Customer Reviews

Betty Buckley (15 Year Anniversary Rerelease)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been a long time fan of Ms. Buckley and have all of her CD's in my music library and I could more than likely write a glowing review of each of them. However, this is the album I want to focus my attention on. I have the original LP of this album and rarely play it as I want to preserve it. Ms. Buckley, after numerous requests from her fans, has granted us the pleasure of re-releasing her first solo concert album onto CD.

This album has no big belty Broadway show songs (except for "Meadowlark", in a more intimate piano arrangement than the full blown one she is known for now), no "Memory", and it gives us a chance to "know" Ms. Buckley through her own compositions of music and lyric.

Normally, I point out a few of my personal favorite tracks on an album, but for this review, I'm not going to do that because all the tracks are unique, interesting, and full of the performance quality that one can expect from Betty Buckley. With her reedy soprano, she paints pictures on a canvas that only really gifted artists are capable to do.

One track I will point out that is a gem to hear, is "Over You", from the film "Tender Mercies", in which Ms. Buckley co-starred. She got to sing this song in the film and it's a treat to hear her give it life. And her interpretation of "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow"/"For The Beauty" is a soaring arc in which you can hear Ms. Buckley, who admits music makes her cry, get emotional because of her love of music and song.

This album is a perfect compliment after a stressful day at work. Pour yourself a nice glass of wine, lower the lights, put this CD on, and be carried away to the inner peace of music.

I remember buying this on cassette at the tender age of 17 (sigh). It is as great as I remember. Filled mainly with compositions by Buckley, this album really broadened my mid 80's, late teens, musical horizons. Back then my idea of divas were Olivia, Sheena, Cher (still are by the way) then I discovered a class of singers who maybe didn't have top 10 singles, but could sing in a way that made a heart drop. I'm so glad I can finally complete my catalog of Betty's cd's with this re=release.

This is Ms. Buckley's most spectacular work. Her voice is a national treasure. She has penned most of the songs, so it not only shows her talent as one of Broadway's most cherished singers, but also displays her fabulous song writing abilities. Her rendition of "Over You" is simply her best ever and the spunky "Gaviola" --it's worth purchasing the CD just to hear it.

This CD is and always will be my favorite. I have the original recording in both album and CD format, and I have two copies of this 15 Year Anniversary remaster. This CD is on my holiday shopping list to present as gifts to my clients and family members. I have followed Ms. Buckley's career for 19 years and have copies of all the CD's in her discography. I highly recommend starting your collection today by purchasing this CD.

Someone once asked Noel Coward, "Mr. Coward, what do you have to do to be a Star?" His answer was one word: "Sparkle." Betty Buckley sparkles (she also sings)--and ever more brightly each year; but her special luster was always there from the start, and this reissue is to be especially cherished after fifteen intervening years of glowing recordings, concerts, and triumphs. Since Betty has generously credited me as "executive producer" of this, her first solo album (I was no professional in the business, just an incorrigible fan who insisted on having that memorable concert preserved for posterity), I must recuse myself from writing a formal review--it's enough to "shine by reflected glory" fifteen years later! But I am especially pleased to have now the bonus tracks of "Tender Mercy" and "Over You," which for me personally were, along with "Ship in a Bottle" and "Meadowlark" and "The Wind Beneath My Wings," special highlights of that evening concert I attended at St. Bart's with my parents and wife sixteen years ago. In hindsight, I wouldn't alter a word of what I wrote for the original release; may it here serve as my review: "The human voice, like the meadowlark of the ballad, needs space to soar. Betty's New York debut concert was the perfect blending of music and architecture. The vaulted interior of St. Bartholomew's Church was filled with her extraordinary range of interpretive colors. The Byzantine dome embraced the resonance of her voice. Awe, intimacy and joy combined in an evening of magic, the kind that is ordinarily ephemeral, but is here preserved by a combination of angels and engineers."

