Customer Reviews

Imagine

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Those of us who love Eva Cassidy awaited the arrival of this CD with baited breath. Would it be just re-releases of songs we've already heard? Would it be not-so-great songs chosen just because we HADN'T already heard them? Would it be prickly with background noise, or would it show off the purity of her voice as it should? I'm thrilled beyond belief to report that this may be Eva Cassidy's finest album yet.

In typical Eva style, the songs are all over the map, ranging from Paul Anka to John Lennon to Gordon Lightfoot to her beloved traditional tunes and beyond. Yet also in typical Eva style, she manages to imbue each song with fresh meaning and new depth via her inimitable phrasing and the almost unbearable intimacy of her voice.

Paul Anka's "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" was recorded by Buddy Holly and released on the day of Holly's death. Despite this gloomy background--and the fact that the song has lyrics detailing the throes of a dying love--Cassidy somehow gives it a light touch, one which gives much-needed counterpoint to the song's dark tone. This is brilliant phrasing; it makes the lyrics sound all the more poignant because she's trying to act as though she doesn't care.

Cassidy rises to the challenge of taking on songs made famous by other female singers--Billie Holiday ("You've Changed"), Patti Page ("Tennessee Waltz") and Sandy Denny ("Who Knows Where the Time Goes"). Cassidy succeeds not by competing, but by giving each of these pieces her concentration and her curiosity. Part of Cassidy's magic is that she's so clearly singing for herself. Her absorption in the song, and the introspection she brings to the lyrics, make these classics newly simple, newly clear, and swept clean of all past associations. Cassidy doesn't challenge the more famous versions, or the more well-known singers who first brought these songs to the public; she merely wraps her voice around the songs in a thoughtful, melting manner that makes them impossible to resist.

"Danny Boy" is a revelation. This somber traditional tune can sound ponderous in the wrong hands, but Cassidy handles it with intelligence and a light touch. She deftly conveys the regret and the sense of loss inherent in the lyrics, but she backs away from overdoing the pathos. The result is a simple tale told in song--and what a marvelous and moving song it is because Cassidy takes such exceeding care with it. It's an exquisite cameo of a recording.

On John Lennon's "Imagine," we have perhaps the album's most poignant song of all. Though Lennon's lyrics were originally aimed at getting people to think of world peace, it's difficult to listen to the song without starting to imagine where Cassidy would be if she were still alive today. This song is, with only its minimal acoustic guitar (played by Cassidy) and the porcelain miracle of her voice, something of a longing look cast backwards--even if Cassidy didn't intend it to be.

My second foray into the remarkable world of Eva Cassidy was as good as my first, "Live at Blues Alley." This young lady had an incredible vocal talent, both in terms of ability and interpretation. Where a woman this young obtained all the vocal talent contained in this CD is a mystery only God can answer, but at least we get to hear her legacy.

"Guess It Doesn't Matter Any More" is played as folk, a variation from Cassidy's usual style. Worry not, this acoustic song is nicely performed, and the guitar could have been eliminated because Cassidy's voice is beautiful. The next song is even better as Cassidy belts out the pure high notes in "Fever." Cassidy brings sensuality to this song that harkens back to an era even earlier than that of 1956, when the song was written. Cassidy sings high notes that threaten to pass into the realm of the unheard for my aging ears. As with the previous song, the violin could easily have been eliminated to allow the percussion and bass to carry the song.

In the song "Who Knows Where Time Goes" I hear elements that remind me a lot of Diana Krall. A fan of Diana walked by as I was listening to this song and asked me if it was Diana singing. How to explain that the emotional and powerful voice coming over the speakers was from someone who had sold more than four million albums after she had died from melanoma in 1996? I said it was Eva Cassidy and he should try some of her albums, because she was a great, unrecognized talent.

Speaking of great, Cassidy next takes on a song made famous by the great Billie Holiday, "You've Changed." Cassidy reminds listeners what sultry means as her voice caresses the words of this song in a way that makes me wish I could have heard her in person. What a talent this lady had. I think Billie Holiday would have given her the thumbs up for this song.

I am amazed at the range of songs that Cassidy interprets. John Lennon's signature song "Imagine" is interpreted in Cassidy's unique way. This song is more than another remake, it is a true vocal interpretation that requires a listener to consider what might have been had Cassidy's career continued to progress. This is a remarkable song interpreted by a remarkable singer.

I enjoy the music on the song "Still Not Ready" almost as much as I enjoy Eva Cassidy's singing. The music and the vocals join seamlessly, and the wonderful bridge at nearly three minutes into the song blends progressive elements into this bluesy song. This song was deserving of a Grammy nomination had it been better known at the time it was originally recorded. Music fans who appreciate a wide range of genres will enjoy this song.

