Customer Reviews

Delilah Blue

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's just amazing how some things stay with us. I was barely 16 the first time that I heard a Joshua Kadison song, and now, at the age of 27, I still keep going back.
One interesting note is that- while this site claims the album came out in October of '95, I'm almost sure I saw it on the rack during that summer.. I'm also a little curious about a couple of the different song titles listed here; my disc doesn't have "American Hearts" or "Bus Stop", but I'm guessing that perhaps "Bus Stop" is a different title for "Waiting In Green Velvet"??
In any case, the album came out in '95, and while I was a big fan of "Painted Desert Serenade", it would take me another six and a half years to pick up "Delilah Blue". Why? Well, for one thing, I didn't hear anything promoted back in '95. I don't know if this album had a single or not, but I certainly never heard one track on the radio. I also heard from a friend of mine that it was some kind of religious effort. I guess to a 17 year old, this sort of information didn't exactly send me rushing to the music shop. What a shame though, I had no idea what I was missing. For years, I listened to "Painted Desert Serenade", and really began to form an admiration for Joshua's work; so when I found this album at a used book store in 2002, my curiosity finally got the best of me. To be completely honest, at the time I sampled a little, but nothing really grabbed me- except for the unusual, yet beautiful "Delilah Blue". In any case, the album ended up being lost within my somewhat vast CD collection- that is until this past summer.
Nearly ten years after it's original release, I discovered what a brilliant album this really is. I ended up going through a rather rough time, and I took my three Joshua Kadison albums to work (Yes, I also have the import "Vanishing America", but that's a whole different review). What I ended up discovering was a really great album. It's not nearly as commercial as "Painted Desert Serenade", which explains why it wasn't really heard on the radio, but the way Joshua tells these stories, it's almost like the listener is living the experiences too. As I said above, I always did find the title track moving, but what really surprised me was "Just Like Brigitte Bardot", can this man tell a story or what? I guess the original thing that turned me away from the album was the backup singers, and while they can be a little overwhelming at times, they can also mesh with the songs pretty well, and these songs deserve to be heard. After listening to this album, I pretty much walk away with the impression that it's about survival, and just trying to make it day to day. The album seems to focus more on the underdog, or people who are somewhat on the outside. The album as a whole is pretty remarkable, but my favorites are "Delilah Blue", "Just Like Brigitte Bardot", "Amsterdam", "Rosie & Pauly", and "Take It On Faith". "Amsterdam" is hauntingly beautiful with powerful, raspy vocals from Joshua, and "Take It On Faith" features more raspy, expressive vocals, and is also the only real commercial song here.
In closing, I guess it's just unfortunate how this album really went unheard. I think people wanted another "Jessie" or "Beautiful In My Eyes", and while those songs, along with the "PDS" album are great, this album really explored more of the depth of Joshua's songwriting/storytelling, and let's face it, more of a darker side of life. There was already a good sense of the storytelling element on "PDS", but this album proves what Joshua is capable of, and that he deserves to be regarded as one of the greats.
..Check out the website Joshuakadison.com

I have to say that alot of people have knocked this album down,but i believe it is one of the best ones joshua kadison has ever done.I think we should all be appreciative for music this is so much better then the junk music that we here today.

This is the first Joshua Kadison album that I bought. I liked alot of his music that was airing on the radio at the time, but was looking for something a little more challenging. I found it in Delilah Blue. I have gone through numerous cassetts, and I have a back-up cd in case I wear the current one out. Everyone goes through different phases in their life, as do performers. His first cd was warm and soft and loving, where as Delilah Blue is more the like the part of town you don't go into after dark. All the same, the music touches you, the words move you, and it is really worth a listen.

Joshua Kadison makes a great showing in his follow up album. Moving away from the sticky-sweet pop sound of songs like "Jessie" and "Beautiful in my Eyes," Delilah Blue is a mature album... and frankly it is nice for an artist to show that he has depth. If you enjoyed Kadison's 1st album only for its chart hits, this is not the album for you. But if you thought Painted Desert Serenade was an all around pleaser-- Joshua will not let you down on this follow-up.

I bought this CD after being thoroughly impressed with Kadison's "Painted Dessert Serenade" ... although this album is compltetey different, I love it just as much! It has a gospel flavor without being "religious." If you love blues/soul music, this is a must-have!

I have listened to more musicians and so-called musicians than I care to mention. Joshua Kadison is on par with the great ones of many generations, my favorites being Billy Joel and Elton John. No one's music moved me like theirs-until I heard Delilah Blue. From the reflective opening on "Listen to the Lambs" to the poignant, electrifying rendition of the novella "The Pearl", Joshua delivers like no one of this generation ever has, and better than any others are ever likely to. After I heard Delilah Blue, I knew I had to get his first album as well. I wasn't prepared to be blown away like that. It is every bit as good as this one. What is most amazing to me is that there are no "fillers" on this album. No songs that reflect only half an effort; each one is an independently great story, yet, they all flow together in an almost chronological sense of order. Incredible. Thank you, Joshua, and I eagerly await your next album.

Painted Desert Serande was one of my all-time favorite albums until I heard Delilah Blue. The songs show Joshua's progress towards becoming one of the top singer/songwriters of our time. The gospel feel throughout the album keeps you moving and singing. The title track is the centerpiece of the album, a wonderful story song, and "Amsterdam" is one of the most moving songs I've ever heard. Don't listen to people who say this is a step backwards from his first album.. this is an improvement! Just because every song isn't a love song doesn't mean it's worse, it means he's branching out.

josua kadison has a powerful talent!! His music touches a place in every heart and soul that few people have the guts to show to he world, yet he does just that with style,grace,& a seeming lack of hype. I peronally hope to hear more from Mr. Kadison in the very near future. His music revives my soul!!!

If you liked "Painted Desert Serenede", you'll love "Delilah Blue". It's powerful and moving with a hint of gospel style to it. Joshua Kadison is an extremely talented artist with a passion for his music. I'd reccomend it to anyone with a passion for life!

I first heard this album nearly ten years ago and it is one of my all-time favorites. Delilah Blue is filled with wonderful emotion and beautiful melodies.

In this album, Joshua weaves frightfully honest tales of a dark side of humanity many wish to ignore or would like to pretend doesn't exist. The top reviewer for his latest import CD hated this album because the songs were all about transvestites -- gasp -- "that will hurt your [ears] dear little one!" These are not misogynistic or testostine-filled love songs common to the rock genre or the sappy heterosexual songs like Painted Desert Serenade, which, I still enjoy because Joshua is a wonderful story teller. Many songs emply gospel style melodies and cadence with great back-up singers. Until listening to this album, I was not a fan of gospel music. But this album expanded my tastes. I doubt you'd ever hear these gospel songs in any church.

The title track is a torch song ala dialog between Delilah Blue and "her" friend Black-Eyed Susan. It weaves a tale of their struggles to make ends meet and sadness over loss of their friends from an unmentioned AIDS crisis. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you need to watch the movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert or Torch Song Trilogy.

The track Pearl is a nice ballad but is completely out of place with the other tracks. Maybe they needed to fill up extra space.