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Track Listings
| 1. Flavor |
| 2. Yes, Anastasia |
| 3. Jackie's Strength |
| 4. Cloud On My Tongue |
| 5. Precious Things |
| 6. Gold Dust |
| 7. Star Of Wonder |
| 8. Winter |
| 9. Flying Dutchman |
| 10. Programmable Soda |
| 11. Snow Cherries From France |
| 12. Marianne |
| 13. Silent All These Years |
| 14. Girl Disappearing |
Editorial Reviews
This deluxe edition includes a 32 page hardcover booklet and a DVD that features music videos of Flavor, Gold Dust and behind the scenes footage.
20 Years of Conversations
How do you commemorate the 20-year career of Tori Amos, an artist who has sold over 12 million albums, played well over 1,000 shows, won numerous awards and, more importantly, touched, healed or changed the lives of millions of fans? For a composer with such an artful ability to dart and flourish in different directions, experimenting and searching for new ways of creating art, breaking more boundaries than perhaps any other female singer-songwriter, it would be impossible to predict. In this case of her 13th album, Gold Dust burst out of a series of serendipitous events. Gold Dust is the second album by Tori Amos released on the classical label Deutsche Grammophon, in cooperation with Mercury Classics. Soon after she started working on the first album, the acclaimed Night of Hunters, there was a phone call from the Metropole Orchestra in the Netherlands inviting her to play with them in October 2010. Once her songs had been performed live in an orchestral setting it was clear that Tori needed to make an album. I was really touched by the orchestra and I wanted to capture that on recording she says. And so Gold Dust was conceived. Of course Tori's musical history actually began in the classical world, when she entered the prestigious Peabody Institute at the age of 5. Frustrated by the close-minded limitations the classical world imposed on her in the 70s, she checked out and headed into rock when she was 13, magnetized by its expressive and expanding possibilities, intent on expanding her sonic architecture. Now she has been pulled back to approach that world again. Music has a way of taking you by the hand and saying, it's time to create like this she explains. Times have changed and now she feels limited instead by the contemporary world and the derivative sameness of what she hears on the radio. You don't have as many complex structures in contemporary music which is why musicians are trying to explore other ways of constructing a song. But her classical training provided her with the language, tools and understanding of form and structure to create Night of Hunters and Gold Dust. So how did she go about picking the right songs out of her vast repertoire? The track-listing for Gold Dust doesn't read like a collection of her Greatest Hits. Although it includes a number of her best-loved songs - Precious Things, Silent All These Years, Winter - some of the others tracks are lesser known treasures. She compares arranging the songs in a classical setting to giving a woman a makeover, considering who she is and what style would work for her. Tori has always thought of her songs as separate women and girls and jokes: you can't say 'Oh my God bangles are in so let's put everybody in bangles!' It doesn't work like that. Some of the songs have been reinvented quite dramatically with the help of Tori s long time arranger John-Philip Shenale. The fear driven rock sounds of Precious Things and the spheric electro soundworld of Flavor came to a new form of being in the environment of a symphony
orchestra. Other songs have undergone more subtle makeovers, taking, adding or changing individual colours to the beloved original versions. But all have been chosen for a reason. Almost autobiographical in structure, the songs represent stories in Tori's life. Jackie's Strength is about her relationship with her mother. Winter is about her father and grandfather. Snow Cherries from France, one of her favorites, is about falling in love with her husband. To bring them forward into 2012, Tori made a decision not to sing them as they were in the original form, and to avoid trying to be the person she was at the time.
