Customer Reviews

It Can Happen to Anyone

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Five MAGNIFICENT Stars! What a singer!! What a debut!! Elisabeth Withers is already a Tony-nominated singer/actress who is now spreading her vocal wings on Blue Note. She originated the role of the very unique "Shug Avery" in Oprah's Broadway production of "The Color Purple. Her confident voice, intonation, and soulful delivery comes right out of the golden age of R&B with a neo-soul update and shows development well beyond her years. This Berklee-educated singer went straight to Broadway after stops as a backup singer for stars like Celine Dion, Cher, Luther Vandross, and Mary J Blige.

From Gospel-flavored R&B to rock to hip hop to step, her range is impressive. The "Pieces De Resistance", the best of the best songs, begin with the first 4 sung notes of the CD on the song "Simple Things" which instantly tells one this is a special voice and a talented singer. By the time the song is over, one can clearly see this young lady has great potential with a bright future. Then comes the inspirational "Somebody" which starts off funky and then she elevates it into her vocal stratosphere. A highly personalized "Wind Beneath My Wings" is sensational. "Sweat" is another winner as is the joyous "Next to You" and the jumping "Get Your Shoes On", which pours on the heat. "Be With You" is pure sensuous mellowness. What a great debut and a superb production with clear, immediate sound. Highly Recommended. Five SOULFUL Stars!!

(This review is based on an ITunes digital download of 11 tracks)

I don't normally do reviews but I have had to drop a few lines for all of you that might read this. This album is so "feel good" with some brilliant lyrics and to think it is a debut album makes it more of an achievement. I live in England and stumbled across it looking for something else and I just had to get it having heard the previews. It is not available over here yet but all my friends I have played it to have asked where did I get it.
The two stand out tracks are Be With You and Listen plus a good rendition of Wind Beneath My Wings where she sounds more like Gladys Knight than Gladys Knight does. If you do not do anything else in 2007 just buy this album.

I initially learned about Elizabeth Withers when I caught her video for BE WITH YOU late one night. I loved her warm, jazzy sounding vocals and immediately searched her out on Amazon. Elizabeth is an excellent vocalist whose beautiful voice shines especially on the ballads but also works on the uptempo tracks.

This is a very good debut disc and features good grown folks lyrics. The disc clocked in at a little over an hour & I think that the producers did an excellent job of song placement so the tempo changes from song to song makes sense & didn't lull me to boredome or jarr my ears.

My favorite tracks are:

IT CAN HAPPEN - excellent musical arrangement

HEARTSTRINGS & BE WITH YOU - excellent song construction on both

SOMEBODY - beautiful tribute to not only her newborn but all newborns

GET YOUR SHOES ON - one of the uptempo tracks that she really WORKS vocally

I'd recommend this disc to fans of strong vocalists - you won't hear Elizabeth on today's radio but sample a few tracks, I'm sure once you give her a chance, you'll love the whole disc.

I bought this CD because Ms. Withers is a broadway singer, so I knew she could sing. I don't particularly like much of the new music being played today -- R&B, Neo-Soul, etc., and I was hoping this CD would be an exception. Well, it is. The first three songs on the CD are exceptionally good and extremely well written. The remake of "Wind Beneath My Wings" is also very good. Ms. Withers is quite talented and has a wonderful voice.

Buy this CD.

After wowing audiences with her knock-out performance as Shug Avery in the Broadway production of The Color Purple, Elisabeth Withers had music industry insiders clamoring to sign the artist. She eventually signed with Blue Note Records, a label that has slowly grown from it's jazz and blues beginnings into a conglomerate that embodies all sorts of musical genres. That's good, because Elisabeth Withers doesn't settle for one signature sound like most artists On her debut album It Can Happen To You, you will hear inspirational melodies such as "Simple Things" alongside traditional soul ballads like the infectious "Heartstrings" and the captivating debut single "Be With You." But don't think that's all this songstress has to offer. The laidback sound of "Listen" sounds more Sheryl Crow than India.Arie, but still comes off with more soul and rhythm than you might think. Elisabeth does a respectable cover of "Wind Beneath My Wings," but she evens it out with the purely organic toe-tapper "Get Your Shoes On." She goes global with the heartening ode "The World Ain't Ready" and brings it back home with the carefree "Next To You." Elisabeth Withers offers a refreshing touch of realism that isn't as commonplace in a lot of music these days. You can hear the whole album for yourself by visiting her website. Any artist who puts their entire album out there for the world to hear before actually buying it must have some confidence in their work and their ability.

Although Elisabeth Withers has appeared with lots of well known people this solo album is a rare talent to behold.
A good blend of slow relaxing music & mid tempo R n B, she surely will go on to greater things from here

I enjoyed Elizabeth's performance in the Color Purple, so when I saw this CD I knew I had to get it and am glad I did. I Love the CD. A great first album. I can't wait for the next one

Elizabeth's debut is awesome in a word, when I first heard 'Be With You' I just had to know what this artist was I soon find out she was one of the stars of the Broadway production of The Color Purple.

Elizabeth is a 'new age' Gladys Knight, oh my what a great CD. I love it. I listen daily, I especially like 'Simple Things' and 'Listen'.

:)

This CD is among one of the best releases in recent years in the soul music genre. The first three songs on the CD are excellent, hence the five stars. They are extremely well written and brilliantly executed, especially Track #2 - "Heartstrings." Women will especially like the funked up Track #5 - "Get Your Shoes On," and the remake of "Wind Beneath My Wings" is as good as Gladys Knight's version. The other songs on the CD are mediocre.

Ms. Withers is an extraordinary talent and this CD proves it. She's a beautiful woman with an equally beautiful voice. In addition to being a singer and songwrter, she's a Broadway performer, so she's the real deal.

This CD demonstrates what good music ought to sound like. Buy it!

I LOVE HER STYLE THE ALBUM IS DIFFERENT THERE ARE SOME SONGS ON THERE I WOULD SKIP BUT ALL IN ALL THE ALBUM IS OK.