Customer Reviews

Best Of David Soul

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

David Soul is better known as one half of the TV series Starsky and Hutch, but he was a folk singer back in the sixties. He sometimes performed his songs as the opening act for such groups as the Byrds and the Doors but switched to an acting career and abandoned his singing for a while.

Eventually, he managed to find a record label that gave him the opportunity to record the kind of music that he wanted. Although it might generally be classed as easy listening pop, evidence of David's roots is still there, particularly via covers of Bird on a wire (Leonard Cohen) and Tattler (Ry Cooder).

David's hits were mostly written by Tony Macauley, a British producer-songwriter who scored notable successes in the late sixties and early seventies via big international hits for the Foundations (Baby now that I've found you, Build me up buttercup), Edison lighthouse (Love grows where my Rosemary goes), Long John Baldry (Let the heartaches begin) and others.

Don't give up on us reached the very top of the charts in both Britain and America early in 1977. It was his only significant American hit, but he had four more hits in Britain. Going in with my eyes open reached number two. Silver lady became David's second number one. Let's have a quiet night in was a top ten hit. David's final UK hit, It sure brings out the love in your eyes, peaked at twelve. All those songs are (of course) included on this compilation. As the titles of the songs might suggest, David was primarily a balladeer, but Silver lady was more up-tempo than the others.

If you enjoy the music of Bread, you will surely enjoy David Soul's music.

Back in the day of vinyl LPs, performers often used the necessary break of flipping over the record to change the tone of an album. This CD "flips" before Track #9 (One More Mountain To Climb). Maybe you'll be lucky and like both "sides," like many reviewers here. I don't like the first side, but would buy the album for the second side alone.

With an exception or two, the first eight tracks are all similar: sensitive-guy ballads, first-person lyrics (can't recall having heard the word "I" so much in so short a space before), arrangements heavy on the strings. It's a sweet old-fashioned sound, without much edge. The sound of the band Bread is a good comparison.

The last six tracks (plus track 2, a bit out of place) are quite different. Somebody's shot the string section, the piano player's loosened his tie and gotten more creative, and a guy on electric guitar sits in on a few. The songs are more what you'd find on a James Taylor or Gordon Lightfoot album, with a blues/gospel/folk vibe. It's a smart selection of covers that shows off Soul's voice well. I particularly like "One More Mountain To Climb" and Soul's own "Topanga," but really I'm happy with all of these numbers.

The mixing isn't great; I kept noticing the high-hat, and the background sings sometimes drown Soul's light tenor. I do like that throughout the album he has the nerve to undersing ("Let's Have a Quiet Night In"), or to push the edge of his range ("1927 Kansas City"), to make a song more interesting.

I must confess I've got a HUGE crush on David Soul from watching Starsky & Hutch reruns... so I purchased this CD mainly out of curiosity, knowing that 70's style music is not typically what I go for. Am I glad I took the chance... David's voice is every bit as beautiful as his baby blue eyes! I cannot stop listening to this CD, nor count how many times I've played the songs that have become my instant favorites. There's a little bit of gospel, some blues, some rock, in a wonderful combination that sometimes includes all three. It makes me wish I'd been old enough to see his talent in person. To be honest, I could do without the female background vocals on at least one of the tracks, but most of the songs are perfect the way they are. I have played this CD for people of various ages, and they have all liked it. Now I'm on a mission to possess everything else David Soul has ever recorded. His music is just incredible. Highly recommended.

This is a nice compilation of his music. I especially love "I wish I was..", "1927 Kansas City" and of course, "don't give up on us baby". I wish he would do more CD's, however. Come on David, lets pump out the music for your fans! We love you! For those of you who missed his first record (thats a vinyl rpm, if you dont know what that is! LOL) Black Bean Soup is a cute song! More David, please! :O)

Listening to DS brings me back to my youth..better times..a safer world and carefree thoughts. Okay..tell me how I can not remember my license plate number..but after 30 years..I am able to remember all the lyrics to his songs? Its so refreshing to hear music which you can actually understand the lyrics. The one complaint which I have with this cd and all his others..is that there are no videos which we can watch on our computers. If only we had a video or two added to the cds...it would be so much nicer..then all would be perfect with the world.

The "Best of David Soul" is truly a great CD. The man has a beautiful voice and the songs are wonderful. I would love to be able to get more of David Soul's music on CD. I only wish that two of my favorite of David's songs wereon included on this CD - Kristofer David and Black Bean Soup. David has proven himself to be an all-around talented entertainer from his acting to his music. This is a must-have for any David Soul fan.

I have always been a HUGE David Soul fan. I wasn't even a teenager when I got his self-titled album for my birthday. Of course, I loved it because I loved him! When I found out I could order a CD, I was overjoyed. Now as an adult, I can appreciate his true talent. The musical instruments on the CD and his trememdous voice make me realize just how talented he is. I would love to have more of his music!!!

We immediately purchased David Soul's first album because we had heard him sing on "Starsky & Hutch" and thought he was great. The album proved just how versatile and good he is, and as soon as the second was released, we bought that also. Of course, albums are long gone now, so to have this CD available is terrific. It's difficult to explain how good his stuff is, he offers so many different styles on a single CD, ranging from blues, to jazz, to country, to rock and roll. He also show great range of emotion on the CD - he is good. I am a BIG fan.

Excellent delivery service. The CD was great - bringing back old memories. Silver Lady really is a great track - it could easily be re-released. I also very much enjoyed much of Davids other music, with which I was completely unfamiliar. His voice is so distinctive and emotive.

Who knew Hutch could sing? Well, I've been listening to Mr Soul since I was a boy; the only fault is "Playing To An Audience Of One" is missing from this compilation, too bad. I still have the 8 track somewhere....

Way to go Hutch!