Customer Reviews

Love Decides

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I became a Jane Olivor fan at age 12. I'm now 35. Amazingly, on this release, her first since 1982's "In Concert", her voice has not changed since I first heard it. The new disc marks a triumph for Olivor, whose taste in material has only improved over time. If you've never heard Olivor, she's often compared to Piaf and Streisand, but I've always believed she's inimitable. There's simply no one else who sings like her--the voice soars, is quite beautiful and her interpretations are never predictable. Personal favorites off this (though all the tracks are amazing), include "Half Heaven, Half Heartache", "Bury My Lovely" (an October Project cover) and "Night Song". She has co-composed a couple of songs on the album and includes a song written by Jason Darrow, who produced her prior releases. The production on this album is superior to that of prior Olivor albums and very similar in quality to recent k.d. lang releases. On this disc, Olivor often sounds like she's there in your living room (pick your environment) singing to you alone--something that the prior albums didn't quite achieve--perhaps the technology has evolved. If you're an Olivor fan, this one is not to be missed.

I remember the first time I saw Jane Olivor singing "Chasing Rainbows" on the Tonight Show in the late 70s; I went out the next day and bought her first two albums. I was captivated by her great unique voice and expressive style. (Some have compared her voice to Edith Piaf and Barbra Streisand.)

After five albums, she retired from the music business in the early 80s. Now after 18 years, she's back with a new incredible recording produced by the renowned producer Steve Addabbo (Shawn Colvin).

"Love Decides" has a completely different feel from her Columbia recordings; I get the feeling that this is the real Jane Olivor; still the same great unique voice, but a much more personal performance.

Jane co-wrote two of the songs on this recording: "However Dark the Night" and "In the Moment." She's included at least three songs that she's been singing in concert for the past few years: "Love Decides," which appears to have been written just for her; "Colors of the Wind," written by Stephen Schwartz (from Pocahontas); and "I'll be Here," which she she closed her show with in Dallas a couple of years ago.

"I Believe in You" was written by Jason Darrow, who was responsible for writing several of her early songs, and produced several of her Columbia recordings.

Jane gets Gene Pitney to sing harmony vocals on one of his old hits, "Half Heaven, Half Heartache."

My vote for the best tracks are "Love Decides," "However Dark the Night," "I Believe in You," and "I'll be Here."

I still remember the night, way back in the 70's, that I purchased Jane Olivor's first album "First Night" after reading an extraordinary review of her music in the NY Times. As excellent as that review was, it didn't come close to describing the haunting, gorgeous sound of Olivor's voice, or her ingenious choices in song material. Everyone who heard this record playing in my house stopped dead in their tracks and ended up running to the store to get a copy of their own. Jane followed that with 4 other recordings: all standouts, and all still available in music stores---after all these years. That's how remarkable she is. Oddly enough, Jane never became the superstar everyone thought she would be, but that only added to her mystique and her ablity to remain so utterly original. But what was even more surprising is Jane's disappearance from the recording studio for eighteen years. For a time, she seemed to have dropped off the face of the earth, leaving heart-broken music fans wondering WHAT could have happened. Now comes the best part: she is back and she is still magnificent, as demonstrated with "Love Decides", a collection of 11 unique, carefully picked songs guaranteed to keep you waiting for the next CD. This is the first "direct-to-disc" recording for Jane, and modern technology is even more in love with her voice than vinyl was. The arrangements are simpler (in the best sense of the word) than past recordings, and often remind me of why I love George Winston so much. The digital sound, superb engineering by Steve Addabo & Ed Keane, and buoyant accompaniment allow Olivor's lyrical mezzo to flourish, still mesmerizing, still milking everything she can get out of a song, and sounding just as---even better---than our "First Night" date all those years ago. Please, Varese Sarabande, sign this girl to a LONG contract. And Jane, thanks for all the memories. Don't go away again...

This is a voice that too long has been silent..........18 years have passed since her last album......it was well worth the wait.....Jane has not lost the magic and power of her incredible voice. Hoping this is the first of many more albums to come in this new century..........