Still listening to my near-worn out cassette version of "Betty Buckley" [which I picked up for a criminal 99 cents in 1988 at a Sam Goody clearance sale, along with Patti Smith's "Dream of Life", and Fleetwood Mac's "Tango in the Night"], I've long pined for a CD version. So what a revelation when I discovered that this was being re-issued on CD after all these years - with bonus trax to boot! Not usually a fan of Broadway vocal styling as a whole [I've suffered my share of execrable pop-wannabe's like Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford], I am a sucker for any oddly beautiful voice that evokes emotion. And, as cliché as it is to say, there has never been a voice quite like Buckley's. Exquisite and astonishing and ethereal all at the same time, she can juxtapose irony and emotion. Recorded quite quaintly in a church with a medium sized audience, she sails through classics [think you're sick of "Wind Beneath My Wings"? Think again...], self-penned tales of innocent longing ["So La"] and sweet naiveté about peace and love ["Travelers On A Star"]. Plus, there are three bonus cuts not available on the original album, including the gorgeous "Over You", which was unjustifiably left off the "Tender Mercies" s/t. The monumental standout, though, is the ultimate version of "Meadowlark." For years, I've been disappointed with Buckley's alternate versions on various other collections [e.g. "London Concert"], and disgusted with other artists' massacre of the song [e.g. Sarah Brightman, again]. This version solidified, for me way back in 1987, why this is Betty's song. Backed by only a sole piano, Buckley jettisons her towering instrument through the intricate melody, understanding both it, and the lyric, displaying perfect phrasing and nuance. She brings it through the stratosphere only when called for, never over-singing. Her voice simply goes where it is supposed to go. Fan of this style of music or not, and even if you're a rock and roller at heart, like me, any song/voice enthusiast won't want to miss out on this extraordinary event. Forget later live recordings by Buckley - well, don't "forget," they're still worth the time - but, this is the must-own. My grade: A

Betty Buckley performed this concert in 1984 at Saint Bartholomew's Church in New York City to benefit the homeless. This is a jazzy breezy collection of songs, many of them written by Buckley herself. She describes the ones she wrote as "philosophical jump-rope songs that kids might like that would also address some of the questions about things that are tough in life". The songs "Co-Wrangle-Do-Right" and "Over You" are the standout pieces on this CD. A wonderful CD to put on after a tough day and let the music massage your nerves until you feel human again.

This is Betty at her finest - and most of the songs are her own. Her vocal technique, range, pitch, interpretation, everything - are letter-perfect. An amazing, one-of-a-kind voice. Miss Buckley is nearing 60, but her voice is still powerful - especially on "The London Concert" and "Evening at Carnegie Hall", not to mention "Betty Buckley's Broadway". I recommend them all, and I also recommend attending one of her wonderful concerts to fully experience the magic of this wonderful singer and person.

I have to confess to being less than unbiased- Ms. Buckley is, without question, my favorite actor working today. I haven been fortunate enough to see her in concert on numerous occassions and never left the concert hall without feling like I had witnessed one of the true vocal masters of the American stage. Her ballads have always been my favorite, and this version of "Over You" is even more heart wrenching than the version taken from the film soundtrack. The closing hymn, sung acapella, is indisputable proof that Ms. Buckley is the unchallenged living Master of vocal theater. I do wish that she had included"When There's No one," a devestatingly haunting ballad from the musical "Carrie".

My only disappointment was the fact that my original order from Village CD never arrived, and they refused to give me any tracking information, refund my money, or send out a second copy of the cd. The were rude and uncooperative, and I would encourage everyone to avoid doing business with them in the future.

This is a classic CD. Any fan of great Broadway Divas must add this to there collection. One great thing of this CD is that alot of the songs were penned by Buckley herself. A great insight to this talented lady's work.

This collectable selection of music is a special as the lady who sings the songs. I'm happy to have a copy of this special album of music. Betty Buckley has been a gift to the theatre community for years and now her music will live on with special CD's such as this.
Several songs on this CD are not recorded or available on any other compilation of music.
As rare as it is, I'm happy I got a copy before they all dissapear from availabliity.