Customer Reviews

Leavin

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

It is good to know that this kind of Soul Music continues to exist. It is also good to know that lovely voice associated with Ms. Cole continues to endure.

Do you like good music? Sweet Soul Music? If yes then this CD is a must have for your listening pleasure.

Download, or pick up your copy today. You will be delighted, not disappointed.

Some reviewers definitely did not have an open mind listening to this. How great to hear a familiar voice in a different sound element....just a guitar, a song associated with another great voice (what a challenge). Not a loser in the bunch...and you gotta love "the more you do its" nod to yesterday. She's not leavin' she's here to stay...FROM NOW ON!

Natalie Cole returns with her most adventurous exploration of personally admired compositions from Pop-Rock-R&B-Country Music's most prolific singer-songwriters she's had the pleasure to share the radio-chart spotlight with, throughout her brilliant career. Like her current Verve[and previously Capitol & Elektra]Records labelmate and radio-chart run comadre, Linda Ronstadt, Miss Cole is one of our very few and extraordinarily gifted artists who is daring and adventurous enough to risk everything careerwise by immersing her talent, and expanding her range, into an intense exploration of music from various genres and eras, other than her 'mainstream base' where her fans always expect her to not drift too far from. Milestone, after milestone album from Natalie Cole continues to rise and glow from the expansive musical ground she never denies she is inspired from - be it Rock, R&B, Jazz, Pop, Country - she possesses a rare vocal talent she easily transforms into an irressistably dazzling instrument of range and note. The 'main attraction' here is Miss Cole's marvelous vocal instrument! Miss Cole, visually, is more beautiful than ever - which makes for a very attractive album cover. I've always felt Shelby Lynne was robbed by unintelligent and tasteless radio station programmers of a monsterous radio/chart hit of her original, "Leavin'" - but Natalie revives this brilliance with a personally stamped cover version, adding a whole new "WOWzer" twist of her own! Natalie's "Leavin" comes from another remarkably different dimension - it's a vocalized mini-movie drama demanding notice of its own! Another smoldering track is "The Man With The Child In His Eyes", Natalie's most assured Power-Pop ballad to date. "The More You Do It" - which she teasingly introduces as for the "Old School"[referring to Music, of course]ends with that delicious catchy phrasing chorus of "From Now On!...From Now On!...From Now On!" reminds us that this is the NATALIE of "THIS WILL BE" Fame you're listening to and enjoying in all her everlasting glory all at once and forever more! It's also her affectionate and joyful tribute to the [first] songwriting team of Marvin Yancy-Chuck Jackson, she was blessed to have worked with at the outset of her career. Bright'n sassy horn sections accompany Natalie's sassiest and dazzling vocals in all the right and perfect places on various tracks throughout this well balanced album. We must thank Verve Records for allowing exceptional artists the freedom and opportunity to record their own music, fulfill their musical vision to full content, and offer us such outstanding collages of musical expression they feel moved to display and share - especially when the record company giants have become shamelessly indifferent to both these artists and the fans who built their financial institutions. I personally experienced the excitement of "living"[as we all do at times] some of these classic songs such as "Don't Say Goodnight" - "Old Man" - "Day Dreaming" - "Lovin' Arms"[much covered, but in the most endearing and heartfelt version for the first time ever, right here] - during their popular first time around in my teen years, but, COLE's sensitive, affectionate, and inspiring versions mystify and contribute a profound new dimension to the wonder and impact of each song's respective and timeless impact. NATALIE COLE remains an illustrious vocalist, and, with the astounding imagery and colors her voice displays, she easily demonstrates that no matter what genre of music she is inspired to explore, they are all inseparable.

Natalie Cole has unfortunately ventured (and not by her own will by any means) into the territory where the verterans all venture sooner or later-- the demise of commercial, mainstream success. Natalie Cole had her "day in the sun", her "heyday". Unfortunately, no release by the diva will be appreciated by a new audience, only by those who loved her in her youth and those who possess the so penned "old soul". Me being a young man, I guess that I have that "old soul" as I have special place in my heart and an acquired appreciations for the veterans in classic soul, classic Rock, and classic jazz among other important genres that have ultimately shaped today's musical sound from their innovations. Natalie Cole in my mind is no doubt one of those innovators, particularly considering she has the vocal power of Patti LaBelle coupled with the jazz inflections and nuances of some of the very best, classiest jazz vocalists. Very few have been able to come close to emulating the greatness of "Inseperable" or the rangy-technically difficult vocal passages of the sassy, jazz-filled "This Will Be", Natalies signature anthem. I'm not lauding LEAVIN' as being Cole's strongest album, but it certainly unfair that a diva who still can sing a lot better than most of today's "new" R&B singers can't have a gold album. Sure Natalie's "heydey" or "peak" may have passed, but she sounds as strong and as soulful as ever on LEAVIN' which is a covers album for the most part.

