Customer Reviews

Holding Back the Years

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

 

 

I first stumbled across "Little" Jimmy Scott thanks to a friend who sent me a copy of All The Way, one of the most beautiful albums I own. I was immediately taken in by Scott's voice, a high, lonesome, silky instrument that can wring tears out of the most cold-hearted cad. I then bought the equally superb Lost & Found, a great album filled with stuff Jimmy had recorded in the early seventies which saw very limited release. Again, that album blew me away thanks to a sumptuous reading of "Unchained Melody" that made me completely forget The Righteous Borthers' version. Dream was another winner with broody production and gritty edges that suited Jimmy's voice to a tee. Heaven was a little more problematic, the songs a trifle unsure, the production a shade clinical. Holding Back The Years is a fine album of great modern-day (for the most part) covers. It's astounding to hear Jimmy emote his way through Bryan Ferry's "Slave To Love" and Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" And, after the shock of hearing him sing "Jealous Guy" wears off, you listen to the album again. And again. And again. You think: "How effortless, how passionate. How sad, how beautiful." That's the power of Jimmy Scott. Aren't a fan? Never heard of him? Think of what you're missing! Gorgeous.

This album of Jimmy Scott's is filled with one great song after another, and except for Billie Holidays's, "Lady in Satin," I can't think of another album where a vocalist has managed such a collection of perfect interpretations. In some cases, Mick Hucknall's "Holding Back the Years" for example, the listener is given a version that complements the original. But, as with Brian Ferry's "Slave to Love", there are times when Jimmy Scott gives us an almost new song. This is the ultra dry champagne of Jimmy's recording career.

Oh man!!! It's like Jimmy Scott stepped out of the wings, tapped Bryan Ferry on the shoulder and politely wrenched the microphone from his hand. I can imagine him saying something like "Take five my man, let a true veteran show you how this song is supposed to sound..."

If anyone has heard Scott's rendition of "Slave to Love", it's easy to forget that it's a cover.

What a beautiful voice, a great buy. The back up musicians are excellent

This album is Jimmy at his best. The singing is superlative. The instrumentation lush. It is a must have for any Jimmy Scott fan or, for that matter, any fan of Jazz vocalization. You go Jimmy!!!

This is an amazing album. His voice is incomparable: he plays with pitch. Like poetry, the meaning comes THROUGH. Beautiful.

The true measure of a master is the ability to take something from another place, and totally transform it. Jimmy Scott takes songs from Bryan Ferry, Elvis Costello and Prince - and bleeds every drop of emotion and heart out of them.....taking them from great songs, to all time classics.

His rendering of "Nothing Compares 2 U" is absolutely stunning...and even though you know it by heart, Jimmy Scott has you hanging on every word.

Someday people will look back on Jimmy Scott and wonder how in the world people slept on him. His popularity is a FRACTION of what it should be, as he should be in the same sentance as Sinatra, Ella, and Billie Holiday.

My heart weeps for everything Jimmy Scott touches...truly a blessing from above.

Hard to imagine why someone would give this one star. It's a sublime piece of work. Jimmy Scott expands the universe. His voice and what he did with it redefine music and human experience.

CD was in excellent condition, like new. And really enjoy Jimmy's singing! highly recommanded! Jimmy's singing is increadible and his phrasing is "so different" yet making perfect sense!

A oft neglected but very important artist, Jimmy Scott is style given form and breath. You will love this CD