Customer Reviews

Greatest Love Songs

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm not in love! But.....there are times when hearing a song of unrequited love ( silly love songs! ) on the radio or here at home that I do feel a certain pang and a longing for someone special in my life. And, no doubt, I'm not alone in feeling these rather turbulent, unforgiving emotions. With the recent release of Will Downing's " Greatest Love Songs " a disc that is so unabashedly romantic and direct in it's longings for true, undisputed love, that I suspect that I dare not listen to it without a glass of wine and a clear, level head. Although even I realize that love and a logical mind have absolutely nothing to do with one another! And before readers begin to think I've finally abandoned what little sanity I've left let me explain why this CD is so appealing....and slightly 'dangerous' for the incurably romantic in all of us.

Confession being good for the soul I actually had no intention of purchasing this disc. My 'music library' is certainly full of love songs, be it unrequited ( or not! ) so I certainly felt no strong desire to add to that ever growing collection. But upon hearing the first track " Free " at a local watering hole I rushed out to purchase my very own copy after the gentleman behind the bar ( a man wise beyond his years! ) granted me a peek at the CD jewel case. Mr. Downing singing style, while fitting securely in that R&B/Smooth Jazz genre sings in a fairly traditional style. Often times, when listening to this disc, I found myself thinking how much he reminded me of Johnny Hartman, the quintessential male jazz singer. And while I won't make silly comparisons he does have that wonderful honey based bariton quality about him. All the tracks included herein, while obviously concentrating on love, is fortunately mature in it's outlook and never resorts to many of the same old cliche's that all of us have heard so many times over. Songs such as " Where Is The Love? " ( remember Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack? ), " I Try " and most certainly " Lover's Paradise " ( also covered by the delicious Oletta Adams ) all take a mature, grown-up look at feelings that, at one time or another, has made me subject to bouts of sheer ecstacy or deep depression. But all in the name of love...of course! By tackling the old Rose Royce standard " Wishing On A Star " he does this classic extremely proud and in some small way took me back to younger days when I wasn't quite so inhibited in my feelings and in wearing my emotions on my sleeve! But, unfortunately as we live we sometimes learn....often times that being the hard way! But I wouldn't change that for all the world. As Tina once sang " What's Love Got To Do With It? " and my reply would simply be....everything of course!

All that being the case, I would like to strongly recommend any readers of this silly review to purchase your own copy of Will Downing's " Greatest Love Songs " just to see for yourself how the 'love song' can indeed grow up when in the hands of a singer as strong yet oddly subtle as Mr. Downing is. Many years ago Smokey Robinson coined the phrase ' a Quiet Storm ' and I sometimes feel that he must have been thinking of Will Downing and this disc when originating that wonderful statement. Music that flows 'nice and easy' ( sorry Mr. Sinatra! ) with a warm, intimate glow about it. And a disc that, in some small way, grants me hope that love truly does exist for all of us in this often times difficult world we live. Thank-you and here's wishing all of you real, honest love.

Wil Downing is such gifted and talented singer. His music allows you to forget your troubles and dream about love. Get this CD you will LOVE it.

Where do you start? He is a legend without no equal an absolute genius with the voice of an Angel. Each and every album is better than the last and Pleasures of the Night is arguably the best of the best. Do I think you should buy the New Will Downing Album?.... well in some respects.... Yes so you can enjoy the talent........... and in other respects.... No because to really apreciate the talent and the evolution of Will you must listen to each album from his first to the present. I am always a little paranoid that Will does not become lost to the commercial by demands from producers to produce main stream Junk.
So unless you have the required Soul Wisdom and Style to appreciate a Vocalist of this calibre...... then just stick to the Brian Mcnights, Joe,Luther,Eric Benet,Craig David, Donnell Jones,Avant,Glenn Jones,Charlie Wilson....... who are great....... but compared to Will Downing are second tier Artists as there is only one........... MR WILL DOWNING......

A beautiful arrangement! Will Downing has created the finest compilation of love songs I've ever listened to. The female singer on "Eternal Love" sounds chirpy; I didn't like it. On the other hand, the remaining songs on this CD will make you want to love somebody if you don't already.

When I came on amazon.com to listen some of Will Downing's songs and when I came across Closer To You oh boy! Talk about to get my groove on! Yes, this is the song to make a baby and stay in the house for about a week!!!!! LOL LOL LOL

I too, like other reviewers, have other Will Downing CDs. This one is one of my favorites. This CD in my opinion, is one of his best works. Whether you buy this CD for yourself or as a gift you cannot go wrong.
The Webber

Whoa!-Turn off the lights, light a candle and ....
What a tremendous voice this man has. He is truly one of the greatest! I would recommend this to anyone. This man is Bad!

Do me a favor please!! Stop comparing him to Luther. Luther is Luther. Will is Will!! And that's just fine by me. He has a solid fan base despite the fact that commercial radio for the most part gives him minimal if ANY airplay. Having said that, I take my hat off to the powers that be that came up with this idea. I agree ...that leaving "Nothing Has Ever..." off this cd was a huge mistake. Not unforgivable, just a mistake.
This has the best of the best of his interpretations as well as some of his very own classics. Starting with "Free" this is a ride you never want to end. My very favorites are, "Wishing On A Star", "Closer To You", "I Try", and "I Go Crazy."
What I would really like to see is a collection of the standards like, "That's All" from Love's The Place To Be, "When Sunny Gets Blue", from Invitation and "Stella By Starlight", from Moods.
He has one of the most beautiful voices out there and this collection is just a tip of the iceberg!!!!!!!!!

This CD is great. I just love Will. The duets are wonderful. Nothing but love for this CD.

Will Downing is quite simply the best male R&B vocalist of our time and his voice is simply phenomenal. He is truly an heir to the great R&B and Jazz crooners of yesteryear who keeps their vocal magic and musical legacies through his music. If you like the music of such legends as Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hartman and Marvin Gaye you'll love Will Downing. This CD contains most of his biggest hits from 1988-2000 with liner notes and comments on each song written by Will himself.