Customer Reviews

Open Book

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Its a low down dirty shame that Evelyn "Champagne" King's new recording, Open Book hasn't garnered more attention.... yet. Steering clear of delving into retro material to stage a comeback, King bravely offers up new material which is surprisingly good, without blatantly catering to current trends. Her original hits were strikingly original and she has maintained her artistic integrity. Her deliciously smokey voice hasn't diminished from her heyday as the premier dance floor diva some 31 years ago. If anything, her voice has improved and deepened with maturity. Whole Lotta Yum Yum delivers it's implied promise. Open Book, and Paradise prove that Evelyn still has that "magic touch" with ballads. The Soul Seekerz remix of The Dance is proof positive that Evelyn Champagne King's brand of excitement can still drive club goers to frothy exhilaration on the dance floor. With its sly lyrical reference to the people who have kept her career down in the past, and clever weaving of some of her most memorable song hit titles of the past, Evelyn slams it to her past ghosts and serves up notice she won't be held back this time around.
It seems like a lifetime ago that Shame blew our minds, and it is totally conceivable that treating her natural wonder of a vocal instrument with care, Evelyn "Champagne" King will be thrilling fans with her particular brand of excitement for decades to come. Welcome back!

This was supposed to be released a year ago, August 2007, but we were never told the real story (inside story) why it took a year to come out? Perhaps the music company believed it would not succeed commercially, no matter how good. The company is obviously small and independent, but the music on this album in my opinion is superb.

The real weakness in this effort, it has been such a long since Evelyn King was a real star. As the Beatles once put it in a song, she was famous 'before your mother was born'. That is true for many of the young people who listen to music the most, who buy the hits and support the singers. She is probably not a legend like the Beatles, or the Supremes, or Michael Jackson or Bob Dylan or Aretha Franklin, and that, plus it's from a small label, may keep this from being any kind of comeback. However, some of us think she was wonderful and she ought to be up there with the greatest. She has has a large collection of 'Best of Albums' by now, meaning there are others who are real fans.

It has been twenty years, a generation since Evelyn King released an Album of new songs (although she released one from England about 16 years ago that was barely heard of here, and for what I know maybe there also). Her new album has one song from that album, 'Not that Kind of Party' written by a man who was instrumental for this one coming about, Preston Glass.

As I said above, Open Book is solid. None of the songs are of a low quality, throw-ins. Several are very playful, and Evelyn has been known to be playful. She was playful on her 1982 Album 'Get Loose', which can be seen in the title song. My two children (I introduced them to Evelyn King) love the song 'Get Loose' and they still keep requesting it.

Songs that impressed me (on Open Book), that by merit (My personal opinion) could be top 40 hits (or top 10) are '(You Deserve)an Academy Award', 'Nobody Knows', and 'True to My Boo'. 'The Dance' already was a little bit of a Dance hit, it topped at 12 for dance singles. Evelyn was a great dance singer, notably for 'Shame' released when she was just 17 years old in 1977, and it was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame. She had several great hits in 1977 that on on the album 'Smooth Talk'. Her albums were of new songs (not best of) until 1989, and were on RCA and EMI. Some of have been reissued from foreign Countries in recent years.

I am hoping and praying this against what I see ('Open Book' is currently at 88,000 of Amazon.com music albums) that this album will be successful enough so we can enjoy future albums of new songs by Evelyn King. To me something is very wrong if this album fails.

All the cuts I've heard are good, some even up towards the standard of her 70s/80s classics. It's a 4 star album but I gave it 5 to compensate for the other review which sounded 5 star but only gave 3.

When E.C.K. first presented in 1977, I, like many others, were completely drunk off her amazing debut single, "Shame" and it's equally as amazing follow-up, "I Don't Know if It's Right." Then came the Gold "Music Box," the flopped, "Call on Me" and two massive hit albums with "I'm in Love" and "Get Loose." After these, the hits began to slowly taper off. I love Evelyn's voice. I always have and I always will. Being an Old School sista, I also feel that she'd benefit immensely from some Old School production (a la Babyface or Jam & Lewis).
I wish she'd get a major label deal too that will not only promote her on the strength of her past successes, but also get her with some serious NEW School pro's too (like Kanye West, The Neptunes, etc... Listen to Monica and tell me that you don't hear the Evelyn "Champagne" King influence in her voice. You'd be deaf if you didn't. For me, this album sounds painfully dated in parts (as in "Not That Kind of Party). New Jill Swing went out in 1990. She just needs to get herself "current." "Open Book" is a breath of fresh air as compared with some of the crap that's being produced today and it shows that a seasoned veteran who CAN SING sho' don't need no Autotune because there's nuthin' TO AUTOTUNE. I guaranTEE she can show some o'these WANNABE'S a thing or 2 as far as vocals go. I love you, Evelyn (34 years later, girl)! You STILL GOT those awesome R&B chops! I can't wait for MORE! xo

Wow...all I know is that I have always loved Evelyn Champagne King's voice...this cd simply demonstrates that her voice is still strong, versatile, vibrant, full of that soul that we all can recall from back in the day. I don't care if she's singing names out of the phone book, I will always love that voice!

got to hear the new tracks from the dynamic and so underrated Evelyn "Champagne" King. the tracks sound very modern and they work,but they also sound in her confort zone as a artist. I enjoy the music and the vibe and she sounds real good. the album doesn't sound like she is following any current trends at all. it's cool.

I got this c.d. Not knowing how it was going to sound. Now I have got c.d.'s of 80's funk stars. Releasing in the 2000's and the 90's. Something had changed. A lot of slow cuts. This one is hardcore as hell. On this one:; she is playing keys,also she is a conga player/percussionist,too. does a lot of the writing. My six-year daughter; loves Evelyn "Champagne" King,too. She picked it out. Another small fact: she also performed with P-funk, Andre' Cymore. Just got her="Face to Face" c.d. It's hardcore. Love it. This c.d.="Open Book". Is very funky. She; has grown as a singer, not only that. The sister, is hardcore on the keys and congas,percussion on this c.d. Don't miss this funk. Only a few was released. Got this on release day,still have it.

Evelyn Champagne King returns with her soulful voice and a strong cd, that her long time fans will enjoy! Too bad with radio these days that it won't get heard, 'The Dance' did very well in the club market making it's way to #12 on Billboard's Dance Chart. Some of the highlights include a new remix of 'Not That Kinda Party'(from Evelyn's fantastic overlooked 'I'll Keep A Light On' cd), 'Open Book' a beautiful ballad, 'Standing On The Rock Of Love' which if played could be another hit single! When recording this cd Evelyn definitely thought about her true fans because it's not flavor of the week material, it's for adults who love that good ole R&B. Welcome Back ECK!!

Evelyn hasn't lost that voice and flavor, if anything it's better 25 years later !! She's singin' y'all, don't sleep on this.