Customer Reviews

It Happened One Night

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Recorded from live performances (the best way to appreciate Holly Cole, whose studio releases have sometimes been uneven), this enhanced CD is a fabulous look at a very talented song stylist. Cole's premier gift is restyling chestnuts you thought you knew backwards and forwards (and maybe never wanted to hear again). "Que Sera Sera," Doris Day's gift to insomnia, turns into an absolute gem when Holly sings it. She is as comfortable with Stephen Sondheim ("Losing My Mind" from FOLLIES) as she is with Tom Waits ("Train Song," "Tango 'Til They're Sore") and Bob Telson ("Calling You," a little known diamond from the soundtrack of the Percy Adlon film BAGDAD CAFE).

Whatever you do, don't ignore the multimedia! Pop this into a computer, Mac or PC, and check out the videos. The video for "I Can See Clearly Now" will give you chills. Once you hear this album, you will become a Holly Cole fan. But please see her live; that's where all the real magic happens.

All those other 5 star reviews have it right, a great CD. What they don't mention is the multimedia part of the CD. It includes quicktime video of four songs from the concert (Including 'Little Boy Blue', which is not on the audio CD portion.), two music videos and various Q&A with Holly, stuff about the Band, etc. Not like being at a live concert, but it does add a lot to the experience of the album. So that's why it looks a little short on music! Try it, PC or Mac, you'll like it.

I have all of her CDs, but this one takes the cake. It's fairly short selection of live performances, but they are outstanding, especially "Train Song" - I haven't heard anything as fascinating and beautiful as this in a long time. Plus, there's plenty of multimedia stuff to keep you occupied. Enjoy!!!

I've owned this album for a year now and can say that it will always be one of my favorites. Cole's voice remains interesting no matter how many times you here these songs. The minimalistic accompanyment is both masterful and ideally suited to the material.

Holly Cole and her band have gone where few have gone before. Unfettered by the constraints of particular genres, their sound is much greater than the sum of its parts: jazz, country, pop, whiteboy blues, folk and joyous improvisation. They have simply raised the bar. This album advances music by at least a decade -- and there's more to come, if her incredible (and pitch perfect) Sydney concerts of January '99 are any example. Her next live album might just be the best CD of all time. In the meantime, enjoy this one and anticipate what magic Holly might work on songs by Dory Previn, Mickey Newbury and Ten Wheel Drive! Brian Wilshire, radio announcer, Sydney, Australia.

I would like to add to all the great reviews of the performances on this disk by mentioning the superb audio quality of this CD. It has been used as a reference recording by many respected audio equipment reviewers over the years. If you want to get a measure of how good your sound system can
really sound or if you are in the market for new equipment this is a great cd to take to the store with you. It will bring out the best or not so good of any system you play it on. enjoy

I got the CD for "Que Sera Sera" and discovered I also liked "Train Song" and quite a bit of the rest of the songs. Holly Cole is an artist I have only recently discovered and very much want to hear more from.

The most awesome thing about this CD is how well it captures the flavor of a live Holly Cole performance. I have all of her US-release CDs and this is far and away my favorite. She has such a raw emotionality in her live performances that doesn't come through in her studio recordings. If she could take this passion into the studio, she'd be a huge star, but I can't complain because it's great to have Holly all to ourselves as the fanatical fans. And I'm travelling to Toronto in early December to see her LIVE on her home turf -- I can't wait!!

Holly's voice is stunning, and the songs on the CD are terrific! I love it.

I applaud Holly Cole her for rendition of "Calling You" from the movie "Bagdad Cafe!" She is adept at interpreting songs with incredible creativity and skill, probably surpassing the composers' own expectations. This skill of hers enables me to overlook her sometimes frequent pitch problems. The song list is varied and interesting. Holly Cole puts a lot of herself into her songs. This is quite an impressive live album-- I can't wait to see her in concert.