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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Petula in top form singing mostly covers, April 5, 2003
This review is from: Come on Home (Audio CD)
Apart from the title track, which Petula co-wrote, this album is filled with covers of some of Petula's favorite songs of the era. Petula clearly loved the music of Gordon Lightfoot, as he is represented by The gypsy, which opens this set, and by a medley of Here comes that rainy day feeling again and If you could read my mind. There is also a Bread medley, made up of Baby I'm a want you and Everything I own. In the old fashioned way is the English translation of a Charles Aznavour song. Although Charles eventually recorded the song in English himself, Petula was the first to do so. Killing me softly, a huge hit for Roberta Flack, was apparently inspired by a Don McLean concert. Half as much is a Hank Williams classic that became a pop hit for Rosemary Clooney in the fifties. Until it's time for you to go, written by Buffy Sainte-Marie, is usually associated with Elvis Presley. I can see clearly now was written by reggae singer Johnny Nash, although Petula sings it her way. While not essential, this is a fine album that will be appreciated by Petula's fans everywhere. It should also appeal to those uncommitted fans who like these songs and enjoy listening to cover versions.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of her best - without question, December 28, 2001
This review is from: Come on Home (Audio CD)
This album is one of my favorite Petula discs. Recorded after her USA heyday (or at least what many believe was her USA heyday), at a time when us Petula fans were ACHING for more recordings (only to find out they weren't being released here in the USA), Petula's voice is strong, emotional, vulnerable, etherial - you name, it's all here on this CD. "Come On Home" is amazing to me. Her voice is so delicate on this recording - Petula sings "pretty", with that heavy-yet-somehow-subtle rhythm driving the song along, doing an exquisite vocal acrobatic at the end of the song (you know how she can suddenly zip into a vocal riff, hitting a clear, clear soprano note, perfectly blended into her belt voice?)... "Old-Fashioned Way" - terrific version of this. "Killing Me Softly" - nice, nice job. In fact, there's a number of great studio performances on the CD - which makes it one I highly, highly recommend. Petula Clark is one of the all-time great studio recording artists. She is a woman who totally understands the art of recording - and blessed with a voice that makes love to the microphone. This CD - maybe not TOTALLY perfect - is something I hope Ms. Clark is very proud of. She gives it 100% - and as a result, we have a recording (made in 1974, I think) that remains strong in 2001. Without hesitation, GET THIS ONE!
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A U.K.-ONLY LP IS NOW IN THE STATES ON CD, September 17, 2000
This review is from: Come on Home (Audio CD)
At the time this LP was originally released in the U.K., Clark was having contractual problems with her label here in the U.S., so this never had a Stateside issue - and what a pity, because it would have established her as a successful "contemporary adult" artist and allowed her to finally put to rest her 1960s "pop" image. Any one of the 12 tracks here could have been released as a single and put her back at the top of the charts. The opening song, "The Gypsy", is from the pen of Gordon Lightfoot, and - like so many of his compositions - unfolds as a fairy tale-like story, with Clark and background chorus weaving a spell much like that of the title character herself. The best of the lot here are covers - but not copies - of such hits as "Killing Me Softly", "I Can See Clearly Now", "Without You", and "Until It's Time for You to Go", and the listener will be hard-pressed to recall the originals after hearing Clark's interpretations. And what a remarkable blend of styles exists among the rest of the offerings here! There's more than a touch of 40s "doo-wop" in her rendition of Charles Aznavour's "In the Old Fashioned Way" (the first English-language version recorded); two medleys - Bread's "Baby I'm a Want You/"Everything I Own" and "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling"/"If You Could Read My Mind" - each combine seemingly disparate tunes and make them sound like obvious combinations; a lushly-orchestrated "Till" that has surely been played at a wedding or two; and with "Half As Much" and the self-penned title tune, Clark gave herself a chance to sing the American "country"-style music she enjoyed - and for which she had a natural affinity. Arrangement credits are shared mostly by Tommy Oliver, John D'Andrea, and Frank Owens - Clark's concert accompanist at the time - and all obviously recognized her strengths and knew how to capitalize on them. This should go into your shopping cart immediately - you won't be disappointed.
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