Leavin

Natalie Cole | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 26, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B000GPIPH4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190,452 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With Leavin', her 20th studio album, Natalie Cole looks to be issuing a challenge to longtime listeners: if you're in, it's because you see stardust and are gripped by a warm sensation anytime her legendary voice eases through a speaker. If you're out, it's because you're not as musically adventurous as she is. Of the dozen songs here, only roughly a quarter could be cordoned off into classic R&B territory; the rest amount to an artful but decidedly pop-leaning hodgepodge. In addition to the opening track, a cover of Fiona Apple's "Criminal" that does away with the original's raw, angry edge in favor of flipness and sass, Cole gamely tackles Neil Young's classic "Old Man" and Kate Bush's "The Man With the Child in His Eyes." If those songs seem effortful, she finds more even footing on the title track, a Shelby Lynne original ready-made for a classic soul reworking, as well as on Aretha Franklin's "Day Dreaming," which benefits from producer Dallas Austin's addition of a hip hop-lite fringe. Unsurprisingly for an artist of Cole's depth and caliber, Leavin's sole original track, "5 Minutes Away," is its best. Here is Natalie as the world knows and loves her: a belter born to dose up the stirrings of her soul with unmatched tenderness and bottomless love. --Tammy La Gorce

Product Description

Released to coincide with Australia's best-selling pop diva's performance at the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, this is a live album featuring 21 of her greatest hits recorded during her recent American tour. Packed with smashes, it includes 'Xanadu', 'Magic', 'Have You Never Been Mellow?', 'You're The One That I Want', 'Hopelessly Devoted To You', 'Summer Nights', 'If You Love Me', 'Let's Get Physical' and 'I Honestly Love You'. Recorded live at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ on August 26 & 27, 1999. 2000 release. Standard jewel case. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whoa!, September 26, 2006

By 

John L. Hughes, Jr. "hughes_jr" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leavin (Audio CD)

On LEAVIN', Natalie Cole uses her magnificent voice to interpret an eclectic mix of pop, rock, r&b and country songs. Highlights on this excellent album include the Shelby Lynne written title tune (done in the style of Natalie's 1977 hit "I'm Catching Hell"), a sassy version of Aretha Franklin's "Daydreaming", an inspirational Kate Bush composition "The Man With The Child In His Eyes", and Miss Cole's sexy ladylike performance on the Isley Brothers' ballad "Don't Say Goodnight". Another treat on this album is "The More You Do It", a top 10 r&b hit for Ronnie Dyson co-written by Natalie's first husband, the late Marvin Yancy. On this sexy tune, Miss Cole tastefully throws in vocal riffs from her first hit "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" and the arrangement is in the style of Aretha Franklin's version of the Sam Cooke classic "You Send Me".

The biggest surprise on LEAVIN' is discovering that Natalie Cole arranged most of these songs by herself (Wow! What can't she do?). Here's hoping that Miss Cole's musical arranging talents will be used more in the future.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cool Ride From Beginning to End, September 12, 2007

By 

Kendall Williams (Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leavin (Audio CD)

Natalie Cole's latest cd: "Leavin" is more than just a covers album, and if the songs she chose weren't recognizable in name it would sound like a whole album of new songs. "Criminal" was redone totally, and she only adds to its greatness, Old Man is great also, but the track that stood out to me was Kate Bush's "The Man With the Child In His Eyes", she sung it so beautifully and with the backing of the choir it makes it even more touching. This album is worth buying, I was not only impressed, but I respect her artistic ability more than ever, she has covered songs all through her career, and now to have an album full, is music to my ears.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very nice, January 3, 2007

By 

Diddley (Arkansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leavin (Audio CD)

I listen to all types of music and saw Natalie singing one of the songs on this CD I liked it so much I bought the CD. You can listen to these songs over and over and love them as much as you did the first time you heard them . You know you have somthing good when your 9 year old grand daughter askes you play the CD for her.