Customer Reviews

Downtown: Journey of a Heart

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

 

 

While there are no new materials in this album, remaking of some of the songs are definitely worth listening to for JW fans. When Bad English albums are selling for pennies these days, one should not expect a huge success from remaking of Bad English songs like When I see you smile. However, as a long time Bad English and JW fan, I have no complaints. Missing You featuring Allison Krauss is definitely worth listening to.

Hey guys I might be a bit on the young side.(30 to be exact.) This John Waite CD is a future classic his re-working of again "Missing You" with his new girlfriend Alison K. they are both fabulous together singing this painful little song. You know what its not that bad at all. I got my family friend into John she loves "In Dreams" and "Isn't It Time" I love his cover of Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited". He and I love Bob Dylan that is cool I said "Thanks Man For Cover Dylan Again". I love "Isn't It Time" Great song by The Babys who knew John would be successful solo artist. You Rock Man This is why I love John Waite.

This CD is excellent but then I am biased as I have loved John Waite as a singer since first hearing Headfirst! I didn't buy The Hard Way but recently started getting into his music again after a few years and purchased this one, so the songs from that CD were new to me. I think The Hard Way and New York City Girl are two of the best songs he has ever done - he is an amazing singer of not only ballads but rock songs as well. The new versions of In Dreams, Downtown, Isn't It Time and When I See You Smile are awesome - I like them better than the originals! He sings them so beautifully and his voice is more upfront on the acoustic versions. Usually songs don't sound that good when singers redo them but then John is not your usual singer! St. Patrick's Day is another gem. Anyone who loves John's singing should love this CD - especially with the revisited songs. There is rock, ballads and blues and a voice that will hit you right in your heart! To me, John is one of the best singers to come out of Britain in the 70's and one of the best songwriters - he's right up there with Freddie Mercury in my opinion. We can only hope that he will come out with another CD before long and tour again!

I have been a JW fan since Missing You/Tears (and then went back to The Babys and forward to Bad English etc.) and I totally love this release. I appreciate that there is little in the way of new material here but I really enjoy the remakes/different takes on some of the classics.

JW's voice has lost none of its sparkle and there are some great (and poignant) moments here. I am suprised at the negative comments by other reviewers, I am more excited by this JW release than I have been since Rovers Return! And this is a much better record too.

Give it a chance!

I am a self-professed John Waite devotee and own most everything he's done (except for the impossible-to-find King Biscuit Flower Hour CD) in his various incarnations. I'm disappointed to see the second straight "new" album with next to zero new tracks (the one real exception being St. Patrick's Day). This is the same problem I had with "The Hard Way" which had one new song, one new instrumental, and an acoustic version of "Missing You" along with reissues of other material. Great if you're an enthusiast, but otherwise, keep your fingers crossed we'll actually get some NEW material from John at some point soon!

THIS IS ONE OF THE BETTER RELEASES OF THE YEAR!WAITE,FORMER FRONT MAN FOR THE BABY'S STILL HAS THE VOICE AND THIS OFFERING IS STRONG WITH A DUET WITH ALLISON KRAUSE ON "MISSING YOU" AND A GOOD COVER OF BOB DYLAN'S "HIGHWAY 61".JOHN WAITE'S LATEST IS A KEEPER....

I am actually writing this review before I have heard the entire CD. I just need to know why this is the third straight disc that contains "NYC Girl" & "Keys To Your Heart". I don't get this at all. His last album had 5 repeat songs from the one preceding that, and now this one repeats some of them again. Maybe after his nect release, I will be able to compile a complete disc of new material.

Throughout a long, successful solo career and stints as front man for The Babys and Bad English (both represented here by remakes) John Waite has sparkled with a voice that was sweet and strong but prone to bombast and going too far over the top. But time has taken it's toll - he now seems overwhelmed by the rockers such as "Hard Way" and "Headfirst" (which sounds like a Foreigner cast-off). And yet the trade-off is that he has learned restraint and it pays off with lovely ballads such as "Saint Patrick's Day", "New York City Girl" and "In Dreams." The bold decision to remake his signature song "Missing You" with Allison Krauss gives us a new look at the old song, the restraint and lovely blending of voices giving the song a wistfulness whereas it usually done as anger. Sadly, the Bob Dylan "Highway 61 Revisited" doesn't work on any level. Sadder yet, shred John's voice a little and this becomes a Rod Stewart album from the Downtown Girls period. Despite some highlights, generally this is a disappointment.