Customer Reviews

I've Never Been To Me

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

 

 

Charlene (born Charlene D'Angelo in 1950) is one woman that nobody can accuse of not knowing how to sing. Unfortunately, the bland, sleep-inducing, and none-too-upbeat backing support that she gets with each song almost makes it seem better if she were singing acapella.

Yes, I also have all of her albums on vinyl--SONGS OF LOVE, I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME, USED TO BE, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (gospel), HIT AND RUN LOVER (dance). Charlene is a singer who really knows how to personalize and internalize a song, to bring it to life very fully.

However, she's sometimes difficult to categorize as she sings slow-tempo songs the best. So she's not exactly a mainstream dance artist (HIT AND RUN LOVER tends to be a little too glam and glossy for a singer whose best moments come when she is quiet and crumbling). Centrist music lovers also tend to be turned off by the religiousity of USED TO BE and THE SKY IS THE LIMIT. And the purity and sweetness of her voice are a little too wholesome for Nashville so she's not exactly a country crooner either. Her forte may best be described as easy-listening--sentimental, soul-searching songs that often reflect the end of one thing and the beginning of another.

All of her formal albums are out-of-print at this point. I think her best one remains SONGS OF LOVE (1977), as it reflects moments of uncertainty, encounters at the crossroads, without a forced sense of moralizing. ("I Want to Come Back as a Song," "It's Really Nice to Be in Love Again," "On My Way to You," "It Ain't Easy Comin' Down"--good stuff, and there's no spoken bridge to "I've Never Been to Me.")

Several of these tunes are recycled on the '82 outing, I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME. The best tune from the disc is the title cut (with "It Ain't Easy Comin' Down," a mid-tempo lament of changing times, also scoring high). I know there are people out there who hate "I've Never Been to Me" for various reasons, and I can understand their arguments.

One of the pivotal things about the song, and the reason why some dislike it so, is the monologue, the spoken section. It is open to interpretation. Some people simply think the protagonist is talking about the most important things in life and find it to be a comforting message. Some very feminist-minded individuals take offense to this philosophy, believing that it wants to cast women solely in the role of subservient housewives and mothers.

Charlene's first album, CHARLENE (1976), has the monologue. The re-packaged version of what is essentially the same album, SONGS OF LOVE (1977), does not contain the spoken section as it was deemed too feminist (or perhaps anti-feminist, depending on one's perspective). When the song became a huge hit in '82, it was the version with the monologue that was being played on the radio, so that's the take that Motown re-released.

When the song laments "unborn children," you have to give some leeway for creative license. I think she's just saying she's sad because she never had any children. It doesn't need to be taken literally although you could make a case for it. The same way "regimented wife" simply is referring to her being in a rut, every day's the same, not necessarily that she is a battered woman whose whole life is dictated to her by an abusive husband. But again, some things are left open for interpretation. PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT pokes fun at the song in a way which is both humourous and affectionate.

Alas, getting back to the album at hand, I like about half of the songs here. Sentimental, soul-searching with Charlene's wholesome-yet-needy (and often frail) deliveries, they are nice songs to enjoy on a rainy day. Ron Miller's lyrics and Ken Hirsch's melodies make Charlene sound a little like a troubled Karen Carpenter, most notably on "I Won't Remember Ever Loving You," "Hey Mama" and "If I Could See Myself."

However, if "Hey Mama" borders on cloying victimization, some of the other material here is way over the line. Some of these songs, such as "Johnny Doesn't Love Here Anymore," "After the Ball" and "I Need a Man," make no attempt at leaving her a little dignity and turn her into a ripped-up dishrag. And you start to long for songs that are a shade more centered and sunny. (Okay, "After the Ball" is another fun song for crossdressers but the lyrics are highly silly, bordering on stupid.)

Charlene's not everyone's cup of tea, no, but again, she certainly can bring emotion to the right material and make you feel a lot (more than some singers who have gotten much more recognition). She's very controlled, very precise.

The song "Can't We Try" (a hit for Teddy Pendergrass) also shows that Charlene can pack a more powerful punch when she wants to.

CAUTION: Those who are used to the vinyl version may be a little disappointed with the disc from Japan. It sounds soft and sluggish when you compare the two but still is listen-able.

TRACK LIST:
I've Never Been to Me * It Ain't Easy Comin' Down * Can't We Try * Hungry * Hey Mama * I Won't Remember Ever Loving You * Johnny Doesn't Love Here Anymore * After the Ball * I Need a Man * If I Could See Myself

TRIVIA:
Charlene was the first white woman singer to have a Top Ten hit for Motown Records.

I got this CD for my birthday, and I think its just terrific. The ssongs are all basically love power-ballads, with charlene really belting some stuff out. I think the sometimes-cheesy lyrics are actually what makes the music, as they are ismple and effective! Don't miss this one!

Got this album in vinyl format when I was a school boy . She has a nice voice sang the very melodic songs , easy to hum & commercial .

I've never been to me (needless to say) ,all time goldies .
Also Hey Mama , Johnny doesn't love here anymore touch me every now & then .

With the musicians like Lee Ritenour ,Wilton Felder ,Jay Graydon ,Gary Coleman ...etc , no show off but good performance . Maybe some don't think it's their cup of tea , but it's mine !

Good old memory for more than 20 years , I'm so glad that I found this cd during the trip in Tokyo .

the song that I had been looking for for years, "Never Been to Me", never knew the singer ; now I know!Thank you!!