Customer Reviews

Out of the Blues

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

 

 

The first time I listen to the CD was at a audio video studio meant for evluating AV system, the purity of her singing just floated around me and you can almost feel the musicians on stage too. Well the ironic titled 'Am I Blue' 2nd track is really a true bluest number, the pianist is lovely. And when the 4th track 'Call it Stormy Monday' got done I am fully decided this is one of the 'must have' CD to get. Certainly, after listening to male blue artistes favorite like Robert Cray, Roben Ford, and Eric Clapton all the time it is time for enjoying a good feminine blues vocalist, and I will recommend this CD to any true blues music loving fan.

In February 1998 or 99, on our annual anniversary trip, my wife and I flew to San Francisco, rented a car, and slowly made our way up the coast road. After several lovely, rainy, winter days, we ended up on Mendicino. We picked a pleasant, quaint-looking restaurant/cafe for dinner. We tend to eat early to avoid crowds and had the place to ourselves for a while. The ambience was perfect. Soft rain outside and a soft lighting inside and, on the stereo, a familiar voice from the past singing beautiful music. Rita Coolidge. I hadn't heard her in years. And, unlike some of the material of her younger days, here was haunting, thoughtful music that is belonged alongside the Bill Evans and Ella Fitzgerald that I've started to listen to in recent years. Magical. I had the waiter dig out the CD case and bought a copy of OUt of the Blues as soon as I got home.

This CD is a great Jazz CD. Rita was 25 years ahead of her time (of Pop singers recording Jazz standards) as the first nine songs on this CD were recorded in 1975 with Barbara Carroll on Piano (along with Chuck Domanico on Bass, Mike Utley on Organ, Dean Parks on Guitar and Colin Bailey on Drums). Colin Bailey is famous for his drumming with The Vince Guaraldi Trio. In the liner notes Rita writes about the connection she made with Barbara during the recording of this CD and that is evident in the results. Each song from the 1975 sessions is a gem, especially the moody ballads "Mean To Me", "Am I Blue" and "The Man I Love". Equally fine are her renditions of Ray Charles "Hallelujah I Love Him So" and Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me". What makes the Ray Charles and Sam Cooke songs even better is that they're performed with the same simple arrangements as the other songs; she doesn't use them as a sidetrip to a more uptempo sound. She sticks to the mood of the whole album. I'd give this CD 5 stars, but the two cuts from 1995 are not of the same caliber - they're more Top 40 tunes given the Jazz treatment. They're not bad, they're just not as good as the first nine songs. A fine voice performing fine songs.

Some of these funky blue songs ("Am I Blue" & "Mean to Me") were released on other Rita's albums, but this collection contains all songs from that 1975 session. One wonders why this collection wasn't released sooner, because Rita never sounded better!

Not only does she sing "Mean to Me" better than anyone else, she also takes the classic Sam Cooke song "Bring It On Home" and gives it a different "bluesy" feel. And needless to say, her rendition of Ray Charles' "Hallelujah I Love Her So" is worth the price of this CD!

One of Rita's finest collections.

Rita Coolidge's "Out of the Blues" is a delightful set that sits along some recently released CDs of standards by Linda Rondstadt, Carly Simon and Alison Moyet to participate in a great revival of timeless music. "Mean to Me" opens with Barbara Carrol's great bluesy piano percolating the piece. Rita's version ranks well with Billie Holiday's & Bette Midler's versions of "Am I Blue" for sheer enjoyment. Carrol's blue piano smokes, making us happy to be sad. "Hallelujah I Love Him So" is a great Ray Charles classic that Coolidge slows a tad that builds into a jazz riot. Kris Kristofferson, who was a big part of Rita's life when this was recorded, wrote "For the Good Times" that ages well with Rita's smoky voice caressing the melody in the saddest of ways. Peggy Lee did "Black Coffee" so delightfully; here Rita does a great smoky version. I'm not sure why the composers are listed differently from Sonny Burke because this is obviously the same melody & lyric, but it's a great tune. Rita gets her groove on with Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home to Me" and the beauty of her lovely voice shines through on this great track. With several excellent recent CDs, Brenda Russell is again one of my favorites. This collaboration "When the Night Rolls In" is pretty melody that fits seamlessly into this set. The title track is also a bluesy smoker. This is an excellent set not to be missed! Enjoy!

I love blues and I love Rita. What a joy to find Rita singing just the blues. Her rich, warm voice is perfect for the blues.

If you like the blues sung to you by a beautiful woman, this albulm is a must! Her renditions of "For the Good Times" and "Nobody Wins" are worth the whole price, but she'll grab your heart with each song.