Customer Reviews

Love Is Gonna Getcha

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In 1990, Patti Austin jumped ship from Qwest where she found a great deal of commercial success but was suffering from lack of attention from her label, and returned to GRP, the jazz label where she first made a name for herself in the Quiet Storm formats in the 1970s. "Love Is Gonna Getcha" was the smashing result, and the Dave Grusin produced set is a marvelous, Brazilian-flavored set from beginning to end. Austin tips her hat to the past with a slowed-down cover of her own gorgeous "In My Life," and works her way through ten more perfectly chosen songs. "Through the Test of Time" was the big hit, and remains a great song, and the title cut has become a staple of Patti's warm and often hilarious live performances. "Oooh-Whee (The Carnival)" encapsulates the South American sound that weaves its samba way throughout this record, and "First Time Love" and "In My Dream" are ultra-romantic musings from one of our finest balladeers. Closing the disc is an emotionally charged, "The Girl Who Used to Be Me," written by Marvin Hamlisch and the Bergmans, and nominated for an Academy Award. The song didn't win, but Patti Austin's performance should have. A gem of an album.

REVIEW BY KIRK DOUGLAS PROVO
kprovo@hotmail.com

By now Patti Austin is a living legend to those in the know and this, her first album/CD on the GRP label after her time with Quiny Jones' Qwest Records, is a harmonic treat. David Pack's warm "Through the Test of Time" starts of this wonderful set and it is no surprise that the former Ambrosia member was responsible for Austin's "All Behind Us Now" and "Any Way You Can" on her self-titled Qwest album of 1984. Next up, Pack's frequent co-writer Michael Macdonald supplies "Too Soon to Know", mostly a rocker with a lil' bit of sassy R&B. There are some surprising vocal moments at the song's outro when Austin and the b.g. singers let loose! Diehard Patti Austin fans will already be familiar with the beautiful "In My Life", from the singer's own pen; a "musical makeover" of a tune originally recorded at a different tempo for Austin's first album, "End Of A Rainbow" (CTI Records). Here, the song is presented in a thoughtful, lush Grammy-worthy arrangement. It is emotional magic. "Love Is Gonna Getcha" is a fun-loving jazz-soul hybrid at which the singer excels. Austin's trademark humour comes to tyhe fore on her own "Ooh-Whee (The Carnival)" with a decidedly fun look at the ups and downs of this thing we call LIFE.

"Believe the Children" is a soulful plea where lead and background vocals are particularly lovely.

On the delightfully moody "Wait for Me" the artist does her jazzy-soul thing with decidedly Brazillian leanings. This song creates the mood for love; is like a nice day at the beach.
"First Time Love" might be my favourite song here, though it's always hard to pick one over the other when it comes to Austin's musical treasures. Austin wrote lyrics to an old Dave Grusin (the "G" in GRP) instrumental and the result couldn't be more pretty ... an old fashioned love song with incredible orchestral contributions. When Austin sings: "It's so hard to remember/all my sad yesterdays/but from now 'til December, it's Christmas always ..." you believe her. "In My Dream" offers up a vocal menage with the best voice in music multi-tracked over a sensual bed of rhythm and melody perfect for a romantic night with that special someone. "The Girl Who Used to Be Me" is a terrific song from Marvin Hamlish and Alan & Marilyn Bergman("The Way We Were"), featured at the opening credits to the film "Shirley Valentine". Nominated for an Oscar, it is an "adult song" with a lyric that many can relate to.

I give this CD four and a half stars and recommend it to music lovers everywhere.

KDP
(As @ May 18, 2004)

A fantastic collection of excellent performances by a very talented Patti Austin and her co-stars. Jazzy, soulful, passionate - this CD is simply a great musical experience. An album that is truly a gift from the artists to the listeners.

Already a fine soul practitioner for years before, Patti Austin's jazz stylings began to get more prominent towards the end of the 80s, so perhaps it wasn't too surprising that she moved to one of the 90s most well-known major labels for jazz, but in this case it hardly means a dramatic stylistic change. This album, one of the most vocally robust that Patti has made, features a fine mix of jazzy ballads and highly stylized pop pleasures that do a great job of keeping in touch with her 80s roots without leaving her too stuck in the past. "In My Life" and "Wait For Me" give her a chance to flex her rich vocals against some spare, haunting backgrounds, "Good In Love" and "In My Dream" add some nice pop stylings, and "Too Soon To Know" is a catchy, uptempo number that seems to build on the formula of her 1981 dance hit "Do You Love Me."

In 1990, Patti Austin signed with GRP Records and made a major comeback. The breathtakingly-beautiful ballads "First Time Love", "Through The Test Of Time", "The Girl Who Used To Be Me" and "In My Life" are PERFECT for Patti's rich and creamy, sweet-as-honey and incredibly melodic voice. GRP bosses Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen gave Patti some truly great songs on this CD and it's still one of those albums you can listen to from beginning to end and get a soul-stirring musical experience every time.

recommended buy. Through The Test of Time as her song goes people will realize she will rank as one of the greatest musical talents America ever produced. darius deguzman , santa rosa, ca

It is a real thrill to listen to Patti Austin's voice every morning. This CD is one of her very best.

This is one of those CD's I'd put on my "Lost on a Desert Island" must list--it's that good!
Patti epitomizes the standard for jazz/pop singers, and under the flawless production of the legendary Dave Grusin, LOVE IS GONNA GETCHA is the perfect showcase for Austin's estimable talents. Put the CD in, wrap the headphones around your head and embark on an ideal musical journey! Patti takes you THROUGH THE TEST OF TIME and you'll love every minute. But don't get too comfy cause you'll be up boogying-down with the infectious TOO SOON TO KNOW. Now out of breath, float in the simple beauty of IN MY LIFE--a gorgeous ballad with impeccable vocals. Don't get too relaxed, though. LOVE IS GONNA GETCHA and you'll be saying, "Bring it on!" And this time, there's no respite. You're going to THE CARNIVAL and you'll be squealing OOO-WEE right along with Patti. Then you'll join Patti's request to BELIEVE THE CHILDREN, a song that in less competent hands would be preachy or maudlin...but Patti's plea is so sincere, YOU WILL believe. Hop back up though...you'll be GOOD IN LOVE and you'll be begging WAIT FOR ME. Oh no our journey's almost over! So slip under that shady coconut tree and soft moonlight and be a part of the sultry IN MY DREAM. The proverbial icing on this delicious cake puts Patti in a straight-on "pop" ballad performance with THE GIRL THAT USED TO BE ME. The Oscar-nominated song from the quirky SHIRLEY VALENTINE is a soaring tribute to women, with Patti simply brilliant! I don't remember the song that won that year but the gold statue should have landed on Marvin Hamlisch and Marilyn & Alan Bergman's mantlepieces. Your journey is now over, so just take it again.
One would be remiss in not acknowledging the contributors to this project. Writers like David Pack of Ambrosia, Lorraine Feather, Michael McDonald, Don Grusin, Harvey Mason and Dave Grusin. Outstanding studio musicians Lee Ritenour, Grusin, Greg Phillinganes, Nathan East, Neil Stubenhaus, Lani Groves---the list goes on and on!
Wow---pretty effusive aren't I? But this is truly one of the best CD's you could ever uy cause trust me, LOVE IS GONNA GETCHA!

Good deal, actually only one song on entire CD worth listening to. Saved one song, discarded all others

I received what was advertized. I am very pleased with the product and the prompt shipment.