Customer Reviews

Chasing Rainbows

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When she played in the Chicago area I was there. Brought as many friends as I could, even my mother enjoyed this one glorious night with Jane. Track #9 "Beautiful Sadness" is as lyrically and vocally poignant as was "Vincent" on her first LP. Pure poetry in motion all the way around. Unlike her unfortunate version of the Melissa Manchester/Carole Bayer Sager song "Better Days" on her first LP, "Come In From The Rain" lives up to its full potential, and then some! "It's Over Goodbye" is a dagger to the heart. I think of my parents, especially my mother, when I hear this song. How sad and painful! "Lalena" two daggers to the heart! "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" another favorite. Jane is best when she's tearing your heart out. So when she does her "lighter" songs I usually lose interest; however, "You" is a real gem. When I think of Jane Oliver I think of her first two LP's and what masterpieces they were and are. Like so many others have already expressed their sorrow for her long silence, what a shame she didn't record for eighteen years.

How do you solve a problem like Jane Olivor? When you listen to this disc (and I command that you do so!) you will inevitably ask two question? Why haven't I heard of this woman before now? and, Why isn't she more popular? Well, it will remain one of life's mysteries. Jane Olivor's "Chasing Rainbows" is a very special CD. It belongs in a very select group of CDs which should also include Art Garfunkle's "Angel Clare" and Judy Collins' "Judith." I first discovered this "album" by reading about it in "Stereo Review" - it was a 'best of the month" selection. Then I saw her on Johnny Carson. I knew I had to have that album. Twenty-six years later I'm still blown away by it. "The Big Parade," "The French Waltz," "Lalena," "It's Over Goodbye" and "Beautiful Sadness" - the vocals are tremendous. The contemporary ballads "You" and "Come in from the Rain" are very well done. "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" is gorgeous.

Don't worry Pat, she's back! After seeing an ad in a local Hollywood magazine, I'm happy to tell my fellow Jane Oliver fans that she is back recording on a different record label (Varese Sereband) So, to celebrate and commemorate her return, I ordered some of CD's including the live concert one, since my old cassette version deteriorated from excessive use. Wow! What a difference! Her mellifluous golden voice and wistful songs brought back a lot of memories of my life in the 70's. This CD is a must for all Jane Oliver fans, so I would order it from Amazon a.s.a.p! She's one of my favorite female vocalists, along with cabaret diva's Samantha Samuels, Linda Eder, and Karen Mason. By the way, if you like her recording of "Where There Is Love"(track #4) on this CD, then you'll also enjoy listening to a contemporary version combined with "Unexpected Friends" from Michael Poss on a new CD entitled 'SILVER SCREEN SERENADES'. He's the male melancholy version of Jane Oliver and a popular cabaret artist on the West Coast. Jane Oliver wrote "Where There Is Love", so if this is any indication of her songwriting abilities, I would like to hear more of her own songs! Light some candles and a have nice glass of wine when you listen to this CD especially on a cold, and rainy night. You're mind will gently unravel all of your memories, and put a smile on your face of so many long, lost friends.

Last year my parents were visiting our home when that singer from the 70's who had stagefright, Jane Olivor, came up as a topic of conversation. My parents were wondering whatever happened to her and remembering how much they enjoyed her music.

In light of that conversation and my recollection of how much my parents played Jane Olivor's music in our home when I was a kid, I searched for this album and found it on Amazon.com! I gave this album (and First Night, which is also available through Amazon) to my parents for Christmas, and they loved it. It was a real treat for them to get this relatively obscure album and hear it again on a digitally recorded CD.

Jane Olivor has a beautiful voice. Back in the 70's, she was compared to Barbara Streisand - deservedly so. This album is a great compilation of songs that continue to sound fresh and fit right in with today's adult contemporary music.

Every year or two I dig out Jane Olivor's first album, "First Night" and second album, "Chasing Rainbows" and indulge in a few days of Olivor listening. These two recordings are on my short list of all-time favorites.

Jane Olivor has an exquisite voice: strong, a bit alto operatic, melancholy, and at its best under restraint. She does a lot of French-type cabaret numbers but I like her best on the slow, sad songs. I suppose what really blows me away is the touch -- the phrasing I suppose it's called -- she can give to a single line to make it memorable. The line on this CD I can listen to over and over is "There's children you know, and that makes it so hard to go" in the song "It's all Over Goodbye." She sings this unremarkable phrase with infinite pathos.

My favorite song on the CD is "Beautiful Sadness" which is as poignant a break-up song as I've ever heard. Nobody sings a sad song better than Jane Olivor.

Jane Olivor's delivery is truly special. I keep hoping she will record again, even if she prefers not to perform live in public.

This recording has always been a favorite to really belt it out..although I know I have gotten some sideways stares from other drivers on the road. Also works on a dark rainy day, with an afghan and cup of coffee. I need to replace my cd - it is worn out, although I still own it in vinyl!

I saw Jane Oliver live many years ago and her amazing voice made the entire room silent in awe. I recently bought this album and others on CD since my old tapes are worn out. So what if her voice is similar to Streisand's, so is Celine Dions. Oliver rivals both and the selection of songs on this album are great. You'll end up singing along in your best driving voice!

JUST A FABULOUS VOICE....HAVE OWNED ALL OF HER WORKS IN 8 TRACK AND WORE THEM OUT AND NOW HAVE THE CDS. BECAME A FAN BACK IN THE 70S WHEN I SAW HER PERFORM LOCALLY IN COHASSET MA. SINCE THEN HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF SEEING HER PERFORM LIVE ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS THE LAST BEING 3 YEARS AGO....DOES ANYONE KNOW IF SHE IS STILL PERFORMING AND IF SO WHERE????? WOULD TRAVEL ALMOST ANYWHERE TO SEE HER PERFORM AGAIN.

Following up on the brilliant "First Night," Olivor's sophomore album "Chasing Rainbows" shows her at her darkest and moodiest -- very much the chanteuse. There is much to like here -- the heartrending "It's Over, Goodbye", the charming "The French Waltz", the vibrant "The Big Parade." The material here doesn't rise to the level of "First Night" and the band/arrangements get a bit sluggish and the producer lets Jane oversing a bit, esp. on "Come In From the Rain." But still a worthy effort. It's too bad that Columbia skimped on the packaging for this as the incredible Norman Seeff picture of Jane is SO small (and you miss the second Seeff photo which headed up the back of the album).