Customer Reviews

Leah Kunkel

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

 

 

I have been waiting for the release of this music on CD for 25 years and was thrilled to see it was coming out as a 2-for-1 CD. I just received it today and while I am happy to have these tunes in digital format, I am also disappointed because, even though the CD was co-produced and annotated by Leah herself (practically a neighbor of mine in Massachusetts), the original master tapes must still be locked in the Sony vaults, since the "remastering" has been done from mint vinyl albums. The re-creation of the sound is quite good and there are no noticeable drop-outs or pops, any listener with headphones will be able to tell that this vinyl copy was the only audio source available to the producing team. I spent a good amount of money to obtain a (now) very rare Japanese original SONY CD of the first album (Leah Kunkel) that was issued a while back but went immediately out of print, as is often the case with these catalogue re-issues. Comparing the sound quality from that CD to the version on this most recent one gave me a pretty good idea of how well the engineers worked to make the vinyl sound good but it is clear, especially in the vocals and the distorted rendition of the sibilants (s-sounds), that this long-awaited and wonderful music still needs its definitive digital version to be issued at some point, with the assistance of the owners of the original master tapes at Sony/Columbia. Mind you, this is better than chasing down the super-rare vinyl LPs for exorbitant prices, and having these 20 tracks available on CD is long overdue, but we still have to petition the powers that be to give Leah Kunkel the royal treatment she deserves and release the REAL version "remastered from the original master tapes" on CD for all of her fans to enjoy!

I'd heard of Leah (Cohen) Kunkel for years,....having loved her sister's (Cass Elliot) music, and had seen her in many photos with her sister over the years. I knew she married drummer and musician Russ Kunkel, she was a recognized session singer, and she had written some beautiful music, but never had access to it.
Had hoped to link up with some of the music from her group (The Canyon Sisters?), but could never find any. So the release of not one but two of her solo efforts on one cd was a treat for me!
For those of you who loved Cass Elliot, you can detect a similar vocal quality with Leah's voice, but there's a deeper texture in her voice,....more of a blues and jazz quality.....lending itself more to ballads and other types of music besides pop, though she can sing pop as well.
Leah Kunkel's music stands up well over time. For the life of me, I don't understand why Leah and her music did not score big in the late 70's and early 80's when the albums were released. ....a shame,.....but am enjoying the music now. Have only listened to the cd twice so far,.....am looking to more.
Would like to be able to find some of her group work.....and some things she might be doing presently,.....if she's still recording. Can't go wrong with this purchase!

I have been into this great lady since first hearing her with Art and James. Her great background vocals and counter melodies always made their songs special. What a treat to see her get her shot at a solo career. Finding out she was the great Mama Cass Elliot's younger sister was just icing on the cake. Alas, like so many great artists of that time period, she was all but ignored by the PUNK revolution. Had sshe been there just a few years earlier, I am sure she would've been enjoying the sucess of Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Carol King and others. My personal favorite is "Step Right Up" which gives a contempory feel to something her sister might have done. "Run With Trouble" has you believing this lady really lived through some rough moments. Check out her new CD THE COYOTE SISTERS, "Women and Other Visions" Available here at Amazon. Also if you need a good lawyer, she is one of those too. Truly a remarkable woman!

I just wanted to add one item the the reviewer's list of credit's for Leah Kunkel - she sings the 'counter song' on Jackson Browne's "From Silver Lake". So if you have "Saturate Before Using", you already have Leah in your collection.

Sorry to hear that this is "from vinyl"...but I'm buying it anyway!

My all-time favorite female singer! I rank her higher than Carly Simon and Janis Ian, which is saying a LOT. Kind of a female Stephen Bishop, music-wise.

Superb 70s West Coast pop, she charms you in with her smooth voice and crystal-clear arrangements. Strong material. Mellow and sophisticated.

Also, find her singing with the Coyote Sisters. They put out an LP in the 80s worth finding and a newer CD, "Women and Other Visions". I recommend them all. The 80s one has a more commercial sound, but it features such strong harmonies and a full sound, it's like "night cruising music." The newer CD is softer and more personal.

And don't forget her biggest radio duet, "If I Could Only Touch Your Life" with Arlo Guthrie on his "Power of Love" CD, available on iTunes.

It was so nice to find this cd with both Leah Kunkel's Columbia Record albums together. Unlike her sister Mama Cass who has several cd's released of her catalog, Leah's work has been difficult to find. The included booklet with Leah's own comments about each song was good too. I wish I could find her cd with Straight From The Heart with The Coyote Sisters. I have learned to purchase these gems when available because they aren't always a long term item. I learned that with another famous sibling (of James Taylor)Kate Taylor "Sister Kate" cd that sells for outragous prices now if it can be found at all.