There is a certain challenge in listening to a wide array of music on one CD. Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain" has country overtones. Accompanied only by her guitar, which she handles adroitly, Eva sings this song as though she was truly "a long way from home" "missing her loved ones." Though this song is a bit less vocally than some of her other songs, it is difficult to avoid being impressed by the purity of her notes. Fans of Gordon Lightfoot should be impressed with this interpretation of his song. How great would a duet between Gordon Lightfoot and Eva Cassidy have been?

Remaining in a similar vein is the short song "Tennessee Waltz," made famous by Patti Page. Once again, Eva's vocals bring a new interpretation to the song, but I am less enthused about this song and the previous song than other songs on this CD.

I am surprised that reviewer Mark Walker (the Amazon selected "professional" reviewer) considers "I Can Only Be Me" one of the less successful tracks on this CD. While this song is a bit short of songs that exceed the standard for greatness, such as "Who Knows Where the Time Goes," I still get chills listening to Eva sing "But how many times have you wished to be in spaces, times, places, than what you were." I believe Stevie Wonder would consider this interpretation to be very good at a minimum.

This CD closes with another standard. Eva manages to bring a tear to my eye with "Danny Boy," which is already a sad song. I assume that the guitar accompaniment is Eva's which is sufficiently minimal to keep the focus on Eva's incredible voice. This song is yet another that has the potential to give you chills in the right mood.

Much of the music on this CD was originally performed live. However, it is difficult to tell the origins of the music as audience noise was edited from the tracks. There may be places where the music and singing fades that can be attributed to the editing. However, this music begs to be played as loudly as possible, assuming that the glass in your house can handle the frequencies Eva sings without damage. I often forget that the original purpose of singing was to hear the emotional content of the words, and here Eva reminds us all abundantly that music is more than hype and packaging, it is a singer, and her words, and her emotions, and just enough music to glue it together.

I'm not sure why anyone would rate this disc at less than five stars, unless maybe it's because Eva's breakthrough album "Songbird" was so transcendent that anything else is hard pressed to match it. So, Songbird deserves all the stars in the sky, and Imagine deserves ... all the stars in the sky! I heard "Danny Boy" on the radio a while ago and I was immediately captivated, thinking "Who is this?!". Then something familiar in her voice made me realize it was Eva Cassidy. Wow. If there's anyone out there today with a talent and soul like hers, I want to hear them! Compared to most of the tin pan trifles put out by the major labels today this is pure gold. Well, actually, compared to just about anything this is pure gold. What a loss that she's gone, but what a blessing that she left us this music.

When fans of most recording artists await their latest release, they look forward to hearing the development and growing maturity of that artist. Unfortunately, fans of Eva Cassidy look forward to her CD's with huge anticipation yet also an element of fear, knowing that each release means digging deeper into a finite archive. So with mixed feelings I took delivery of Imagine and after a few listens here are my thoughts.

The CD starts off very well with the familiar "It Doesn't Matter Anymore", in which Eva gives an interesting, and touching vocal while picking out an attractive accompaniment on the guitar.

Eva's version of "Fever" will be recognised by anybody that owns "The Other Side" CD. Despite a strong vocal, the song never appealed to me.

"Who Knows Where the Time Goes" is one song that Eva can add nothing to; Sandy Denny's original was simply perfect already. However a poignant link is now made between two stunningly beautiful voices that left us so early. (Sandy Denny died in 1978, aged 30). Yet it's a great song and good to hear Eva's performance of it. Curiously, Eva sounds somewhat like Joni Mitchell on this rather rough live recording.

"You've Changed" finds Eva back with her band in jazz territory with a song from the Blues Alley period.

Next, Eva (with her guitar) bravely tackles John Lennon's "Imagine", using many alternative vocal phrasings a la Over the Rainbow. I think she does a pretty good job, but I suspect not everybody will agree.

Then we are back to jazz with "Still Not Ready". Dating from 1987, this is likely to be one of Eva's earliest recordings to be released. It's performed with a `musicianly' jazz quartet that doesn't seem to have figured in any other of Eva's releases.

Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain" has Eva sounding rather similar to her "Cathy's Song" rendition.

"Tennessee Waltz", is remarkably tender, again with just Eva and her guitar, which is how I prefer it (if you hadn't noticed by now!)

