Cass Elliot/ The Road Is No Place For A Lady

Cass Elliot | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 25, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collector's Choice
• ASIN: B002E2LW8G
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,855 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I'll Be Home

2. Baby I'm Yours

3. Jesus Was a Cross Maker

4. That Song

5. When It Doesn't Work Out

6. I'll Be There

7. Disney Girls

8. I Think It's Going to Rain Today

9. Cherries Jubilee

10. All in the Game

11. East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)

12. We'll See

13. Try It, Baby*

14. (If You're Gonna) Break Another Heart

15. Saturday Suit

16. Does Anybody Love You

17. Walk Beside Me

18. All My Life

19. Say Hello

20. Who in the World

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cass, The Voice!, August 26, 2009

By 

grooverider "artie" (Toluca Lake LA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Cass Elliot/ The Road Is No Place For A Lady (Audio CD)

With photography by the legendary George Hurrell, the album "Cass Elliot", orginally a gatefold vinyl, is available again, after being out of print. If you've ever loved her voice, this is the album for you. The stars were all in alignment for this project, from producer Lewis Merenstein to the jazz giant, Benny Golson, who arranged & conducted, the musicians included: Larry Carlton, John Guerin, Carole Kaye, Louis Shelton, Joe Osborn, Moacir Santos and Bruce Johnston (The Beach Boys). The songs include "Baby, I'm Yours" (Barbra Lewis), "I'll Be Home" and "I think It's Going To Rain Today", both written by Randy Newman (still not widely known in 1972), Bobby Darin's "I'll Be There", "Disney Girls" (The Beach Boys) and the centerpiece of the album, her absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking version of "It's All In the Game", a song that has been covered by many, but not quite the way Ms. Elliot sings it! Almost 40 years later, that song still takes my breath away. Her voice was crystal clear, and she sang those songs with a joy and strength that must have been remarkable to listen to in the recording studio. Benny Golson's arrangements fit Ms. Elliot to a "t", she caresses the music and brings out the full wonder of a woman who was in her element, doing what truly must have brought her joy. From what, originally was a piece of black vinyl, Ms. Elliot transformed it to something that seems almost alive and breathing, quite an astonishing feat, one of my most treasured albums of all.
Many grateful thanks to recording engineer, Mickey Crofford, who was on staff at RCA Records, the original label this was released on, for capturing all the magic that was going on in the recording booth so beautifully.
"The Road Is No Place For A Lady" is also a treasure, as it was the last album Ms. Elliot made, recording it in London, with musicians who were also part of Elton John's band. She does a fine cover of Hurricane Smith's "Oh, Babe, What Would You Say". Another standout is "Who In The World"
Thanks to Collector's Choice for bringing these two treasures back to the light of day. It's been almost 40 years since "Cass Elliot" first came out, although it was released as a Japanese import, it was priced out of reach for many fans, so thank you, again.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The albums that should have become smash hits, August 31, 2009

By 

Lawrence H. Stern (West Hollywood, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cass Elliot/ The Road Is No Place For A Lady (Audio CD)

It is such a wonderful gift to finally have these two masterpieces available on CD for the first time (although the self-titled CASS ELLIOT was issued overseas before and I did get a CD from Japan a few years ago). CASS ELLIOT was the album she was proudest of and Cass chose/sang some of the most beautiful numbers in her entire career - trying desperately to leave the bubblegun image behind.

THE ROAD IS NO PLACE FOR A LADY, which has never been issued on CD before (the copy I had was an old LP), has virtually disappeared since its original release - and this, her last album, shows that she was on the cusp of reinvention. In a review a few years ago, Rolling Stone heralded it as an undiscovered master work.