20 Years of Conversations
How do you commemorate the 20-year career of Tori Amos, an artist who has sold over 12 million albums, played well over 1,000 shows, won numerous awards and, more importantly, touched, healed or changed the lives of millions of fans? For a composer with such an artful ability to dart and flourish in different directions, experimenting and searching for new ways of creating art, breaking more boundaries than perhaps any other female singer-songwriter, it would be impossible to predict. In this case of her 13th album, Gold Dust burst out of a series of serendipitous events. Gold Dust is the second album by Tori Amos released on the classical label Deutsche Grammophon, in cooperation with Mercury Classics. Soon after she started working on the first album, the acclaimed Night of Hunters, there was a phone call from the Metropole Orchestra in the Netherlands inviting her to play with them in October 2010. Once her songs had been performed live in an orchestral setting it was clear that Tori needed to make an album. I was really touched by the orchestra and I wanted to capture that on recording she says. And so Gold Dust was conceived. Of course Tori's musical history actually began in the classical world, when she entered the prestigious Peabody Institute at the age of 5. Frustrated by the close-minded limitations the classical world imposed on her in the 70s, she checked out and headed into rock when she was 13, magnetized by its expressive and expanding possibilities, intent on expanding her sonic architecture. Now she has been pulled back to approach that world again. Music has a way of taking you by the hand and saying, it's time to create like this she explains. Times have changed and now she feels limited instead by the contemporary world and the derivative sameness of what she hears on the radio. You don't have as many complex structures in contemporary music which is why musicians are trying to explore other ways of constructing a song. But her classical training provided her with the language, tools and understanding of form and structure to create Night of Hunters and Gold Dust. So how did she go about picking the right songs out of her vast repertoire? The track-listing for Gold Dust doesn't read like a collection of her Greatest Hits. Although it includes a number of her best-loved songs - Precious Things, Silent All These Years, Winter - some of the others tracks are lesser known treasures. She compares arranging the songs in a classical setting to giving a woman a makeover, considering who she is and what style would work for her. Tori has always thought of her songs as separate women and girls and jokes: you can't say 'Oh my God bangles are in so let's put everybody in bangles!' It doesn't work like that. Some of the songs have been reinvented quite dramatically with the help of Tori s long time arranger John-Philip Shenale. The fear driven rock sounds of Precious Things and the spheric electro soundworld of Flavor came to a new form of being in the environment of a symphony
orchestra. Other songs have undergone more subtle makeovers, taking, adding or changing individual colours to the beloved original versions. But all have been chosen for a reason. Almost autobiographical in structure, the songs represent stories in Tori's life. Jackie's Strength is about her relationship with her mother. Winter is about her father and grandfather. Snow Cherries from France, one of her favorites, is about falling in love with her husband. To bring them forward into 2012, Tori made a decision not to sing them as they were in the original form, and to avoid trying to be the person she was at the time.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
80 of 96 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It absolutely kills me to give a new record from Tori Amos~~especially a record that is meant to celebrate her 20 years since the release of Little Earthquakes~~a lukewarm review, but I'm afraid I must. Of course, the music, engineering and Tori's voice and piano sound great. The problem lies within the song choices: most of which were already given an accompaniment of beautiful arrangements by her long-time collaborator, John Philip Shenale...so most of the original releases already had beautiful orchestral arrangements. Why not give classic Tori songs like Caught a Lite Sneeze, Crucify, A Sorta Fairytale With You, Spark and so many others the full-on orchestral treatment since they never had one before?
When listening to this record, which streamed for a week on a Polish radio station (I think), I literally could not tell the difference between this new rendition of Jackie's Strength and the original that came out of From The Choirgirl Hotel. And the ending of Precious Things sounds like a cacophony of loud horns and Tori moaning and screaming...and it just sounds bad. And, as LOVELY as Star of Wonder sounds, this song has no place on a Tori retrospective (it's off a 2-year-old release called Midwinter Graces and is a riff off of the Christmas carol We Three Kings of Orient Are)...except this Star already had a beautiful orchestral arrangement. It sounds lovely...and exactly like the original release from MidWinter Graces. It, along with Snow Angel or Our New Year would have made a nice B-Side, and another more important song like Baker, Baker, Cooling (recently voted Tori's greatest song, ever) or Northern Lad could have made the cut on the main record. Even though I think that MidWinter Graces is the most beautiful holiday record I own, I only listen to it for about a month a year.... Read more ›
When listening to this record, which streamed for a week on a Polish radio station (I think), I literally could not tell the difference between this new rendition of Jackie's Strength and the original that came out of From The Choirgirl Hotel. And the ending of Precious Things sounds like a cacophony of loud horns and Tori moaning and screaming...and it just sounds bad. And, as LOVELY as Star of Wonder sounds, this song has no place on a Tori retrospective (it's off a 2-year-old release called Midwinter Graces and is a riff off of the Christmas carol We Three Kings of Orient Are)...except this Star already had a beautiful orchestral arrangement. It sounds lovely...and exactly like the original release from MidWinter Graces. It, along with Snow Angel or Our New Year would have made a nice B-Side, and another more important song like Baker, Baker, Cooling (recently voted Tori's greatest song, ever) or Northern Lad could have made the cut on the main record. Even though I think that MidWinter Graces is the most beautiful holiday record I own, I only listen to it for about a month a year.... Read more ›
33 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is not a bad album, it's just unnecessary and a missed opportunity. Interesting song selection - not just a greatest hits. But I wish it was more like Joni Mitchell's Travelogue, which expanded an eclectic selection of Joni songs to a full orchestra, really transforming them. Tori picked songs that were already suited to this treatment, often already full of strings - what was the point of "Flying Dutchman" or "Yes Anastasia?" They are not reinvented, just rerecorded. And if that's the case, there could have been some more exciting songs there at least.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Cliff Holt
Format:Audio CD
In Tori's hands (considering her repertoire), this project could have really WOWED. But it seems such a lazy selection of songs to give this treatment to. As many have said before here - these songs were already orchestrated (for the most part).
