Customer Reviews

Matter of a Heart

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

 

 

I've also been a fan of Stan Rogers for at least 20 years. I had high hopes for a fresh interpretation of some of his best works. This isn't it.

All the vocalists combined can't match Stan's own range. The opening bar of the Mary Ellen Carter (1st song) gave me high hopes for the rest of the CD, but I was BITTERLY disappointed.

The idea of a mediocre tenor singing Northwest Passage would be laughable. But that's what they did here. They absolutely butchered his music.

This entire album completely lacked the emotion and passion that Stan brought to his music. It was a cheap, hollow imitation that wouldn't have stood on it's own merits in the absence of Stan, but knowing (and loving) his music made it even worse.

It was the equivalent of expecting the finest Filet Mignon and getting a cold, uncooked hot dog instead. Yecch.

Sometime during the middle '70s I ducked into a Greenwich Village coffeehouse mainly to get in out of the wind, rain and cold. I left a few hours later humming "Barrett's Privateers" and feeling oh so fortunate to have encountered the artistry of Stan Rogers. His death, devastating to Canadians, was truly a loss to all of us who treasure great singing and songwriting. To say that this collection is a pale imitation of Stan's own work is a statement of the obvious. He was truly unique. That being said, I found this collection enjoyable for several reasons. The songs themselves are still great songs! (Why they didn't include "Barrett's Privateers" is beyond me, and "White Squall" needs a man's voice, but that's why it gets a four instead of a five-star rating.) Also, many of Stan's songs are well-served by group performances, as evidenced by "Northwest Passage" and "Lock-Keeper". If the performers aren't in Stan's league, it's not because they don't care about the material. Their passion for the music and it's content (a heavy dose of Canadian history, custom and geography) is there for those who have ears to hear. If you are already a fan, you risk being disappointed, though not necessarily. If you do not know this music, then by all means give this a listen. Then go out and buy "Home in Halifax", or one of the other originals. You won't regret it.

If sales of this CD featuring "various artists" help Stan's widow and family, so be it; but I cannot in good conscience recommend it to anyone to whom this music really means something.

I had to listen to one of my old Stan Rogers albums to hear the real thing and get this pale imitation out of my system.

I have been a Stan Rogers fan for over twenty years and I have all of his released works. As was said before, if the selling of this CD helps Stan's family, I can see the value. But despite their apparent passion, these performances pale before the beautiful rich tones that were Stan's. These voices may intend to honor the man and his music, but instead serve only to remind us what we have lost. Listening to these renditions brought tears to my eyes as I remembered the excuisite voice that was Stan Rogers.

I had the privilege of seeing the actual performance by these artists onstage in Toronto in 2000. They were each wonderful in their own way and brought a standing ovation - perhaps because they were all Stan Rogers fans but also for the sheer appreaciation that someone was singing his music. We all know there will never be another Stan Rogers just like there will never be another Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, etc. but to let that music die just because the voice isn't the same would be shameful. Every time I listen to this CD, I hear the stories Stan felt and wrote and by the time we get to Rise Again, I have the same feeling as the first time I ever heard it. May daughter now wants her own copy and I'm grateful Amazon has it.

Couldn't agree more with other reviewers. This cd should be scuttled off the cape and never see the light of day again. Choice of songs was fine, but the execution was dreadful. Best to get the originals, mp3s, etc.

I really hesitate to ever criticize any artistry, but I am a die-hard Stan Rogers fan (and of his brother Garnet too, who is great in his own right). However, with a very few exceptions (such as white squall), I'm afraid this is one item I would not recommend. I don't like to say it, honestly, but if you're interested in getting to know the work of Stan Rogers, I really hope you don't use this CD as your introduction, or you'll be completely mislead. I don't wish any bad feelings to the musicians who put it together, but I'm afraid I really feel most of them missed the mark.

These people have done a service by continuing to present Stan Rogers' music. To those who criticize because it isn't Stan Rogers performing, you should consider that his music is great standing alone and it needs to be performed by contemporary artists. This album has some marvelous work. It can't be Stan because Stan is (sadly) no longer here; but I applaud artists doing their own interpretations and keeping Stan's music alive.