Customer Reviews

Classics

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Susan Werner's new release "Classics" does not disappoint! Quite a deviation from her usual songwriter recordings, this one is a collection of newly arranged pop recordings of the 1960s and '70s, rearranged to chamber music. A Stevie Wonder song combined with Chopin, A Simon and Garfunkel tune rearranged to Vivaldi . . . 10 pop recordings arranged to a string quartet sound of piano, violin, viola, cello, french horn, and classical guitar, combined with the usual rich vocals that Werner's fans have come to expect.

Some familiar tunes, some not familiar, but all previously recorded by well-known artists, including Paul McCartney, Marvin Gaye, America, and The Byrds, and all with a completely new sound when combined with classical instruments and Werner's voice. A beautiful and soothing recording, yet also quietly stimulating and energizing. My personal favorites are her new arrangements of The Animals' "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and The Beach Boys' "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times."

Werner's classical training shines in this release, and, although there are no original Werner lyrics, her soul comes through in the collection she has chosen. For Susan Werner fans and newcomers, this is a great one! 5 stars!

The "Classic" is Susan herself. She is amazingly talented. OK, so I am a real fan. I first heard her about 4 years ago at a folk festival when she was performing songs from her "I Can't Be New" album - accompanying herself on the keyboard. Have seen her performances subesquently at folk festivals, at a club in Cambridge performing songs from her "Classics" album, and heard her on radio show performances. Guitar, piano and Oh what a voice - clear, warm and so expressive! Her range goes from Cole Porter to Pete Seger to Stevie Wonder/Chopin - all in Susan's own style.

On this album, almost every song is a combination of "classic" "pop" tunes if you will and "classical" music in an arrangement that she and her fellow artists had the musical insight to bring together with a magic that leaves us wanting more of her - and their accompaniment. The winds and strings are beautifully integrated from the ensemble and significant credit should also go to her fellow arrangers Crit Harmon and Brad Hatfield - who also conducts the chamber ensemble. The musicians are ". . . real and breathing air". And " . . . playing real instruments". And all the playing is polished, and nuanced appropriately - it shines brightly.

It's very hard to pick out individual tracks/arrangements to prefer - they are all done very well. Perhaps as an example of her delicate treatment of a "lost love" song; her performance of "All in Love is Fair" by Stevie Wonder with a short excerpt of the Chopin Noctern gives a wonderful depth of feeling without deep bathos. This is also true of her performance of "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney. I think that is where she shines most - she brings us into her world of caring without making us pay too much - lost love does not leave her lost - just temporarily walking a different path that we can too - ".. . this is [always] the best time of [her] life". Her same self-assured optimistic tone overides the underling current of melancholia delivered by the Ensemble in another of her "waiting for love" songs - "Waiting in Vain" by Bob Marley with excerpt from Gymnopeides #1 by Erik Satie. Contrast this with the less than subtle humor in a previous "waiting" song - "Time Between Trains" - she was there funny, sexy, needy lonely and now is quiet, deep and lovingly lonely at the end of this album. And does she really believe "[She} Just Wasn't Made For These Times"? Perhaps a new evidence of her nostalgia ne the songs of "I Can't Be New"?

She is a consumate giver of her soul and talent on (and I suspect off) stage. You will be left wanting more - understand that this is an example of one of her "projects" - her curiosity and range of talent leads her to explore a wide range of musical interests. If you explore her prior art, you too will magically be brought into that range.

Rumor (propagated by SW herself) is that she is working on music for a broadway musical - look for evidence in the next couple of years. She certainly has the talent.

This a wonderful update of music from the 60's and 70's. It is pleasant to listen to and very soothing.

This CD was all that I expected and more. The arrangements are ingenious. They add a little majesty to the ordinary. I'm glad I heard Susan describe her work on NPR and decided to try a CD. After I bought this one, I went back and order her gospel CD, also very good.

Wonderful selection from a very classy singer who I believe should be a bigger star than she is....really wonderful live as well!

As a retired truck driver my life was filled with music, when getting out on the hiway it's nice to have an album
that all the cuts play well and theres no need to change CDs. This is an excellent album, A Good Traveler that puts you in a receptive place while taking in the sites rolling down the Road! A nice spectum of selections.

I had heard the online previews before purchasing this CD. It was nothing compared to the CD itself - what a great collection of classic songs, performed by a chamber ensemble (and Susan herself). It's beautifully and interestingly arranged and, of course, sung in Susan's oh so expressive voice. It's a new take that adds so much more to already great songs. Highly recommended.

I really enjoy music played in another way than the origional. I also like the quietness of a piano being the main star of this change. Thanks to Susan Werner for her thoughtfulness in her selection and the outcome. I heard parts of this CD on NPR before I ordered it so I knew what I was getting. NPR is an excellent way of hearing things that is out of the mainstream, which this is but it is so wonderful for those of us that like the quiet and not the loud.