What about songs like She's Your Cocaine, Professional Widow, Horses, Bliss, Witness, Waitress??? These songs would have really wowed anyone familiar with them already.
I do like this recording for what it's worth - I just feel it could have been worth a WHOLE LOT MORE. She has a vast group of songs to play around with - but stayed too safe with her selections.
On the plus side, this is a very beautiful recording. I do think she and the orchestra sound beautiful together. I love the photographs and packaging as well. I'd actually welcome a second volume of songs given this treatment - just ones that challenge her and the arranger a bit more.
What about songs like She's Your Cocaine, Professional Widow, Horses, Bliss, Witness, Waitress??? These songs would have really wowed anyone familiar with them already.
I do like this recording for what it's worth - I just feel it could have been worth a WHOLE LOT MORE. She has a vast group of songs to play around with - but stayed too safe with her selections.
On the plus side, this is a very beautiful recording. I do think she and the orchestra sound beautiful together. I love the photographs and packaging as well. I'd actually welcome a second volume of songs given this treatment - just ones that challenge her and the arranger a bit more.
16 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Mohit
Format:Audio CD
When I read about the concept of Gold Dust, I was very excited. When I read the tracklist, I was a bit perplexed but still very much interested. After a few listens, I agree with others have who pointed out that some of the song choices are very unnecessary. I understand that "Winter" is a great song and a fan favorite, but it sounds almost like it did two decades ago. I have a soft spot for "Programmable Soda," so I was glad to see it included, but again, it essentially sounds almost like it does on American Doll Posse.
The album has certain moments that stand out: the opening of "Yes, Anastasia," the "circles" on "Cloud on My Tongue," "Flavor" as a whole, and the arrangement on "Star of Wonder." Do they make up for the rest of the tracks? Unforunately, no. Tori definitely missed the chance to re-invent some of her songs. I would have loved to hear "Raspberry Swirl," "Teenage Hustling," "God," or "Cruel" in an orchestral setting. If Tori's performance of "Cruel" on the Night of Hunters tour is any indication, the album would have been a lot more exciting.
This is the kind of album you own if you are a big Tori fan and as a rule, need to have everything she has released. It's nice to revisit most of the songs, and I'm enjoying myself listening to it. In a month, however, I will be looking forward to Tori's next release. If you are actually interested in listening to Tori Amos in a similar musical setting, I would recommend Tori's last studio release, "Night of Hunters." Songs like "Shattering Sea" and "Carry" are better than the "Gold Dust" album overall, which is kind of sad.
The album has certain moments that stand out: the opening of "Yes, Anastasia," the "circles" on "Cloud on My Tongue," "Flavor" as a whole, and the arrangement on "Star of Wonder." Do they make up for the rest of the tracks? Unforunately, no. Tori definitely missed the chance to re-invent some of her songs. I would have loved to hear "Raspberry Swirl," "Teenage Hustling," "God," or "Cruel" in an orchestral setting. If Tori's performance of "Cruel" on the Night of Hunters tour is any indication, the album would have been a lot more exciting.
This is the kind of album you own if you are a big Tori fan and as a rule, need to have everything she has released. It's nice to revisit most of the songs, and I'm enjoying myself listening to it. In a month, however, I will be looking forward to Tori's next release. If you are actually interested in listening to Tori Amos in a similar musical setting, I would recommend Tori's last studio release, "Night of Hunters." Songs like "Shattering Sea" and "Carry" are better than the "Gold Dust" album overall, which is kind of sad.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By W.H.