First, CASS ELLIOT. From the photos to the selections, this is a wonderful work from beginning to end. She sings with clarity, power, and elegance. "Disney Girls" is my favorite (written for her by one of the Beach Boys) but there are no weak tracks here. "Jesus was a Cross Maker" really kicks. "It's all in the Game" and "I think it's going to rain Today" are stunning. The latter song was later made famous by Bette Midler in Beaches and you can definitely hear similarities in phrasing/styles between the two of them. I wonder if Bette studied these albums when first starting to record. Other highlights include "When it doesn't work out" and "I'll be There". The extra songs are nice - especially "East of the Sun" and "Try it Baby", both of which show a jazzier side to Cass. On all of the tunes, you can hear Cass' joy with the freedom she had in choosing such great material.

THE ROAD IS NO PLACE FOR A LADY was a real challenge to issue on CD since the initial release was marred by mistakes in the mixing. That must be the reason "If you're going to break another heart" and "Does Anybody Love You" were not huge hits at the time they were first issued to radio. Honestly, this new, remastered CD is so much clearer than the old versions that did make it to LP. The remastering is subtle but amazing. You can hear additional instruments, harmonies, and most importantly - Cass' voice front and center again. "Saturday Suit", "Oh Babe, What would you Say", and "Say Hello" are also stand-outs.

If you love Cass and only know her pop/bubblegum hits, do yourself a favor and buy this double-CD. It is a tragedy that she died so young and these albums show just what a true artist she already was and would have continued to be in the years to follow.

Lawrence

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ooh, Cass Elliott: Baby, I'm Yours !!!, September 27, 2009

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Cass Elliot/ The Road Is No Place For A Lady (Audio CD)

This terrific CD has all the tracks from two of Cass Elliott's record albums named Cass Elliott and The Road Is No Place For A Lady. Cass is in excellent form on this album; she sings with a voice that is clear as a bell and I love these songs with her singularly beautiful touch! The quality of the sound is excellent and I love that artwork, too.

"I'll Be Home" starts off the track set with Cass delivering this with all her heart and soul--I love it! Her excellent diction enhances her performance all the more; and then there's a great cover of Van McCoy`s "Baby, I'm Yours." "Baby I'm Yours" has some solid backup for Cass--not that Cass ever needed backup, but they do sound pretty good anyway. "That Song" has Cass squarely front and center--right where she belongs! She does this without ever letting go of a single superfluous note and that's grand. "When It Doesn't Work Out" is very well done with some mighty fine music to complement Cass` singing; and I always liked "I'll Be There" when Cass sang it. "I'll Be There" has a fantastic piano arrangement and this leaves nothing to be desired--this music is all THAT good. Awesome!

"Disney Girls" is quite good; and I really like Cass' rendition of "It's All In The Game." "It's All In The Game" gets the royal treatment from Cass Elliott and she never skips a beat, either! The tune also boasts a lush musical arrangement; those strings are just right for the song. "(If You re Gonna) Break Another Heart" moves me with its genuine emotion; and how's about that brass? Other gems also include "Saturday Suit" and "Does Anybody Love You." "Does Anybody Love You" really lets Cass open up and belt this out wonderfully. "Walk Beside Me" is memorable, to say the least; and I love that percussion! "Who In The World" strikes me with its beauty; that piano arrangement is absolutely wonderful. The key modulations add to the beauty of "Who In The World." Cass also does a terrific rendition of "Oh Babe, What Would You Say;" this song by "Hurricane Smith" was always a favorite love song of mine and Cass does this one up right!

"The Road Is No Place for a Lady" gets a most sensitive treatment from Cass Elliott; and then there are a few bonus tracks to make this CD all the more special. "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)" is very beautiful; and Cass outdoes even herself on "We'll See." "Try It Baby" has a fine musical arrangement and the CD ends very well with Cass Elliott performing "Don't Make Me A Memory." Wow!

Cass Elliott may have left us all too soon; but with CDs like this one she obviously lives on through her music. This is a must-have for fans of Cass Elliott; and it's also a fine starter CD for people just discovering the magical artistry of Cass Elliott.