"I Can Only Be Me", can easily be identified as a Stevie Wonder song although he hasn't recorded it himself. It is backed by piano and synth, just like Stevie often does things! In common with her other early recordings, Eva's voice is pure and strong, although without the vocal ornamentation and phrasing that we know and love in her later recordings.

The CD ends with "Danny Boy", the traditional song and renowned tearjerker. If your eyes are moist after she sings the first two lines then you'd better reach for the tissues before the second part of the melody, because we are firmly in `grown men crying' territory. I'm sure many people will feel that this song alone is worth the price of the CD.

Credit should be given to the record label for listing full details of each track as well as providing informative liner notes and attractive presentation of the CD. Many fans including myself appreciate that.

It's time to be realistic and say this CD doesn't merit the usual 5 stars, but considering these are archived recordings of a young singer without a record contract, it is still a remarkable achievement by all those involved.

I remember loving Eva's "Songbird" CD. I was visting with my sister-in-law from Quebec who also loves music. She told me how much she loved a CD by Eva Cassidy. "Oh! I have that too!" "It's so sad that she's dead," my sister-in-law said. "You're kidding!" I said in disbelief. Here I thought I'd found this vibrant new talent, not realizing that she'd already passed away. What planet was I on? No listener LIKES posthumous releases. We'd rather have the singer live; and able to see them in concert, particularly when they're good. In 2001, Laura Nyro's "Angel in the Dark" was a fond farewell. And last year, George Harrison's "Brainwashed" was another. All 3 singers suffered from cancer. If Eva were alive, would she have released this collection? Maybe not. But what a wonderful collection this is.

Buddy Holly recorded Paul Anka's "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," but Eva gets to its emotional heart. Likewise, as much as I love Peggy Lee's hit version of "Fever," Eva also discovers the wonderful fun it holds. I'm so glad she recorded "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" because Judy Collins' voice is one I might compare to Eva. As I see Judy's later career and the wonderful clarity of voice she still possesses, it helps me project how Eva might have grown had time been on her side. "You've Changed" is a delightfully smoky lounge version of this great classic tune. I love Joan Baez's version of John Lennon's "Imagine." Blues Traveller also did it on a Lennon tribute album; and I love Neil Young's version from the "America: A Tribute to Heroes" CD/telecast. But Eva's simple version with acoustic guitar shows how she reinvents the material she adopts. For this title track alone, this CD is worth the purchase. "Still Not Ready" shows Eva's range with this moody blues. Ian & Sylvia are one of my VERY favorite folk acts; so for me to say how much I love Eva's version is high praise. The fact that Eva can make "Tennessee Waltz" sound fresh speaks to the great potential she had. Stevie Wonder wrote "I Can Only Be Me" for Spike Lee's "School Daze" but never recorded it according to a professional review. In Eva's hands, it is a wistful & soaring emotional theme. The CD concludes with the quintessential farewell song, "Danny Boy" that Eva embodies beautifully.

Looking back, how we wish she had the follow-up check-ups to that cancerous mole she had removed. Her passing has proved to be a great loss. These recordings are beautiful time pieces, stunning in their simplicity, a jewel that sparkles.

I have the Blues Alley CD which I just love, so when I found out there was a new CD - I immediately bought 3. One for me and two as Christmas presents. I have been listening to this CD all day today. I have read most of the other reviews, including some of the negative reviews. I don't know about the "quality" of the CD as some reviewers have expressed. What I do know is that this woman's singing brings me to tears because her voice is so beautiful and her renditions of songs just seems to strike a chord (pun intended - LOL) with so many people. I said in a review for another artist/group that the sign of musical legends or genius' is their ability to strike the heart of a person who had no interest in that particular musical genre and open a door to a whole knew experience that they would never have considered before. However, I also think another true sign of a legend/genius is their ability to cross musical genres with such relevance that the music touches the listener in a thousand special ways. Eva Cassidy accomplishes this - and based on the majority of the reviews, I am not the only person who is so touched. I admire this beautiful person for the treasures she has left us. The saddest part is that you can almost imagine what she might have done with other music had she lived longer. The beauty of this is not just that we have the beautiful music to enjoy, but that she is probably filling heaven and angels with her beautiful voice. Eva... if you can see these reviews in heaven...You are truly missed.

I have most of Eva's albums now, with the exception of some of the more obscure ones in which she sang backup vocals. This album seems to be the most personal one of all. It is all Eva. Her guitar playing, her special vocal interpretations. The songs on the album are ecclectic, following the pattern that Eva laid down from the very first note she ever sang I should imagine. Her voice surrounds a song like liquid smoke, and though the song may be an old standard like Danny Boy, Tennessee Waltz, or Fever it is like you are hearing it for the first time the way it is suppose to be sung.

