Customer Reviews

Hardcastle 1

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

 

 

I have only one thing to say to the previous reviewer---get outta here! Paul Hardcastle isn't *anything* like that sappy horntooter Kenny G, AND Paul is a zillion times more talented. Having said that...."Hardcastle 1" is another supreme slice of smooth jazz from the multi-talented composer/musician Paul Hardcastle. There's only one way to describe this disc, or ANY Paul Hardcastle disc for that matter: groovy! Great tracks are all over the place: "Can't Stop Now," "Driftin' Away," the brilliant "You May Be Gone" (one of the greatest songs ever written about losing a loved one), "Feel The Breeze," "The Only One," and "It Must Be Love." There's also an excellent cover of the Steely Dan classic, "Do It Again," and very hip instrumentals like "Forever Dreamin'," "Lazy Days," the funky "Cruisin' To Midnight," and finally, for the coup de grace, the classic instrumental "Rainforest," one of Hardcastle's most famous tunes, second only to his 80's hit, "19." Paul brilliantly plays almost all of the instruments himself, and there's excellent lead vocals throughout by Steve Menzies, Helen Rogers, Caroline Dayley and Jaki Graham.With a totally catchy sound that just can't be beat, Paul Hardcastle is quite possibly the greatest smooth jazz artist on the block. "Hardcastle 1," like all of Paul's recorded work, is a CD that's as cool as a summer breeze. :-)

A sassy, sultry jazz masterpiece. They say that Jazzmasters has the "feeling and sensation of summer". I couldn't agree more. Once, I listened to this CD on a ski trip to Colorado in the middle of December and I felt like I was in Venice Beach in the summer ! The sound of summer...

The sound clips above give a great representation of what this music is like. If you like those, you shd like the whole album. If you like Hardcastle, also check out the Jazzmasters--those are (so far) 3 albums that he has written and produced, too. The lyrics are not "deep", but just like the fun music; light and fun and airy! Enjoy!

Mr. Hardcastle's music makes my day when it is not going so well. I seem to get lost his music so completely. It takes me back to a simpler time when I was carefree and truly happy and did not have a care in the world.

Thank you for allowing me to express this with others who appreciate his great music.

Never before have I ever been taken on such a diverse musical adventure like I have with Paul Hardcastle's 1994 album "Hardcastle volume 1" and that's because of the intergalactic scale talent of Paul Hardcastle. Older audiences know him by his chilling 1985 dance hit "19" but while those days are long since in the archives of history, his more smooth jazz works are legendary. Many seem to have written off smooth jazz as plastic and boring. While it might apply to a good amount despite me being a major fan of this genre, Hardcastle is a major maverick at creating the best of this kind. Only he seems to know how to make unique music in this genre. While his instrumental works in the 1990s to the present are what most newer audiences are familiar with, they have no idea that "Hardcastle I" features amazing tracks that have amazing vocals. One of my favorite tracks is his wonderful cover of Steely Dan's classic "Do It Again" and giving the original classic a great new makeover feauting the beautiful vocals of Helen Rogers and haunting organs to back it up. Another favorite would be the modern cosmopolitan classic "The Only One" feauture great and gorgeous synthesizers, groovy rhythm, and sophisticated melody. Only Hardcastle could have come up with such an original classic like this! This song despite being out for over a decade still sounds incredibly futuristic and forward looking. Many other pop tracks with lyrics include "Can't Stop Now", "Never Let You Go", "You May Be Gone" and "Don't Be Shy".

Nearly 11 years since this wonderful album first came into my life, this still remains one of the greatest musical experiences that I've ever gone through.

Ordered this when I heard track 9, Steely Dan's "Do It Again". Loved it like I love the Dan. Now I'm a hard core Hardcastle fan. Ordering all of his CD's, but taking it slow so my wife doesn't think I've gone off the deep end. Love the way he mixes vocals with his playing. Played my Dan CD's so many times, they're getting pretty thin. Suppose I'll do the same with Hardcastle. Already got my wife and friends listening. Hardcastle sales should sky rocket.

If you love smooth jazz, you must own this cd. Every song is great. There are quite a few songs that have lyrics on this album. The greatest Smooth Jazz song ever (Lazy Days) is on this cd. Hearing that song on the radio is what made me a smooth jazz listener in the first place. Rainforest is another classic that every Smooth Jazz fan should own.

i was about 17 when i first heard of paul hardcastle's 'rainforest'. I've been hooked on his music ever since. Hardastle 1 is a great collection of smooth jazz. he just keeps cranking out great music.

I would like to thank Paul Hardcastle for giving the world so much beautiful music. This was the first of 4 Hardcastle CD's. They are all of a high standard though I am tempted to say that this is the best. Anyway, get this and the others with the Jazzmasters and Kiss The Sky.

Paul Hardcastle and Jazzmasters are the best smooth jazz artists in the business. The're music is second to none. Needless to say, they are among my all time smooth jazz favorites!