Customer Reviews

Everlasting Love

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First off, extra points to Vanessa Williams for using the lesser-known Rufus/Chaka Khan tune "Everlasting Love," rather than the too-familiar Carl Carlton song with the same name (that seems to get revived every year by somebody). Even more extra points to include -- and put her stamp on -- the Ohio Players' underrated soul ballad "Let's Love." In fact, although my aversion to nostalgia and most smooth jazz/soul had me unsure if I would get much out of this CD, the parts come together with enough inspiration on EVERLASTING LOVE to have me pretty enthusiastic about the results. While I've enjoyed a lot of Vanessa's prior music, i.m.o. this album shows off her voice most consistently to best advantage.

As with a lot of contemporary artists who've reached backwards in time for material (Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, even Rod Stewart to name just a few), Vanessa is doing the same here. However, whereas most of the others focused on tunes written prior to the rock era, Vanessa planted herself a few generations forward on the pop culture timeline, landing in the 1970s. Specifically, she selected tunes that inspired her as she was growing up, and fortunately for us she passes along these emotive connections to the listener, offering her strongest vocals to date. Furthermore, although the tunes are among the most memorable of that decade, most benefit from not having been redone extensively ("You Are Everything" excepted; a great song but too-familiar via soooo many cover versions over the years).

Some may quibble that the album -- with a live band and classic tunes -- seems stuck in a time warp (ala Anita Baker's most recent album). Yet who wants to see a class act such as Vanessa trying to compete with the boys and girls on today's hit list (as such peers as Janet, Mariah, Toni, and Madonna get caught up in doing to varying degrees)? Sure, there are other potentially rewarding options for Vanessa (neo-soul, vocal jazz, etc.). But sometimes an artist just has to go with what feels right, and EVERLASTING LOVE really seems to have the right feeling, one that overrides any preferences that the listener may come in with (such as those I listed myself).

Like Vanessa Williams, I grew up in the 70s listening to r&b and pop music on the radio, so I am familiar with all of the remakes on her fine new cd. It probably doesn't matter whether you already know the tunes or not. Vanessa and producer Rob Mathes are faithful enough to each rendition so that you aren't jarred by their approach, but they spruce up the arrangements - usually in a jazz lite manner - so that they make each track a new experience.

Vanessa's selections include less obvious selections from some of her musical heroes: Rufus featuring Chaka Khan ("Everlasting Love"), Stevie Wonder ("Send One Your Love"), and the Isley Brothers ("Harvest For The World"). She also tackles some of the biggest hits of the 70s by less successful artists such as Al Wilson's "Show And Tell" and my favorite track on the cd, Billy Preston & Syreeta's "With You I'm Born Again," included here as a collaboration with George Benson.

After a radio tuning intro, the next ten tracks on this cd are all soothing ballads that collectively take me back to the glory days of the Quiet Storm radio format in the `80s. Then the cd temporarily kicks into overdrive with the uptempo funksters "I'll Be Good To You" (here a duet with James D-Train Williams) and "Harvest For The World." The new composition "Today And Everyday" (its title inspired by a poem by Vanessa's soon to be ex-hubby Rick Fox) ends the proceedings as they began, gently and sweetly.

Throughout this cd, Vanessa's vocals are crystal clear, as usual. The production is refreshingly unclutered. Fans of Vanessa's, `70s music, and lite soul will enjoy this cd immensely.

I purchased "Everlasting Love" the day it came out, and I've been addicted to it since. I was fortunate enough to hear Vanessa sing these songs live, here in L.A., when she toured. She was AMAZING! I own all of Vanessa Williams' CDs, and this collection is fantastic! She sounds better than ever (which I didn't know was possible!) and her song selections are great. I wasn't around in the 70s to enjoy these songs their first time around, but Vanessa brings life to the music of that decade! I am usually not too fond of that era of music, but when Vanessa sings it, I am mesmerized. My favorite tracks are: "With You I'm Born Again," "Everlasting Love," "Never Can Say Goodbye," "You Are Everything," "Harvest for the World" and "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." I love the whole CD, but I must admit that "Send One Your Love" and "Let's Love" had to grow on me. But, they did! This CD is great for true fans because it has the bonus track, "Today and Everyday," which is a song that was based on a poem written by Rick Fox. This CD features Rob Mathes' production, the London Session Orchestra's magical strings, George Benson's talents, and more! If you want to relax to Vanessa's soothing vocals, or dance (there are a few upbeat tracks--such as "Harvest..." and "I'll Be Good to You.") your heart out, pop in the CD "Everlasting Love." Another job well done, Vanessa!

This is the best cd of "covers" I have ever heard, and I have quite a few now. The feeling she conveys in each song lets you know these are some of her favorites, and her range is unbeatable. So good, I bought 2 copies, just in case someone "borrows" one!