Words simply cannot do justice to one of the greatest female vocalist I've heard in my lifetime. I'm a singer and I know talent when I hear it. Eva is the most talented female vocalist I've ever heard. To put it simply, Eva Cassidy is a miracle! After wearing out my Songbird CD, I can now say I like Imagine even better because it has a wider range of song styles with less gospel. I am no fan of country music, but Eva made me fall in love with "Tennesee Waltz".

What I like most about Eva's voice is that it is so fine tuned to her spirit in expressing her true self and emotions. She goes from high to low, from loud to soft in a split second like no other I've ever heard. I also am amazed at how simple her arrangements are with her guitar backing her vocals. There really is not much more needed because her voice is all you'll really want to hear.

Eva wasn't a "slave" to the music industry as she was a real artist who wouldn't allow that to happen. She is the finest singer you will ever hear in your lifetime, untainted by the industry or Hollywood. Eva Cassidy sits on the highest throne of female vocalists of the 20th Century as far as I'm concerned. Not even Barbara Streisand comes close! (See my Streisand Songbird album (1978) review).

Way back in the late 60s, I remember catching Judy Collins on the DICK CAVETT SHOW, right about the time that "Someday Soon" b/w "My Father" had been released as a single. I had already purchased her WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TIME GOES album and had played it to death, but I knew I couldn't assume that everybody knew these songs as well as I did. So I was kind of surprised when she started playing with the melody line on both songs in performance. It seemed to me pretty risky to start improvising on the melody--however slightly--before you had really established it for the average listener.

But then, Judy was a pretty accomplished musician and I had to assume she knew what she was doing. Still it seemed odd to me that she was presenting these songs--for the first time for many listeners--by in effect, often singing a harmony line.

I have been meaning to listen to Eva Cassidy ever since I first read about her. But I have to admit that looking at the track listings on most of the available albums, I became a little skeptical. I usually prefer singers who dig up somewhat obscure songs and promote the work of less than well known songwriters. There are as many deserving unknown songwriters as there are unknown singers, I say. So if you don't write yourself, do everybody a favor and find some fresh voices out there whose songs you can interpret the livin' daylights out of.

So I almost put IMAGINE right back down after looking at the roster of songs listed on the back of the CD. Who needs another version of "Imagine," "Danny Boy," "Tennessee Waltz," "Who Knows Where the Time Goes," etc.? But here's where the Judy Collins connection comes in. (And you thought it was just because both Collins and Cassidy recorded "Who Knows Where The Time Goes." Would I be THAT obvious?). It occurred to me right from track one ("I Guess It Doesn't Matter Anymore"--the Linda Ronstadt version of which I had played to death back in the 70s) that doing covers of such well known songs gave Eva the freedom to play with the melody line right from the get go. Hey, isn't that reason the great jazz singers always did the standards? If everybody knows the song, you don't necessarily have to wait 'til the very last verse to put your own personal stamp on it.

When Eva assays Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain," she knows that the most listeners will have strong memories of Lightfoot's straightforward, stalwart vocal, and she can almost immediately start inserting her own shadings and vocal twists--subtle as most of them are--without alienating the listener. Bringing something new to an old favorite is never a bad thing. Leastwise if you do it with flair. Eva Cassidy had the flair. You sense the intelligence behind her phrasing and behind the delicate improvisations.

And if you want to hear her take on something a little less familiar, well, there's a bit of that too. The quirky lyrics of the jazzy "Still Not Ready" are particularly refreshing on an album of modern day standards, and while I'm fairly certain I've heard another version of Stevie Wonder's "I Can Only Be Me" somewhere along the road, it's new enough for me that I can truthfully say that as far as I'm concerned, Eva Cassidy now owns this song.

It's been said that her eclecticism worked against Eva Cassidy. In today's niche-driven music scene, that would no doubt be true. But versatility hasn't always been a liability. There was a time in the late 60s and early 70s when a talent such as Eva's would have been promoted and nourished by the industry. Her post mortem success may help a little in bringing around that kind of musical diversity again. That wouldn't be such a bad legacy.

I first heard Eva's rendition of "Early Morning Rain" at work, listening to a jazz internet station. It absolutely stopped me dead in my tracks. I immediately bought the Imagine album, and I'm very happy I did. It's wonderful.

Eva's voice has a haunting quality that seems to reach into your soul. I'm here at Amazon again buying more Eva Cassidy CDs.

I commend this album to you. It has added some beauty to my life.