No Fear Here

Susaye Greene | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: The Orchard
• ASIN: B0000633HQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #956,203 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Renaissance of The Last Supreme, October 23, 2002

By 

Rick A. Bueche (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Fear Here (Audio CD)

NO FEAR HERE
Susaye Greene
Dollface Music

By: Rick A. Bueche

Though absent from the music industry stateside for over 20 years, Susaye Greene has made a rousing return to her art with a collection of 12 songs that showcase one of the most underrated voices in music today.

Having worked with the likes of Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, Susaye is best remembered as being the "last Supreme:" In 1976 she replaced Cindy Birdsong to become the final woman to be inducted into the world-famous Supremes. The Diana Ross-less trio had been stagnant for years, but with the addition of Susaye the trio made a heralded comeback on the pop and soul charts that year with the hit single "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking, " from one of the groups biggest selling lps sans Ross, "High Energy." Though never issued as a single, Susaye gave an acclaimed vocal on the title track which became an instant disco hit of the day. Although it seemed The Supremes were on a comeback, internal pressures and mismanagement caused the group to disband a year later. Susaye has since released one album for Motown and has written tracks for singers like Wonder and Michael Jackson since.

Coaxed from retirement by the ever-loyal fans of the Supremes, Susaye Greene, through the numbers submitted on this CD, has lost none of the vocal power and range she revealed while performing in the group. In fact, time and inactivity seems to have only strengthened the singers instrument. She still possesses a five octave range with warm and rich tones on all vocal levels. The songstress maintains an amazing ability to zoom through the zenith of the musical scales from the deep lows to piercing highs in a milli-second. It can be said that listening to Susaye Greene is as much instruction as it is pleasure.

Most notably, Miss Greene delivers a contemporary offering in her middle years of life without embarrassing herself and her audience by attempting rap or offensive lyrics in an effort to compete with younger vocalists. Other artists of her genre have made ill-fated comeback attempts in that area with laughable results. She remains true to her art and virtually seduces her listener with sheer vocal perfection. Like Marvin Gaye, she layers her own vocals to where each song becomes a small production of its own.

Many of the tracks can be described simply as..."smooth." Though she is delightfully funky with the house-sounding "Bewitched (By Your Love)," Susaye is at her best with the mellow, champagne-sipping romance of tunes such as "Queen of Fates" and "Unbelievable". A unique interpretation of "Bali Ha'i" further enhances the versatility of the CD.

Clearly the standout cut is a duet with Kenny Ladiende, "Be The One." Sparsely arranged and beautifully executed in harmony, this track would be embraced by Adult Contemporary radio to easily crossover to pop and soul listeners. Likewise, "Letting You Go," if given dance floor exposure, could find audiences beyond that. The singer is playful on some of the intros to her tunes, but attentive to each detail of the composition. There are no electronic gimmicks here...simply pure music appreciation.

Currently planning a U.S. tour, it can be hoped that this fine collection finds wider distribution to secure the audience, and thus the success it deserves. This is a singer whose talents transcended the confines of a group dynamic, and if not renowned for hit recordings, is at least deserving of movie soundtrack and tv theme-song exposure. Ironically, while some former Supremes are mud-wrestling to recapture past glories surrounding the name, Miss Greene makes little reference to her past associations and clearly looks forward with, indeed, "No Fear Here."

The CD is an artistic triumph. It deserves to be a commercial one as well.

"No Fear Here" is available through amazon.com

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Susaye Greene has the right stuff!!!!, March 1, 2002

By 

Herman Forstmann (Corsicana, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Fear Here (Audio CD)

On this musical journey, Susaye takes us on a thrilling ride through many different genres. We have the rap, we have the soul, we have the pop, and we have the alternative! We even get a Broadway tune on this one!!!! Susaye's multi-octave voice glides effortlessly through one song after another. The only complaint I have is that twelve songs was not enough to satisfy my insatiable musical appetite!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Refreshing Change In Flavor, January 4, 2003

By 

Donovan (Chicago, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Fear Here (Audio CD)

Recently, I read the review of the album known as "No Fear Here" by musician Susaye Greene. The review was by Andrew, and it was quite negative. This person said that "Susaye's high pitched voice was annoying" and that she relied upon synthesizers too heavily.
This person couldn't have been listening to the same album as I. I mean, I thought it to be quite the refreshing change in flavor for the music of its genre. Now, I'm only 18. I've never liked what everyone else has liked. Susaye's debut album stood out, however, even in my collection. Of course, this hadn't surprised me, since Susaye had collaborated with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Quincey Jones, and the post-Diana Supremes, of course (whom I personally prefer, since Diana wasn't my style, anyway.) One of the things that annoys me is how a Supremes fan won't get behind Susaye just because he's loyal to Diana. But those who listen can tell that Susaye is trying to be herself and do something new, as an entity separate from the Supremes. Some of the tracks that really stood out, for me, including "End Of Days" had the kind of sound that would put Missy Elliot to shame. "Ha Ha Hey" is another, which is a groundbreaking alternative tune brimming with social commentary.
Now, the lyrics in the last track "Unbelievable" were a little bit mushy and corny, especially the speech at the very end; that's my only criticism. Also, "No Fear" is a bit obsessive on the love scenario. Still, Susaye's optimism is pretty admirable, especially in today's music, what with the Limp Bizkits and Korns of the world.
And Andrew!!! how could you say Miss Greene's artwork was bad. She looked cool enough to hang with Neo and Morpheus in some of those pictures (she's obviously a big Matrix fan) and the glamorous pic with the leopard hat would get props from Marilyn Monroe, the queen of glamor.
So, all of you skeptics, please give her a chance. You won't regret it.