Is there a woman anywhere in the Milky Way more beautiful (or, for that matter, a singer more laughably underrated - I dare any one of you to have the guts to look me in the face and tell me that "Save the Best for Last" doesn't still get you where you live, even thirteen years later) than Vanessa Williams? Straight up: there's not a heterosexual impulse anywhere in me, but if there were, they'd all be aimed at her. Swear to Jesus, I've seen it fifty times or better, but I still stop cold whenever I catch her ProActiv acne prevention infomercials on the telly, because I am knocked out by the serene, accurate grace of her incomparable beauty. And of her talent: she's also back in the fray, and she too has given us a covers album, this one a collection of `70s classics called Everlasting Love. Not quite as consistent as Patti LaBelle's recent, similar record, her choice of covers is admirably ambitious - she acquits herself pretty nicely on Roberta Flack's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and actually (gulp) outdoes Melissa Manchester with a stunning new take on "Midnight Blue" - and her voice is better than ever, especially on her cover of The Stylistics' "You Are Everything" --- do yourself a favor and check out Junior Vasquez' "Chill Out Mix" from the CD5; it smartly puts Vanessa's a capella vocal front and center and proves that it's still enough just to be able to open your gorgeous mouth and sing.

The thing that I love about cover discs is the chance to hear a new spin on familiar songs by different artists. I'm so glad that Vanessa hasn't been pushed out of the record biz and feel that this collection is one of the best that I purchased this year! As a fan of her previous discs, I know that Vanessa is a classy singer who successfully mixes r&b with jazz giving her music a unique sound (her vocal phrasing is also consistent and a hallmark of her work).

Now when I saw the track list, 3 songs immediately jumped out to me: THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE, EVERLASTING LOVE & WITH YOU I'M BORN AGAIN. These are not only three of my favorite songs of all time but were performed by women who I frankly, didn't think Vanessa could touch (ie compete with) vocally: Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan & Syreeta Wright.

The addition of instruments on TFTEISYF make the song sound richer than the spare masterpiece original; Vanessa's duet of WYIBA with George Benson is faithful to the original and of course, Vanessa doesn't have the soaring soprano vocals of Syreeta, but she definitely sounds great on this track. Finally, the cover of EL is AMAZING - I don't think that many female vocalists can outdo Chaka but Vanessa put her foot down on this one and sounds terrific! The arrangement & her vocals rival the original. These are definitely 3 of my favorite tracks on the disc.

Other standouts are: MIDNIGHT BLUE, NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE, LET'S LOVE, SHOW & TELL & I'LL BE GOOD TO YOU. The bonus track, TODAY & FOREVER is based on a poem written to Vanessa from her ex and it is a poignant tune in which she is truly expressing a desire for them to work to put their marriage back together.

I also enjoyed the jazzed up versions of HARVEST FOR THE WORLD & SEND ONE YOUR LOVE.

Bravo, Vanessa for producing such an enjoyable collection of music while going through a painful split.

It is as if Vanessa never stopped recording! She is in step from where she left off. Even though this is an album of covers of her favourite love songs of the '70, Vanessa has the unusual ability to take nearly any song & make it her own, which she does! Thankfully, these songs are moderate to lesser-known songs, so this is not your oridinary covers album! I missed her Sophisticated style of doing pop music very much & I'm glad to see her back in top form. Listen to the sound samples. The first single (a cover of the Stylistics hit) "You Are Everything" is transformed into a smooth, sultry, romantic mid-paced ballad that makes you wanna get close that special someone in your life. Her voice is silky smooth & highly charismatic! The songs are romantic & sung with passion & wisdom. Among the Top 10 Diva albums of 2005 (I'd place "Everlasting Love" in the Top 5)! This album will satisfy the long-time Vanessa fan and even music lovers new to her work! Recommended.

It always surprise me about how much we often forget about older divas in the industry, and that has been the case for divas in the R&B category. Thankfully, a lot of those divas have made a very well put comeback in the music industry. That has happened with divas like Patti LaBelle, Teena Marie and Anita Baker, and now Vanessa Williams. She has been one of those divas that hasn't recorded in years because Mercury Records was bought over by Universal. Still, that hasn't meant that her voice was overshadowed and forgone in favor of people like Britney Spears and Ashanti. It has just gotten better with age.

