Customer Reviews

Feeling Good

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I seldom submit my own reviews, but this album is extraordinary. This is THE Randy Crawford album to own!! I have all of Randy's recordings - and love them all - but this one stands alone.

She is backed by a small combo (including Christian McBride on bass and Ray Parker, Jr. on guitar); no strings or big arrangements, but they are hot! Randy and Joe Sample are perfect together (again). Randy's vocals are jazzier than usual and she and Joe seem to inspire one another. The disc has Randy's usual covers of standards and pop hits (Feeling Good, But Beautiful, Everybody's Talking, When I need You), some re-makes of her own recordings (Rio de Janiero Blue and Last Night at Danceland) and some unfamiliar (to me) fare and not a boring cut on the album.

The price: ugh! I guess it's currently available only as an import (recorded in NYC & LA but distributed out of Argentina!). No matter what, it's definitely worth the price.

Over the years I have bought every Randy Crawford album without listening to it first. That wasn't always a wise thing to do.
But she's back! And how! With Joe Sample, Steve Gadd, Ray Parker Jr, Tommy LiPuma and others.
Randy's voice and delivery of material were never the problem. Arrangements and repertoire on the other hand....
Everything is 5 stars this time. Randy fans can savely press 'the 1 click ordering' button.

The master of elegant Soul Jazz is joined by Randy Crawford, delivering 13 Soulful relaxing jazz tracks full of taste and energy. Here you have it all; the Piano and the beat, the beautiful voice with all the musical feel.
This album surely ranks among Sample's best releases. Almost 70 years old, Mr. Sample seems only getting better and better.
Other well recommended Releases:
Old Places, Old Faces.
Sample this.

Don't wait for the Stateside release of this amazing CD.
Get it at Amazon.co.uk
They are cheap and FAST!

Randy says this in the liner notes:
"There is a deliberate spareness to this project as far as physical musician manpower.
But the inspiration of all the voices we learned from, and instrumentalists that have touched our hearts and lives, were definitely included in our desire to keep you FEELING GOOD.
Invisible love affairs, imagined love affairs, tangible love affairs, love affairs, love affairs, love affairs."

Besides Randy and Joe Sample--the CD includes
Steve Gadd
Christian McBride
Ray Parker, Jr
Dean Parks
Anthony Wilson
Louis Quintero

a STUNNING collection of voice and song---
and be sure to catch Randy and Joe on YouTube!

It is amazing that this great collaboration took until now to happen. There was magic when Randy recorded the hit "Steet Life" with Joe Sample when he was still with the Crusaders back in 1979, and now we can enjoy an entire album of this terrific musical chemistry. Randy is one of the best and most underrated R & B/jazz singers, with her warm vibrato, fresh
phrasing, backed up by Joe Sample's distinctive piano style - aggressive,
yet spare enough to complement rather than override Randy's vocals.

The title song "Feeling Good" is a fresh and upbeat reinterpretation of the original standard, and better than anyone else's version I have heard.
From "Rio de Janeiro Blue" to "Sealine Woman" Randy spins her tales with
a quality that has no limits, and, although these are my favorites, every song on this album is a gem.

If you want to witness Joe and Randy live, check out the studio session on Youtube of "Street Life". It appears to have been done recently, about the same time as the making of this album.

I have played this CD until I will probably have to buy another one. Randy and Joe really compliment each other. I look forward to more CDs by them.

This is a great CD and you can just imagine Joe Sample basically having a jam session with Randy Crawford. The CD was the focus of a story on National Public Radio one day and that's when I learned about it! It exceeded my expectation!

Randy Crawford is a jazz legend and has been around for decades. She has followed the current genres throughout touching pop, light dance music etc. but she is ultimately a true jazz purist and looking over her entire career she shines. She made one of her greatest hits 30 years ago with Joe Sample and the Crusaders on STREET LIFE. A great song and here they are again - Randy Crawford and Joe Sample - two legends doing an entire cd together.

One might expect two masters such as these to rest on their laurels a little bit and put minimal effort in. Instead, here we get on of the best sets in the careers of both artists. The album is very eclectic and Randy leaves the pop influence behind and attacks each track as a true jazz artist, sometimes bluesy, always smooth. Her voice is pure and strong, always emotive as the small backing music led by the amazing acoustic piano work of Joe Sample give her the floor.

Randy redoes some of her classics like RIO DE JANIERO BLUE and LAST NIGHT AT DANCELAND. To listen to these tracks here shows how seriously she is taking this project. Her voice soars and her immense range is fully realized and it is as if each song is being sung for the first time. The set is very eclectic. There are some pop songs like WHEN I NEED YOU but it leaves pop territory and becomes pure jazz here.

I'll admit it took me a couple of listens to get into this cd but then it became pure magic. Now it is one of the best jazz collections I have ever heard. You must listen to each track one at a time for each song is a true emotional experience. I am a true Randy Crawford fan and must say she demonstrates some vocals here that left me in awe. BUT BEAUTIFUL, LOVETOWN, TELL ME MORE AND THEN SOME and MR. UGLY are truly amazing.

This cd is not only about FEELING GOOD. It is so much more than that. I think this cd was truly Grammy worthy and should have been recognized and is not only a must for Randy Crawford/Joe Sample fans but also true jazz fans and for people who just love great music.

This cd is a rare gift of two legends giving their all for an ultimate experience.

I attended their concert last night in Istanbul, Turkey. They played their songs from this album and expectedly, Street Life, and some other tunes. I had a great time and the music was a feast. The crowd was enchanted by Randy's voice, and Mr. Sample had a very good connection with the audience. My favorites were her interpretations of Feeling Good and Tell Me More and More. I hope she sings a lot more in the years to come.

This is one of Randy Crawford's best performances. She really cuts loose and also keeps a keen sense of tenderness on all of the ballads. I have been a fan for years and this makes me a stronger fan. Joe Sample's piano is exquisite!