Anyone who was a Jane Olivor fan in the late 70's and early 80's must be thrilled to see Ms. Olivor's first recording in 18 years. And it is a CD that doesn't disappoint; the impeccable phrasing, the heartfelt emotion, the subtle and at the same time strong vocals--all are still here. Jane Olivor sounds as good as ever. She has always possessed the power to make even the simplest lyric take on a new depth of meaning--think back to her cover of the Chiffons' "He's So Fine" or Donovan's "Lalena." She works that same magic with her current CD. The old Gene Pitney hit--with harmony vocals by Gene himself--"Half Heaven, Half Heartache," is one of the standouts on this release. Likewise, Ms. Olivor's cover of the October Project's "Bury My Lovely" equals the beauty of the original. "Colors of the Wind" can sound trite sung by some vocalists, but Jane makes it her own and in the process will give a new appreciation for the song. Other great tracks include "Warm, However Dark the Night," and the title track. Those of us who are fans can only hope that we will not have to wait another 18 years for a follow-up CD. Let's hope, too, that we will have the chance to hear Jane Olivor perform these songs for us in concert soon. Jane Olivor is an amazing talent, many of you already know that. If you do not, this CD will easily convince you--and you will be a new fan.

Olivor's distinctive, exquisite vocals infuse each song on this cozy album with a poignancy and warmth unequalled in pop music today. Her intensity and expressiveness transform songs unremarkable in themselves into very personal, glowing anthems brimming with life, sadness, and joy. "I had this Man" is her most revealing and personal song to date. "...Could have been wearing rubies, could have been taking bows...but I had this man", she movingly sings with that hypnotic, mesmerizing voice. Perhaps she has now come to terms with her personal struggles and is now ready to test the "fame" waters again. For a fan of her unique gifts ever since "First Night" was released, I am etenally grateful that she has once again blessed us with her magnificent vocal stylings.

it has been 18 years since I have had the chance to put on a new album/cd from Jane Olivor. the wait, I am happy to say, has been well worth it. Since I first heard her back in the 70's, she has been able to reach inside send my mind on journeies filled with joy and sorrow, hope and heartache. the woman still gives me goosebumps. for those of you who are already fans of her music, I don't have to describe the way her caressing of words can transport you to a magical place. for those of you who are unfamiliar with her but enjoy the way a vocalist can tap into your soul and send you soaring high or weave you through the sorrow of love gone bad, buy this cd! a fantastic selection of feelings and experiences, in this world of singers who think vocal gyrations denote talent, it is quite refreshing to ride to the heights and depths of the experience of love and life with Miss Olivor. There are two songs I am familiar with on the cd, and I must say I never much cared for "Colors Of the Wind" but find the treatment given here again making me wonder how other singers have been able to make hits when Jane Olivors' rendition shines and sparkles like moonlight on freshly fallen snow. We are treated to another song co-written by her, "in The Moment". an upbeat song in the vein of "Right Garden", an earlier song she wrote. All in all the cd is a well balanced collection of ups and downs, sorrow and joy. hmm now what does that remind me of? My only complaint? that it took 18 years to once again be transported to that magical romantic place that Jane Olivors' voice so delightfully takes you.

Old fans, fear not--Ms. Olivor delivers another grand slam of an album. She must have kept that miraculous larnyx in a cryogenic freezer for the last 18 years, 'cause the're absolutely none the worse for wear. Back is the weeping vibrato that broke your heart with "Stay the Night" and "Pretty Girl." Back is the joyous belting that mended it again with "Carnival of Love" and "Vagabond." Only now we have 10 new songs with hardly a weak spot in the bunch. I literally jumped for joy when I found out she'd recorded October Project's "Bury My Lovely"--I've imagined her delivering those mystical lines more than once over the years, and now it's here. Literally, this album is a dream come true. Now let's hear her on the radio! Thank you Miss Jane!

Great singing voice, awesome arrangements/production (courtesy of Steve Abbaddo) are the main reasons to pick up this CD. I can't really pick one track as my fave, since I love all of them. There is a reason why Jane has such a loyal following, the fact she is an artist FIRST, making wonderful music for her fans. I commend Varese Sarabande for putting album out in today's musical world that thinks Celine Dion and Mariah Carey are divas. JANE OLIVOR is a true diva!

For the person interesting in buying any of her albums for the first time: Think of Jane as a mixture of Streisand and Piaf vocally but with the musical ability of a woman who sings every note like it meant her life in the balance. You cannot just listen to her songs, you melt to them.

Am I sounding too biased? NO! I really feel that she is the best female singer around!

Thanks Jane for coming back and putting out such a wonderful album!

She's Back! Received my new Jane Olivor CD, Love Decides, yesterday. It has played continuously ever since! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jane... We have so missed you! Her voice is richer, if that is possible, and has the same emotional quality that drew me to her so many years ago. You can feel every emotion in each note. That's what has been missing for so long...true emotion in music. I play the earlier cds all the time...I also have the albums and tapes. You know I'm a fan if I watch Same Time Next Year to hear the long version of the theme song! Now I have 11 new favorite songs! If you think you might want this cd...don't hesitate..buy two today and send one to a friend! I hope to see Jane in Concert here in Atlanta....soon!