Customer Reviews

The Essence of Nancy Wilson: Four Decades of Music

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4 star:		(1)
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I am usually hesitant to shell out money for a boxed set, but the minute I heard about The Essence Of Nancy Wilson, I knew I would purchase it on it's release date. I did and I am thrilled. Nancy Wilson is without a doubt the most technically proficient singer in jazz,pop,r&b, you name it and Miss Nancy can sing it. There are 4 discs in this set, a total of 81 cuts and there is not a bad cut among them...well, maybe one, bi=ut more about that in a bit. This set covers material recorede by Nancy during her Capitol years 1960-1980, with a few tracks from her Sony years in the 80's and 90's. The high point of the set is a previously unreleased live set from the Sands in Las Vegas recorded in 1968.This show was amazing and features many great Wilson moments.Nancy's version of Jerome Kern's The Folks Who Live On the Hill is breathtaking. Nancy's use of silence and incredible phrasing on this cut are true artistry.This cut is absolutely the best version of this great standard ever recorded...pure perfection. Yje live set also features a beautiful medley dedicated to her (then) young son KC. The last song on the medley is Black Is Beautiful, a song I remember Nancy doing in the late 60's. This version is heartbraking, empowering and loving. Disc one feature some singles that never charted and a few that did including Nancy's Grammy winning How Glad I Am and 1974's You're As Right As Rain.Highlights of disc three include Billy Strayhorn's Passion Flower, Free Again (a staggering vocal), Glad To Be Unhappy, an out of left field but achingly poignant version of Leonard Cohen's Suzanne,and How Many Broken Wings from 1970's Now I'm A Woman, Nancy's foray into the then burgeoning Philly sound. This disc also feature Sunshine, the one clinker out of 81. This cut is from Love, Life and Harmony, Nancy's sort of disco album.Disc four includes a lovely version of Jobim's Wave, Morning In Your Eyes, and the incrredible The Island. This song is the musical equivalent of making love. Listen and you'll see what I mean.This disc ends with 3 more live cuts from a Japanese release from 1975..When Did You Leave Heaven Guess Who I Saw Today and the aptly titled Greatest Performance Of My Life, all are showstoppers. One minor complaint...the profusely illustrated booklet, featuring all of Nancy's Capitol lp covers, previously unreleased photos and exhaustive liner notes fell apart after only 2 readings. Staples anyone? Seriously, this is the best boxed set I have ever purchased. Buy it and you will agree.

Miss Wilson is my favorite singer -- there are no exceptions -- so of course I immediately added this set to my collection. I'll admit, however, that -- so far -- I'm stuck on Disk 2, which begins with her live performance at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas in '68. She mixes old and new, adding her unique style and talent to each song. This CD, alone, is worth the price of the set. I've seen Miss Wilson in person many, many times over the years, and this Sands performance captures her spirit and art with grace and style. I'll soon move on to the other disks in the set, but I couldn't wait any longer to post my hearty recommendation. I know you'll enjoy!

I have been purchasing Nancy Wilson albums for years so I believed that I had heard all of her recordings. Well, I was wrong. This collection includes new songs from live performances that are excellent, along with different arrangements of old favorites. I agree with the reviewer who praised disc #2. It's a must for any Nancy Wilson fan. If you like to listen to Miss Nancy, buy this set.

I love this box. What a great idea! I got it on the day it was
released. And as the booklet demostrates, Nancy is not only a
woman with a beautiful voice, but a spiritual being who has given so much joy and love to the world we live in by just by being being the woman she is. Through the course of a long career, an artist is not only judged on the calibre on their talent. They are commented on their appearance, empathy, and attitude. And we all know Nancy has got that all in spades. That's what makes this even more special. Nancy is family-always has been. The kind of woman you would not be intimidated going up to say express your appreciation but someone that you respect enough to come correct with. I love the variety of Nancy's work this box explores. It could have been lonh longer 'cause there are a couple of notable songs I was longing to hear. I list them not to say this wasn't an exceptional product of love, but to point out things that are also worthy of great merit in her catalog.

1. Mr. Walker It's All Over- From "A Son Of A Preacher Man"
2. Tonight Will Have To Last Me All Of My Life
3. Gentle Is My Love
4. Forbidden Love
5 Almost Persuaded
6. This Girl is a Woman Now
7. Have A Heart
8. Before The Rain

This is absolutely the best of her best. I'm only afraid I'll wear it out. For me her voice and style hit its zenith in the late sixites and seventies and these recordings are mostly from that time period. Nancy's voice is unmistakable and her talent immeasurable and it all comes out on these cd's.

This set is superb from start to finish. A previous reviewer listed "Sunshine" as the one so-called 'clinker' out of 81. Well, this song is a highly sought after 70's jazz-soul classic amongst beat-heads and fusion fans alike, which fetched a pretty penny on import CD's a short while back. So, while I agree with most of that review, I strongly disagree with his opinion of the selection he deemed as a 'clinker'. He refers to this song as 'Disco'. (!) Why is anything with a funky beat deemed disco? I understand that you can't please everyone with everything. That said, not a clinker in the bunch is my opinion. And contrary to popular belief, everything with a funky beat is NOT DISCO!!!

I've always adored Nancy Wilson's work as a singer and actress. I remember going to see a Cuba Gooding Jr. movie and they advertised this box set by playing "Save Your Love For Me". Upon hearing that song, I made it my mission to own this, and I've been the proud owner of this box set since the year it came out. I haven't regretted since. This song, her version of "Can I", and countless others make any listener pleased.

This album is yet another one of her great products. The smooth sound, gentle rhythms, and Nancy Wilson elegance shines through. I highly recommend this album for jazz enthusiasts and those who simply like music with a great sound.