Customer Reviews

Bobby Mcferrin

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

 

 

This is the album that made me fall head over heels with Bobby McFerrin (the voice, that is; I've never met the man) and after decades of owning it on cassette, I finally got round to getting it on CD. This is one of the few albums that the one-man a cappella band recorded with musical instruments and as much as I love the wide range of sounds the man is able to produce using only his voice, I only wish he had done more stuff with musicians. His version of the Van Morrison classic "Moondance" was the first I ever heard and though I've heard a few good versions since, McFerrin's is still my firm favourite. No one has even come close yet.

Other personal highlights include "Feline", "Sightless Bird", a truly magnificent version of the Horace Silver tune "Peace" and the happy-go-lucky "Jubilee". But I love the whole set, really. McFerrin's baritone is warm, full of heart and very endearing. He writes five of the ten songs here, showing remarkable songwriting skills in addition to his now legendary vocal ones and while the musicians playing here are all very competent, I can't say I recognise any of the names.

Well, except for "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson of course, who plays bass on "Sightless Bird". How about that?

The album is produced by Linda Goldstein. A true classic, in my opinion.

This was McFerrin's debut album as a jazz vocalist. As such, there are hints of the greatness to come, but nothing truly outstanding here.

There's a fine duet with Phoebe Snow on the pop classic "You've Really Got A Hold On Me," decent covers of Orleans' "Dance With Me" and Van Morrison's "Moondance," and the highly Jarreau-like "Jubilee."

Some of the characteristic McFerrin goofiness is in evidence in the silly cuts "All Feets Can Dance" and "Chicken," and the soaring beauty of which he is capable in "Sightless Bird." But this is not an essential album -- more a not-too-challenging introduction for the newcomer and a necessity for McFerrin completists.

This was my first McFerrin exposure and my first McFerrin purchase. When I first heard this it literally blew me away. His version of "Moondance" is one of my all-time favorites. "Sightless Bird" "Feline" "Peace" and "Jubilee" are top-notch. Who is this dude and what is that weird scat-like stuff he's doing (Chicken)? This is a really great CD and McFerrin can really sing. It's a wonderful change of pace.

During a Grammy Award ceremony Miles Davis (RIP)announced Bobby as a winner. He mispronounced "Mcferris", instead of McFerrin, and introduced Bobby McFerrin to the world of novice and neophyte without a clue who this guy is. Make no mistake, this man is the answer to any scatologist, rapper lost in a whirl of question about the origins. Work songs, field hollars, chain gangs, chants, moans, groans, and yips... Bobby M demonstrates the cultural history through narrative brilliance navigated by an awareness of the healing embedded in the music he records. This compact disc was his first, but not his best. There is more but this is where it began.

NO! THIS IS THE BEST CD OF BOBBY"S AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.

I was given a tape of this album by a jazz musician after "Don't Worry be Happy" dominated the airwaves in the 80's. This is a true example of vocal excellence in jazz and displays Bobby's prodigious talents as a vocalist. Although his later works show farther reaching orginal creativity, I still enjoy this CD the most. Even though Bobby can do amazing things with his voice, when he simply sings he unveils a voice that is truly velvet perfection and still orginal and creative although in a more jazz purist way. His version of "Peace" is the golden standard for the vocal version of this Horace Silver tune. His rendition of Moondance makes al lother versions seem trite. Chicken and Jubilee are all jazz standards that shine in McFerrin's versions. And even the obvious schmaltz such as "Dance with Me" become intelligent and melodic. "Don't Worry be Happy" fans will adore his acapella "All Feet can Dance."

This CD is marks the bridge of his early works as a jazz crooner and bebopper (find his earlier out of print LPs!) into the guru that he has become. If you like Bobby THIS CD really is the MUST HAVE.

Although this may not have the polish of Bobby McFerrin's later works, it is still a must for those who are amazed by this man's abilities. It was my first introduction to his voice and I was in shock that he could do such things.

There is a broad range of moods here, with ridiculous in "All Feets Can Dance" to breathtakingly gorgeous in "Peace." "Sightless Bird" is another song that makes me melt.