Customer Reviews

Love Niecy Style

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to admit, I am not sure what concept I am "over" more...."DUETS" or "Covers".....so while I was happy to learn that Miss Williams had a new on it's way, when I saw it was remakes (Aka Covers) I sighed....
Shanachie first gave us Miki Howard's covers, then it was Vesta's and now it's Deneice. (can Cherrelle and Stephaine Mills be far behind???) and I think this is best of the bunch. Production is very good, and she sounds a good as ever. So, while it would be nice to have a NEW cd with NEW songs, this is a Cd that I very much enjoyed.

The songstress that brought you smash hits like "Silly" and "Let's Hear It For The Boy" resurfaces into the R&B world after having a number of years devoted to gospel music. Deniece Williams' new album Love, Niecy Style is a collection of reworked classics and an entirely new track to prove she's still got what it takes to belt out a jammin' track. She starts off with her rendition of Baby Washington's "That's How Heartaches Are Made" with help from Stevie Wonder on harmonica to bring it all together. Philip Bailey lends an assist by doing his signature background ad-libs for her interpretation of the Earth Wind and Fire classic "Love's Holiday." Deniece shines on "This Time I'll Be Sweeter," her tribute to the late Gwen Guthrie who originally wrote the song. She then sings her heart out on the Stevie Wonder tune "If You Really Love Me" and Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free" before doing a knockout performance of "Cherish" by Kool And The Gang. George Benson joins her for her version of his song "Lady Love Me (One More Time)." She closes out the album strong with the brand new ballad "The Only Thing Missing Is You," a stellar rendition of Luther Vandross' "Never Too Much," and a re-recorded version of her own song "Cause You Love Me, Baby." Fans will enjoy the mix of songs as well as the arrangement of the tracks on this album. After listening to Love, Niecy Style, there will be no doubt in anyone's mind that Deniece Williams can still throw down when it comes to singing R&B

Thank God we have a new release from Ms. Deniece Williams. I do wish it was new material. Seems many artists are returning these days using the approach of doing covers of old songs.

The good thing is she manages to make each song her own and her voice soars with the intensity, beauty and emotion the same as early in her career. She's STILL GOT IT !!!

"This Time I'll Be Sweeter" is the standout for me and is one of her best vocal interpretations ever. I must give the cd 4 stars for beings covers does make it a little less fresh and the length of only 42 minutes is a jip. No cd should be this short in this day and age.

But certainly bring Niecy back into your life and ENJOY !!!

It's nice to have Deniece Williams back on the R&B scene again. I think she should have done new material. She still has that golden voice of hers for sure! This album could have been a little longer, but maybe this is a warm up for her. It's been over 30 years since the release of her "This Is Niecy" album (1976), and she's trying to get back in sync. You go girl!!!!!

