Julia Fordham [Import]

Julia Fordham | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 29, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B000000WGJ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,195 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

(CIRCD4)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Backing singer with brains and attitude turns solo, December 31, 2000

By 

Gavin Wilson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Julia Fordham (Audio CD)

I bought this album and 'Porcelain' when they first came out. After that pair, things went very quiet, in the UK at least. I was staggered to see on the amazon catalogue that she has recorded no fewer five albums. She released albums in '91, '94 and '97, so a sixth is now overdue.

I know next to nothing about Julia. She gets not a single mention in any of the standard encyclopedias of popular music. But I believe she learnt her craft as a backing singer.

It wasn't clear with this debut where she was headed. Some very expensive US session musicians were hired for the NY recordings: Weather Report's Omar Hakim, King Crimson's Tony Levin, and David Bowie Band's Carlos Alomar, to name a few. Maybe the intention was to groom Julia as Britain's answer to Joni Mitchell.

Julia has an extraordinary vocal range, but her voice is at its most distinctive and sonorous on the bass notes. Joni this is not. Her voice is better trained. But somehow her melodies and lyrics never caught the wide public imagination in the same way as Joni's. Julia badly needed a big hit single -- even if it meant singing someone else's composition. She never took that route. Joni also had the advantage of being associated with the key concert festivals and protest movements at a time when music was a more central part of more people's lives.

All the tunes here are pretty, and the lyrical themes will be familiar to anyone with experience of bedsit land. The synthesizer voices and the electronic drum tones betray the period (1988). But they don't get in the way of a worthy recording, which stands up to repeated listenings.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A cracking start to a musical career., January 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Julia Fordham (Audio CD)

Having got all of her later work, this one, her first, sounds a little timid and rough round the edges but other than that time has been good to it. Throughout there is a strong element of integrity and musicality sadly missing in a lot of performances by other artists. I return to this album from time to time and it is always a pleasure.

To hear just how good Julia's voice is listen to "Invisible War" a couple of times. This is a very strong track that shows Julia's confidence in her voice and how it can be laid bare for maximum effect.

If you like this one you will like the rest. My personal favorite is her 4th album, "Falling Forward", a significant leap forward in her work marking her move much more towards an American sound with input from the illustrious Larry Klein known for his work with Joni Mitchell.

In summary this is a good place to start listening to Julia.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a Great CD, March 20, 2000

By 

Jenn I Am (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Julia Fordham (Audio CD)

I first heard Julia singing the song Someone to Watch Over Me on the Mr. Holland's Opus Soundtrack. her songs are thoughtful and insightful with great music and lyrics. Would def. recommend!