Customer Reviews

Rashida

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lucien's early 70's work, "Rashida" may be his best ever. The album flows as though it were one song with ocean sounds linking some pieces, childrens happy voices at play others - even silences sing on this haunting, deeply romantic journey to the regions of love lost and heart felt passion. The full range of Lucien's brilliant voice is given play here - and each note strikes deep into our most secret regions. Prepare to be taken on a journey of reflection, pain, and ultimately to the full joy that is love.

I saw Jon Lucien live in Redondo Beach around the time Listen Love was released. This guy sounds better in person under bright lights and a microphone than he does on record.... And very few artists past or present can make that claim.

With a voice so rich, mellow and low that it's hard to imagine anything emanating from a man that outwardly appears so frail and drawn.

Rashida was my first introduction to the music Jon Lucien. If it were possible to capture the essence of romance, beauty, unrequited love and longing on vinyl - This was/is it!

It is a classic!

If you can find a long out of print copy of the "Many Moods of Jon Lucien" for under a hundred dollars, it's worth buying. It contains many of the gems collected from his RCA recordings.

I have been a huge fan of Jon Lucien since my parents listened to his music in the 70s. I even have a daughter named Rashida. This album is truly inspiring. You can't rely define his music as jazz or put it into a category since it reflects a style all its on. This is the type of music you listen to while laying back on the beach or relaxing at home...wishing you were at the beach!

I saw Jon at the Jazz Cafe in London recently and I have to say that recording don't do his voice justice he really is something else live.

This is one of Jon's most remembered albums on the other side of the pond for the mid-tempo classic "Would you believe in me" but this album is so much more. Love Everlasting is the kind of track you can imagine listening to on a sun soaked beach around sunset with your loved one a sheer joy to listen to. There is also the dark and moody "The War Song" with intelligent use of strings and bass and Jon's emotive line "Mother's crying young boy's dying hip hooay now, hip hooray". There is so much pleasure that can be derived from this CD all I can say is just buy it.

I love listening to the smooth relaxing voice of Jon Lucien. Wonderful jazz ballads with a Caribbean style. Beautiful vocals.

Are you a big music collector? Do you ever smack yourself in the head--years of collecting and yet you can't believe how long you have gone without knowing about a great musician.

That was my reaction today hearing Rashida by Jon Lucien: an album that I picked up in a handful and let sit at the bottom of the pile too long.

Lucien to me has the elegance of Terry Collier. The musical association I make is loose, but both singers have well written material and use a deep, rich, subtle singing style. Sublime as a butterscotch Life Saver.

But Collier works an orchestral folk. Lucien's vehicle is a smooth, tropical funk soul-at least that is a superficial way to introduce you to his backdrops.

This does not, however, do the music justice. You really have to hear how all the edges, including Lucien's singing, are perfectly varnished to create a silky but complex feel. Smooth does not mean slick, and this deep music will offer many layers to pierce as you continue to listen. I assure you this will not be a task after a first play.

I recall my dad telling me as a child about this song & playing it for me. I am named after the song "Rashida", I have always loved the song and I am thankful to know the meaning of this swahili/arabic name. Jon Lucien will be missed but his music lives on in me & the many other "Rashida's" and true believers of his amazing music!!

This album has become one of my favorites and I have a very large lp collection. It's exceedingly romantic and stylish, and never boring. His music is often centered on Brazilian rhythms which blend well with his deep tone, yearning, but cool temperament. You can also hear his island roots in his vocal delivery. Of course, this is all weaved in between soul, jazz, acoustic guitar, and lush string arrangements. The amalgamation is almost a genre in itself within which this album stands at the pinnacle. It is a personal favorite not just for its quality but for how well it encourages my romantic instincts.

I would also like to mention that Mr. Lucien took the time to answer a fan email from me a couple years before he passed. I'm confident his musical legacy will endure. Start with this album and spread the word.

I LOVE YOU JON MAY PEACE BE WITH YOU. I FELL IN LOVE WITH JON WHEN MY OLDER SISTER DRAGGED ME TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPIA TO SEE HIM. I EVEN NAMED MY DAUGHTER RASHIDA WHICH IN ARABIC MEANS RIGHTIOUSLY GUIDED AND IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE SONG! SIR LUCIEN IS NOW WITH THE ANGELS AND NOW IN A HEAVENLY CHOIR.I PRAY TO SOMEDAY JOIN HIM IN PARADISE SO THAT I MAY HEAR HIS ANGELIC VOICE ONCE MORE. I HAD THIS CD AND IT WAS STOLEN FROM ME BUT I DO NOT CARE HOW MUCH IT COST BECAUSE TO ME IT IS PRICELESS AND WORTH TEN TIMES THAT AMOUNT! MAY GOD BLESS YOU , MY LOVE, SALIMA!

Over this past weekend I was going through some old vinyls and stumbled across Jon Lucien's 'Rashida' LP (still in pristine condition, mind you) and decided to play it on the turntable (yep, still have one of those too).

Within seconds of hearing the first few notes of the song "Kuenda", I was transported back to the innocent days of my youth (circa 1978) when I first heard the magnificent voice of Jon Lucien.

Sadly I learned today Jon's majestic voice is silent now, but his music continues to live and always will in my book! This album is what many fans say ushered Jon onto the music mainstream and I am in complete agreement.

It's to bad Amazon doesn't have sample tracks available to listen to because you'd then be able to discover for yourself what a marvelous singer Jon was and like me, find yourself forever smitten by the depth and inspiration in voice, music and song from a man whose voice could melt the coldest woman's heart.

Every track on this LP is a treasure . . . my top three are "Love Everlasting", "Rashida" and "Would You Believe In Me" . . . and never mind the hefty price (hey, it is an import after all, you know) just click on it and place it in your shopping cart anyway. I promise you won't be disappointed . . . yeah, it's that good!

There's so much more I could say about this LP . . . e.g., I owe so much to it (uhhh, the fella's will know what I'm talking about), but this post is meant to be a dedication to Jon and out of respect for Jon's family and his memory, I for one will always be and remain grateful for the beauty, passion and power of a voice even the angels above would envy. Rest in peace, my brother . . . you will be greatly missed.