London Warsaw New York

Basia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 23, 1989)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000026WX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MiniDisc  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,787 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #15 in Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Poland

Editorial Reviews

This jazz CD contains 10 tracks and runs 42 minutes & 40 seconds.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unqualified success for Basia and Danny!, June 29, 2003

By 

David Kaminsky (Edmonton, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: London Warsaw New York (Audio CD)

Basia's debut CD, warm and witty and engaging as it is, didn't adequately answer the burning question: is there life after Matt Bianco? From the opening bars of the CD, all doubt is eliminated, and Basia's musical horizon is unmistakably clear. The CD cover helps express the tone of this work. Basia looks sexy, soft, and breezy, while Danny White's gaze is smouldering and pensive. The cover makes it clear this is a partnership, not just a showcase for the Polish superstar. The first track, the classic "Cruising for Bruising," is soft, subtle, and with just the right hint of wistful sadness. Basia's sound is a harmonious blending of pop, jazz, samba, bossa nova, and electronic genres, and her voice soars over Danny White's beautifully-crafted electronic and acoustic soundscapes. Basia's music is also touched with a bittersweet worldliness, as in the lyrics for "Cruising for Bruising": "I know it's not easy / Your heart is aching / But so is mine." The next track, "Best Friends," adds fiery horns and congas and picks up the pace for the moment. Then it's time for one of Basia's great ballads, "Brave New Hope." It recalls "From Now on" from the previous CD but is much more musically spare and lyrically sophisticated. In fact, the whole CD is very elegant, urbane, and sophisticated. Many critics use "tasteful" as a disparaging description, but I think it is an apt description of Basia's music. The last verse of "Brave New Hope" is especially powerful, as the lead and backing vocals build in intensity. The fourth track is the Brasilian-inflected "Baby You're Mine." Brasil is evoked both in the instruments used (berimbau and shaker, gorgeous acoustic guitar) as well as in Basia's exotic phrasing. "Ordinary People" is a long, dark, syncopated number, evoking the best of Matt Bianco's pieces. It is a rare stab at topicality for Basia, but she manages to also make it very personal. The keyboard work and overlapping layers of vocals make this song into a musical experience. The instrumental/percussion/scatting break which follows the second chorus is very loose and jazzy, and it perfectly demonstrates Basia's confidence in and comfort with the material. The sixth song, "Reward," begins with a gentle piano solo before the insistent rhythm grabs hold. The Polish verse at the end is a lovely touch by "a stranger in this land." The seventh song is Basia's ass-kicking remake of the old Stevie Wonder/Paul/Broadnax song "Until You Come Back to me." Basia has said she copied Aretha Franklin's phrasing for the song, yet she manages to make the song her own. Next is the fun, frantic, frenetic "Copernicus," one of my favourite Basia songs. The lyrics are very warm and humourous, and you can almost believe that "Chopin too / Would dig samba if he had a chance to groove." Chopin might have adored the baritone saxophone solo in this song. The Polish language is heard once again, perhaps to demonstrate how hip and cosmopolitan it can sound when added to a samba/jazz groove. Basia sounds like she's having a lot of fun, and she imparts that feeling to her lucky audience. "Not an Angel" follows, and it surprises in its sensuality and playfulness. The trumpets and bass saxophone give the piece a more earthy feel, as befits the lyrics. Danny's keyboard solo adds to the festive, light-hearted mood of the piece. The CD closes with another piece rich in Braslian influences, "Take Him Back Rachel." The notion of friendly/sisterly advice is underlined by the more sinister notion that that narrator now "has" the guy Rachel is reconsidering. As in "Ordinary People," so in this track this is a fluidity, almost an unravelling, after the second chorus. The darkness of the song fits in well with the fatalism of Brasilian music and art. This CD is Basia's tribute to her three "homes": Poland, Brasil, and the entire musical globe. What a wonderful work!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the all-time great dance albums, August 29, 2002

By 

Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: London Warsaw New York (Audio CD)

Basia Trzetrzelewska (who wisely goes by only her simple first name) put out "London Warsaw New York" in 1989, but it remains today one of the all-time great dance albums. It's up there with Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and anything by Prince in terms of great, propulsively rhythmic dance music with a driving drumbeat.

Basia and her longtime collaborator, Danny White, wrote, produced and arranged every single song on the album except for the Stevie Wonder 1960s classic "Until You Come Back To Me." The standouts here are "Cruising for Bruising," on which Basia cuts loose and angry with her lover for being unfaithful; "Reward," on which she praises her lover for being her reward for good behavior; and "Baby You're Mine," on which she sounds a possessive note. My two all-time favorites are "Not An Angel," where Basia seductively convinces us that behind her serene and lovely good looks is a little devilment waiting to come out, and "Take Him Back, Rachel," where she realizes that her lover is still in love with his former girlfriend."

The lyrics are surprisingly literate, the arrangements absolutely infectious, and the music joyful. It's all-around great stuff, but don't put it on to sit and do some work or reading--you won't be able to stop yourself from leaping up out of the chair and dancing!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Basia sings these songs without even trying--and that's no small feat !!!, October 26, 2007

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: London Warsaw New York (Audio CD)

Basia possesses a three octave voice that is simply wonderful. She can take a song and make it all her own with her creative interpretations; and she never once misses a beat on this fine album. Great!

The CD track set begins with "Cruising For Bruising." Basia sings with great sensitivity about a situation in which two people shared love but they need a break from each other--at least for now. Basia's excellent diction bolsters her performance; and the musical arrangement marks the beat well. The chorus haunts me with its beauty; and Basia handles subtle tempo and key changes like a pro! Danny White does his usual excellent work on keyboards and drum programming. All this makes "Cruising For Bruising" a strong start for this album. "Best Friends" is an electric song that explores how a man and woman will always be there for each other either as friends or more. The dance beat is pretty awesome; and Basia sings this flawlessly! Listen for Kevin Robinson on the trumpet, too.

"Baby You're Mine" celebrates the joy a woman feels when her one true love also loves her just as much. The lyrics reflect a touching sensitivity; and Basia sings this with all her heart and soul. Listen for an incredibly beautiful chorus during which Basia really lets it all hang out! "Baby You're Mine" sports a melody that's part dance music and part Latin; "Baby You're Mine" is easily a highlight of this excellent album.

"Reward" again explores the joy a woman feels when she is truly loved for who she is; "Reward" has a good musical intro and when Basia comes in this number really takes flight! I predict that you will enjoy "Reward" very, very much. In addition, another great highlight of this album is "Until You Come Back To Me." "Until You Come Back To Me" features Basia's vocals in the spotlight as she sings of how she wants her man to take her back as his girlfriend once again. Basia's rendition of "Until You Come Back To Me" displays just how elegant she can make a song. Of course, Danny White stays strong on keyboards and drum programming. The backup vocalists on "Until You Come Back To Me" enhance the natural beauty of this exceptional number; and Kevin Robinson returns again on the trumpet for a great effect.

"Take Him Back, Rachel" provides a strong ending for this album; Basia sings of how she knows her boyfriend really should return to his former girlfriend Rachel. The Latin beat impresses me greatly; and Basia delivers this ballad with heart, soul and panache.

The liner notes have nice artwork; and we get the song credits along with the lyrics. Great!

Basia may have released this album with help from Danny White as long as eighteen years ago; but London Warsaw New York remains the same excellent, timely and electric album it was on its release date. I highly recommend this for fans of dance music mixed occasionally with a jazzy Latin twist. People who like contemporary pop vocals will also enjoy this CD.