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I would have preferred to have heard strong, long-forgotten songs like "Professional Widow," "Playboy Mommy" and "Past The Mission" given the orchestral treatment rather than be subjected to tired re-treads of "Precious Things"," "Jackie's Strength" and "Snow Cherries From France." It would have been interesting to have heard a song or two selected from her much-maligned, largely forgotten debut album "Y Kant Tori Read." Amos seems more disdainful of that album than anyone else, but it is a collection of mostly good songs marred only by the late 1980s production values which make it sound dated. The "Etienne" trilogy could have sounded absolutely beautiful with an updated musical arrangement--God knows I did not need to hear "Winter" again!
A few new takes on old B-sides like "Sister Named Desire," "Cooling" and her cover of "Famous Blue Raincoat" would also have made welcome additions.
Anyone who would like to hear classic songs transformed by orchestral arrangements should check out Joni Mitchell's albums "Both Sides Now" and "Travelogue." I would not have wished for Amos to make a carbon copy of either album but I do wish she had listened to them and been inspired to make something entirely new of her old songs--the only one that sounds radically different from its original incarnation is "Yes, Anastasia."
"Gold Dust" is perfectly pleasant and, yes--I can hear the differences between these versions of her songs and the originals. But they are far too subtle to be truly arresting. This album represents a missed opportunity and I would love to hear Amos try out the concept again in earnest one day. If she ever does, I hope that she will take more risks in both her choice of songs and their musical arrangements.... Read more ›
A few new takes on old B-sides like "Sister Named Desire," "Cooling" and her cover of "Famous Blue Raincoat" would also have made welcome additions.
Anyone who would like to hear classic songs transformed by orchestral arrangements should check out Joni Mitchell's albums "Both Sides Now" and "Travelogue." I would not have wished for Amos to make a carbon copy of either album but I do wish she had listened to them and been inspired to make something entirely new of her old songs--the only one that sounds radically different from its original incarnation is "Yes, Anastasia."
"Gold Dust" is perfectly pleasant and, yes--I can hear the differences between these versions of her songs and the originals. But they are far too subtle to be truly arresting. This album represents a missed opportunity and I would love to hear Amos try out the concept again in earnest one day. If she ever does, I hope that she will take more risks in both her choice of songs and their musical arrangements.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Like rediscovering long lost friends :)
As a humongous Tori Amos fan I was delighted to listen to this CD. The orchestral arrangements added new facets to old favorites.
Published 1 month ago by Leah Wall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Tori...
I have loved Tori Amos' music almost my entire life and this was a great CD! The style that she chose only enhanced some of her already awesome songs.
Published 2 months ago by Jimi Hill
4.0 out of 5 stars
looking back
I have to say, at first I thought this was a wasted opportunity- what do you mean no Venus representation? I thought the song choices were rehashed and over-used at first. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Melody
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
Love to hear the old classics redone! Great new stuff too. I've been a Tori fan for almost 20 years!! Can't believe it's been that long : )
Published 3 months ago by Glenna Mackenzie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tori goes orchestral.
Many favorites from previous albums redone with Tori's musical genius into orchestral accompaniment to create richer sounds and more emotional pieces. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Edwin M
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another classic from Tori Amos
I've waited for this kind of collection from Tori for many many years now and here it is finally in the flesh. Thanks Tori! It's beautiful!
Published 4 months ago by Karen Elizabeth Waters
5.0 out of 5 stars
my life in song
A gorgeous rendition of some of her best work. Listening in the plane was heavenly. Some arrangements have subtle changes and even more emotion than the original.
Published 4 months ago by marcus
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tori, are you over the bridge now?
What do you get when a 49-year-old Tori Amos revisits some of her 29-year-old angst ridden classics with a mixture of some modern Tori ballads reflecting her unorthodox views on... Read more
Published 5 months ago by 4554
5.0 out of 5 stars
Subtle reworkings of iconic pieces...
The orchestrations are rich and clean for the most part. What really shines here is that Tori doesn't attempt to recreate her vocals from the original versions. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Stephen Jackson
4.0 out of 5 stars
More of the same, but great
Ok - Tori has re-recorded and repackaged again-- and, once again, it's all good. If you love Tori and love to hear how she can re-invent some of her own songs, get this album. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Scott Brewster
Listmania!
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