did their capable but uninspiring version of "Fragile." Still, this is a beautiful album, great for Sunday mornings, and is definitely "ispirational" and very uplifting. It is arguably Take 6's most commercially accessible venture. Maybe that was a weakness in the quality of the overall production, but it ought to be very easy on the ears of just about any listener. Well worth the money.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They've Done It Again !, June 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Beautiful World (Audio CD)

This talented group can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. On this CD, they have put a fresh spin on songs by various composers---from Peter Gabriel to Thomas Dorsey. It's an eclectic mix of songs that comes together to remind us that it is indeed a "Beautiful World".