Initially, I was hesitant about getting YET ANOTHER 'Remake/Covers' CD, but Deniece WIlliams hasn't recorded SOUL MUSIC in so long, it was worth a shot. After she scored many R&B hits, Niecy released 'Let's Hear It For The Boy' in 1984, and it went to the top of the Pop charts! Needless to say, CBS wanted her to record MORE & MORE of that Pop trash (songs produced by Brad Westering!), and her original R&B fanbase was left out. CBS dropped Niecy during 1989, and she soon returned to her Gospel roots. Fast forward almost 20 years, and Deniece Williams has returned to US...lovers of Soul/R&B Music, and this is cause for celebration, even for a remake CD.
'Love, Niecy Style' gave Ms.Williams a chance to record some of her favorite soul tracks, and put her spin on the classics. This works well for Niecy because her voice hasn't really diminished, and some of her A-list friends were enlisted to spice up things (unlike other Shanachie CDs which mainly employed a tired house band of unknowns!). Niecy couldn't lose with friends like Stevie Wonder, Philip Bailey, and George Duke on board. Here's a few words about each of the 10 tracks...
1. That's How Heartaches Are Made - Nice way to start the CD with Stevie Wonder's distinctive harmonica! The midtempo arrangement works quite well, and Niecy sounds very good on this remake.
2. Love's Holiday - Great! Niecy remakes a classic Earth Wind & Fire track with Philip Bailey providing smooth background vocals (just like he did 30 years ago on the original!). I knew Niecy would cover an EWF track, and she does the song much justice.
3. This Time I'll Be Sweeter - Wow, Niecy did a great job on her version of the Gwen Guthrie/Angela Bofill classic. It's a different feel this time with Niecy's strong Soprano on display as opposed to Bofill's trademark vocal. Niecy does the original some justice.
4. If You Really Love Me - Niecy remakes a Stevie Wonder classic and it sounds like she went back to her old 'Wonderlove' days.
5. Someday We'll All Be Free - Wow, I understand why Niecy cried while recording this track. Donny Hathaway's classic is an emotional song, and Niecy has the vocal chops to interpret the timeless lyrics. Donny would be proud.
6. Cherish - Look, I NEVER LIKED the original version (by Kool & The Gang), and this is my least favorite song on the CD. Sappy SUGARY Pop songs like this have no soul, but Niecy made it a lil' easier to stomach.
7. Lady Love Me - VERY Interesting remake of Gerge Benson's hit. First the title, while perfect for a male singer, isn't good for a woman unless....At any rate, Niecy sounds very engaged here, and I'm happy to say the lyrics are CHANGED to 'Baby Love Me (One More Time)'.
8. The Only Thing Missing - The only original recording on this CD sounds great, and Niecy should've done this type of music a decade ago. It takes me back to her soulful slow jam 'Waiting' (1981), and hopefully this is a sign of things to come for Niecy.
9. Never Too Much - A Luther remake...wow! This is good stuff and I applaud Niecy for covering this classic from 1981. Overall, the arrangement hasn't been changed, but Niecy breathes fresh air into the jam. Luther is smiling down on her!
10. Cause You Love Me Baby - Niecy Sings Niecy!! Yes, our girl flips the script on all these OTHER remake CDs, and decides to cover one of HER CLASSICS from her 1976 debut. Hearing this version illustrates how GREAT of a job Maurice White & Charles Stepney did producing Niecy 31 years ago. Deniece sounds 'very good' here, but the musicians can't touch the job that EWF did back in the day. Nice remake though.

With all things considered, I'm rating 'Love, Niecy Style' 4 stars!!
The CD loses a star because it's ONLY 10 tracks long, failure to include more pictures of Niecy, and including that pop song 'Cherish'.
I recommend 'Love, Niecy Style' to the many fans of Deniece Williams, and let's pray that she returns with a full CD in the near future.
Peace, Sean D
(of 'Chakasworld')

A breath of Fresh Air as only Niecy can. I've been waiting to enjoy this day, I like the entire CD but Partial to #8 and #9. #10 just brings back the memories of those good old days.
(CAUSE WE LOVE YOU BABY)

I must first say it's wonderful to have as immensely talented a songstress as Deniece Williams back with a new CD--especially when her interpretations of these songs are fresh and contemporary (she makes most of them her own). The real standouts are "Cherish", "Someday We'll All Be Free", "This Time I'll Be Sweeter" and "Love's Holiday". Of the new CDs released this year, "Love, Niecy Style" is most definitely among the very best and I strongly recommend it to any fanof REAL R&B music.

GREAT CD MUSICALLY ,VERY SHORT ONLY 10 SONGS, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE WITH THIS RECORD LABEL,AND ALL THEIR CD RELEASES , ARE THE MANAGERS READING OUR COMMENTS ? ARE THEY LISETENING? WAKEUP SHANACHIE LABEL MANAGERS

This label has produced a few of the "real" singers recently singing old hits. This one is the first "official" one I've heard. Deniece sounds like Deniece, and actually it is her voice that sustains the project. She is literally holdin' it down. She sounds great, and that is not the case with label mate Miki Howard, who did the same thing with the oldies. This was just a bit too short for me, but does posses substance. Great job Neicy, i've got my fix for now, but hope there's more to come.

Buy This Album. I listen to this on a regular basis and it is very pleasurable. The quality is very high and the songs are put together well. Thanks for offering this Amazon!