Everlasting Love is Vanessa's first non-holiday album in eight years. The songs here on this album have a very simplistic and soul driven vibe that really hasn't been seen like this since her 1994 album The Sweetest Days. Some might feel this record is just a novelty record, as a reflection of love songs from the 70's, but just like her last album, Next, the songs remain simply soulful and understanding with what Vanessa has undergone with a very public breakup from her ex-husband L.A. Lakers Rick Fox. The collection includes some very dynamic covers including Roberta Flack's First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, a very deep cover of The 5th Dimension's One Less Bell To Answer, and a pair of delightful duets with George Benson of With You I'm Born Again, and James D-Train Williams on I'll Be Good To You. The feeling of these songs is strong but sometimes a little sorrowful and full of meaning of love.

While so many people may not be interested in Vanessa Williams anymore, her music is still very elegant and just beautiful. Everlasting Love is a great R&B / Soul album and is a great buy for longtime fans and hopefully newcomers alike.

Album Cover: B

Songs: B+

Price: B

Overall: B

While listening to my favorize smooth jazz radio station I caught an interview with Vanessa on the radio, unaware she had a new cd out, and listened up as they played songs from the cd.

Wow!

Went out and bought it and that thing stays in my stereo constantly. One of my favorite songs is "Midnight Blue" a song I've felt for a long time should be re-recorded.

The list just gets better. Don't miss out on this cd.

Congratulations to Vanessa Williams on her latest studio album "Everlasting Love" which is a collection of 1970's love songs. The inspiration for the album came from Vanessa's own record collection.

Ironically the album comes after former Laker Rick Fox filed for divorce from the singer-actress in August of 2004. The couple had been married for five years and have a 4-year old daughter named Sasha.

The producer, Rob Mathes, has brought together some of the finest musicians in the country for this record. The players have played with everyone from Herbie Hancock and Bob Dylan to Stevie Wonder, Sting, Eryka Badu, Bruce Springsteen, and Earth, Wind, and Fire.

I have been a fan of Vanessa Williams since her debut single "Dreamin'" was relased from her debut album "The Right Stuff" in late 1990. The song was written by McKinley Horton from Philadelphia.

One year later Vanessa followed with "The Comfort Zone". I remember getting the cd for my Christmas present that year. "Saved The Best For Last" can be found on "The Comfort Zone" and is the one song that has secured Vanessa a place in music history.

"Everlasting Love" starts out with radio tuning (the same unique idea used on "The Comfort Zone") and then you suddenly 'tune' into the first song which is a duet with George Benson titled "Never Can Say Goodbye." The song is one of the top five songs on the album.

YOU ARE EVERYTHING:
The best song song off the album is the first released "You Are Everything" which is a cover of the 1971 song by the Stylistics. Congratulations are also in order for the record label Lava Records for officially releasing a 12" vinyl and CD5 of remixes of "You Are Everything".

Hot remixes of the song are delivered for the mainstream club courtesy of my favorite remixer/producer Mr. Mig who provides a 7:27 minute remix titled "Mr. Mig Retro Breaks Mix." Also, you can find mixes for the legendary Junior Vasquez "Mirrorball Club Mix" and "Ford Club Mix." DJ's received a special 2x12" promotional copy pressed in red vinyl which includes the bonus track "Mr. Mig Retro Trance Mix."

SHOW AND TELL:
A song written by Jerry Fuller and originally recorded by Al Wilson. I love this song and it's a new experience for me since I had not heard the song before Vanessa recorded it. That is the beauty of "Everlasting Love." Vanessa is able to pay tribute to some truly great singer/songwriters and expose a new generation to some great songs. The real surprise of this song is the fact that another one of my favorite singers Lisa Fischer sings backup vocals.

Lisa had an awesome album released back in 1991 called "So Intense" with hits like "Save Me" and "How Can I Ease The Pain." The success of her album was no surprise since many of the tracks were produced by legendary Narada Michael Walden and Luther Vandross.

WHEN I'M BORN AGAIN:
The second song where Vanessa sings a duet with George Benson. The song is more than likely going to be released (or should be) as a single. The emotion really comes through in this beautiful love song with perfect lyrics and melody. As with many of the songs on this album, the arrangements are spectacular thanks to the London Session Orchestra.

TODAY AND EVERYDAY (WEDDING SONG):
This song rounds out my top five picks for the album (although I love the whole album). The song appears on the cd has a "bonus track". The surprise about this original song is that the song title was taken from a poem written by Rick Fox. The song was written and produced by the album's producer Rob Mathes.

If I was producing the album or was going to have creative input into the album the only song I would have left off was "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." The song, in my opinion, has been covered too much and I'm just not a huge fan of the song to begin with. However, it may have been included because it has special meaning for Vanessa or because the majority of people like the song - I am just the exception.

Whether you're discovering Vanessa for the first time or a lifelong fan like myself, I would highly recommend this album. Overall I would give the album 5 stars out 5 because of the selection of timeless songs, because of Vanessa's beautiful voice, and because of the quality of production that went into making this album.