Customer Reviews

Other Voices

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By far my favorite album by Mr. Young, but also one of my favorite albums by any artist. There simply isn't a bad cut on the CD and it is the kind of album which only seems to get better with repeated listening. Unlike many other CD's which have only one or two good songs, the hit single "Oh Girl" finds itself surrounded by a host of good material, from the opening cut "Heaven Can Wait" to other notable numbers like "Softly Whispering I Love You" and "Calling You". Everyone's tastes are different and mine are inclined toward Jazz, so my favorite track is the jazzy shuffle "Stop On By" - a very classy number.

If you're not familiar with Paul's work, this is the place to start. You can take your time finding other material by him because this is by far his best outing: Everything just seemed to come together perfectly on this album - great songs, great band, great production, and of course... a superb vocalist. For anyone who enjoys good soulful pop or jazz, I can recommend this CD without reservation.

In my opinion this album is by far the best Paul Young has done. The best song material, the best production, and the best guest players. It's a pity that Paul is first and foremost renowned for his cover versions, because some of the strongest songs here are actually the ones he has co-written. 'Together' and especially 'Right About Now' are dynamic, steaming songs on which French super drummer Manu Katché does some of the best playing I've heard. The album as a whole has a great and varied sound, and with the selection of top drawer musicians helping Paul out, it's no wonder that it is such a pleasure to listen to. Other highlights are 'Calling You', which is soooo much better than the original with its ethereal atmosphere and stunning harmonica solo from Stevie Wonder, the breathtaking 'Softly Whispering I Love You', and 'Heaven Can Wait' with Neil Conti (ex-Prefab Sprout) on drums and Chaka Khan on backing vocals. In short, one of my favourite records.

Oh Girl won Mr Young attention here in the US, but it's not the only reason to purchase this cd. Softly Whispering I Love You is haunting. I love Right About Now and Our Time has Come. Lending support to this album are Chaka Khan, Steve Winwood, Dave Gilmour, Martin Page, and Stevie Wonder - not a group to sneeze at.

There is musical maturity here. Who can't love a guy who dedicates his album to his daughter?! Great production in my opinion, but then again I LOVE that voice!

I am a long time Paul young fan & have all of his albums including the imports. "Other Voices" has always been my most favorite because in my opinion, it is perfect from beginning to end. It shows Paul in peak form & he has never sounded better than he does here. It has everything that a great pop album should have. Whether it's lush soulful ballads like "Calling you" & "oh girl" or great mid-tempo songs like "Right about now" & "Heaven can wait" or Awesome hard rockers like "Our time has come." There's something for everyone. It's really a shame that more of these great songs never made it on the radio. They are just as good if not better than the singles that made him famous. Buy this album. You won't be disappointed!

Paul Young's r&b influence is strongly evident in OTHER VOICES. This 10 track collection is possibly Young's most consistently impressive offering. His vocals are strong, the song selection very good and backup musicians impeccable: Pino Palladino, Dave Gilmour, Wix, Steve Winwood, Pete Wingfield, Martin Page, Chaka Khan, Peter Wolf, Nile Rodgers and Stevie Wonder.
Standing out in this marvelous collection: the pulsating drive of HEAVEN CAN WAIT; his soulful rendering of the Chi-Lites OH GIRL which rivals the original; the guitar driven A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE, a harder sound for Young; Bobby Womack's jazzy STOP ON BY; the euphoric OUR TIME HAS COME with its driving Hammond organ riffs; the melodic reworking of SOFTLY WHISPERING I LOVE YOU; the infectiously haunting IT'S WHAT SHE DIDN'T SAY. But it's the album's closing track that is simply staggering: CALLING YOU, the Oscar nominated (and it should've won) song from "Bagdad Cafe". Young embellishes the brilliantly constructed tune with his best vocal, and Stevie Wonder's harmonica is perfect. A truly masterful recording.
This early nineties effort is a great addition to those who appreciate good and listenable music!