Customer Reviews

Sayin Hello to the Folks

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

 

 

of looking at the power of Jules Shears talent. Far too long between outings, "Sayin Hello" brings the joy back to listening to music without relying on the tired playlists of anyone's favorite radio station.
It's more than a breath of fresh air to hear Jules' croon such great songs. I didn't know anyone else remembered the Dave Clark Five...or Roger Miller!!
This album reminds me of the many times I've gotten out the old LPs to make my own driving CDs...nothing better than choosing your personal favorites to belt out at the top of your lungs while cruising down the road...and you can hear Jules doing just that.
All I need now is a chance to see Jules in concert again...C'mon, bud...Philly's waiting!

Jules' newest set is as eclectic as his work has been over the years. In addition to being an original songwriter and musician, he's also a music fan. His selection of covers spans a wide range of material, mostly obscure, which adds to the charm of the set. The opener "Got to Have a Reason" by Dave Clark 5 is one of the more familiar tunes. Jules lets it bubble with great energy. "In the Summertime" was on Bob Dylan's 1981 "Shot of Love" and is given great gusto with Jules' happytime reading. Roger Miller's "Husbands & Wives" always was a sad tune; and Jules nails the anxiety levels on this tear-in-your-beer favorite. Jules does an extended talk intro on Joe Tex's "It Ain't Gonna Work" and then belts on the soulful chorus. Jules mines back to "The Ballad of Todd Rundgren" LP from 1971 for "Be Nice to Me" with its sweet airy chorus at counterpoint with Jules' world-weary vocal, "So tired & so sad, so sick of being had by everyone who comes along." I don't think I've ever heard the Cinderellas, but the Russ Titelman-Cynthia Weill song comes across as an upbeat timepiece full of energy and innocence. Woody Guthrie's "1913 Massacre" still rings with the irony of the labor movement struggle with Jules' vocal squeezing emotion from the lyric. "Guess I'm Dumb" is a breezy Brian Wilson-penned tune that speaks to the charm of this set, finding great material that still sounds great. James Brown's "Ain't That A Groove" has a bit of a shrill quality as Jules reaches to the top of his register somewhat successfully. The closer from a Dusty Springfield LP "Breakfast in Bed" is a soulful blast. This set sounds like Jules having fun and is delightful as a result. It's not absolutely perfect. The Procol Harum cover and "Something You Got" were probably more fun for Jules than for me, but the rest of the material is well worth seeking out. Enjoy!

This is a covers album and NOT an album of new material from singer-songwriter Jules Shear.

I won't put one star in the review because Jules deserves more than that but since Amazon is making no note of this fact (and info on Jules is very hard to come by on the internet) I wanted to make fans aware.

For those of us that want new material from Jules Shear, we'll just have to keep waiting.

He sounds like a Jules who is no longer tired, who is smiling when he sings and who has buried the hatchet with former producer Todd Rundgren by covering the latter's "Be Nice To Me". Welcome back Jules - we've missed you.

Let's not even talk about poisoning the well, until we can get Jules back to it more than once every four years -- this man needs a contract, and one album a year. I'm happy. New release. Juter, I lost your email address -- just me ... "roy".