"Criminal" is the very first surprise from the album, and proves to be very convincing. Who could tackle Fiona Apple but Apple herself? Somehow, being the veteran that she is, Cole pulls off "Criminal" very well with jazz-influenced rock production supporting her powerhouse vocals. Next, she tackles Neil Young's "Old Man" which isn't as succesful as "Criminal", but is surely worth a good number of listens as well. The true heat is brought on by heavy hitting Aretha cover "Day Dreaming", which fits perfectly in today's adult contemporary R&B. It is both soulful and jazzy with enough contemporary nature to be hip. What is most amazing is when Cole turns a country song penned by standout Shelby Lynne into a retro-soul hit. "Leavin'" single-handedly is one of Cole's very best performances ever, rivalling her very, VERY best. Cole's vocals are all in the right place making it truly shine in my eyes.

"The More You Do It (The More I Like It Done To Me)" does resurrect "the old school" as Natalie Cole states in the intro of the song and while it doesn't have the same star power of either "Day Dreamin'" or "Leaving", it certainly does remind you of vintage Cole singing "This Will Be" in certain respects. The acoustic strummed guitar and the lovely vocal harmonies of "Lovin' Arms" leave you once again breathless as Cole touches the song with her luminence. "Love Letter" and a surprising Kate Bush cover (who would've thunk?) of "The Man With The Child In His Eyes" are both worth listens, even if they aren't stellars as the very best of the album.

"5 Minutes Away" is the only original on LEAVIN', though it is truly a strong original, penned by Cole, R&B superstar producer Dallas Austin, and Marvin Chanz Parkman. It keeps the "old school feel flowing very vibrantly, as does Cole's cover of the Isley Brothers' tune "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)." "You Gotta Be" and "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" don't have the same steam as the very best of LEAVIN', but despite the less inspiring covers throughout some of the album, Cole's assertive and interesting vocals certainly make up for any slack in other places.

Overall, LEAVIN' isn't innovative in the since of being the next "milestone" in music, but it is a strong enough combination of contemporary jazz, contemporary R&B, retro-soul, and rock. It also showcases Cole's interests in ALL genres of music as opposed to being completely R&B. And while it isn't perfect, it comes off as a very solid, listenable, and enjoyable album by the diva.

I was lucky enough to be at a very intimite concert of Natalie's last Friday and I have to say that she is one of the most amazing performers I have ever seen. Her voice is amazing... I've known that for a while... but I never thought that she would have such a presence on stage. I've since gotten this album and, while it's extremely hard reproduce the amazing experience of seeing her live, this comes very close! She has taken songs that are still very popular today and made them her own... not an easy thing to do. I've really enjoyed this album and highly recommend it!

wow! this CD is amazing....it's not the stuff one will expect to hear from Natalie but wow is she ever versitile...I am convinced she can sing any song and add her own unique signature to it...they don't make real music like this anymore? Natalie keeps it real and delivers the lyrics in a story type fashion that captivates the listener. She should definately win a grammy for this CD..it should be for the whole package though, not just for Day Dreaming! Can we have a few more singles released as well please? Criminal, Leavin', Lovin' Arms, all have the potential to be top 10 hits. A remix of Day Dreaming is also well over due?

This is my first review of a Natalie album. I've enjoyed her work for many years here and there. I do own a best of Capitol Recordings to have "Someone That I Use To Love"; the CD DANGEROUS for the great title dance track and "Nobody's Soldier"; I'M READY with her Epic sides; the heavenly UNFORGETTABLE and STARDUST tributes to her Dad, EVERLASTING, GOOD TO BE BACK, and even the previous Verve release. All very nice.

I popped this baby into the car player and "KABOOM". Ultra soul and pop handled to the absolute best. Covers or not, this is a great album, especially Criminal, Old Man, The More You Do It, Man With The Child In His Eyes, the new song - 5 Minutes Away, and a song I always wanted, but never got, You Gotta Be. She converts a pop favorite of mine, Lovin' Arms (Loving Arms) into a soul classic. You'd need to compare the difference between Petula Clark's 1976 AC hit single to this version. Lovin' Arms has been done by many in a pop-folk style. Natalie breathes such new life into it, she's made it her own.

I'm so pleased I bought this album and really think Natalie has a huge chance of a Best R&B Performance Female Grammy. So so good!