Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A FABULOUS SURPRISE!!, November 30, 2000
This review is from: Fabulous (Audio CD)
It has been several years since Sheena Easton has had a major release outside of Japan and it's great to have her back! Her latest is a wonderful feel-good album drawing mostly on remakes of familiar dance and R&B classics of the 1970s and 80s. It's hard to imagine anyone bringing anything new to such classics like Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye", Donna Summer's "Love is in Control" or Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way", but she does come off as if she is having one heck of a great time!! She also manages to maintain high energy on "Giving up Giving In" (The Three Degrees) and does a quite creditable job on "Best of my Love" ("The Emotions"). There is one duet - "On My Own" (Patti Labelle/Michael McDonald) where she is joined by a quite youthful sounding Terry Donald - coproducer on the album. At first, I thought it sounded like Sheena was duetting with herself! Interestingly, the two mellow cuts here may actually attract as much attention as the uptempo ones. She obviously has good taste in choosing Deniece Williams' "That's What Friends Are For" (from "This is Niecy") and giving it a smooth, sensual groove. "You Never Gave Me a Chance" (to my knowledge, not a remake) is vintage Sheena. However, the crowning jewel of this collection is the last track "Get Here to Me." This is a wonderful, star-out-slow turning into a high-steppin' disco anthem in the "Last Dance" tradition. Sheena, the production and arrangements (not to mention the material) are terrific. For Sheena fans, it's quite worth the import price. The only real disappointment is that it all seems to end quite a bit too soon, but then you can just skip back to track 1 and start it all over again. Don't be surprised if you find yourself doing just that!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ms. Fabulous Sheena, February 25, 2008
This review is from: Fabulous (Audio CD)
Oh where do I begin. This cd I just got my hands on and it went straight to play. This music is so disco pop, Sheena has the style and perfection all wrapped up in this cd that is oh so Fabulous. Her version of On My Own may differ than Reba McEntires but still has a good beat her way, other songs are: Dont Leave Me This Way, Giving Up Giving In, Love is In Control, Thats what Friends Are For, Never Can Say Goodbye, Best Of My Love, Cant Take My Eyes Off You, You Never Gave me the Chance and Get Here To me. A great cd to have with all of Sheena's other wonderful music. Fabulous job Sheena, You havent changed 1 bit!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Record That Makes You Wanna Listen Over & Over...At Last!, June 2, 2001
Yes, four stars may seem a bit extravagant. But this album is simply too appealing to deserve anything less. Truly. When was the last time you spent money on a CD that gave your index finger on the FF/REW more of a work out than it did your ears, especially if you're into club music? Probably not too long ago. Granted, this is an album of mostly disco and funk covers, but one thing I've realized in this genre is that fewer musicians have been able to make a meal out of club music technology than have been able to barely use it as a spice. Dance music is still largely the domain of its producers rather than its half-baked songwriters and nameless belters. Here Terry Roland & Ian Masterson prove their prowess in the field as aptly as Metro has with so many other worthy artists. Instead of a perfunctory wash of machines and crystaline techno they've produced a highly stylish and deep sound complete with lush background vocals, swirling orchestra, and a beat that energizes instead of tires. They've easily made standard material sound interestingly fresh. A cover like "Never Can Say Goodbye" sounds as joyful as the first time you heard Gloria Gaynor's chestnut. Although, "Best Of My Love" falls just short of this. Easton proves herself worthy of such glorious surroundings, never sounding overwrought, underwhelmed, nor unenthused. Every reading she gives is personal Sheena, never posed. Given the setting of such diva-tried territory, rarely does she scale a height she's incapable of hitting. Particular high points on 'Fabulous', where producers and artist are hand-in-glove: the frenetic "Giving Up, Giving In", the enormous arena-like sound of "Love Is In Control", the sincere intimacy of "That's What Friends Are For" (Deniece Williams & Johnny Mathis, not Dionne Warwick & Friends) and the funky Tom Tom Club beatbox of "I Need Your Lovin'", the Teena Marie gem. Overall, beginning to end this is an invigorating listen. The two extra tracks on this Japanese issue are the mentioned "I Need Your Lovin'" and the DJ Soma Grow Sound Mix of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", all 8+ minutes of it. Hopefully this will get a domestic release with a worthy promo campaign behind it, and hopefully with a few more tracks that might be waiting in the wings. But when and if...this price tag is worth it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|