Customer Reviews

Something New

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Barbi Benton's "Something New" is an extraordinary album on many levels. This is one of the pop sleeper masterpieces of the last fifty years. It should have been a giant hit, and certainly should have been recognized as the terrific collection that it is.

First, Benton's vocals standout in this collection of songs. She is a talented pop/country singer that shined in this excellently produced set. Benton is on par with Olivia Newton-John at her best. Produced by Robert Appere, the musical settings perfectly capture Benton's vocal talents.

Second, the selection of songs is first rate as you can see:

"Something New" (Andrew Gold)
"Needing You" (Chuck Jackson - Marvin Yancy)
"In The Winter" (Janis Ian)
"#1 With a Heartache" (Howard Greenfield - Neil Sedaka)
"Lucky One" (Carol Carmichael - Dean Parks)
"Riding On a Rainbow" (Milt Shaw - Bernard Bierman - Jack Manus)
"Staying Power" (Howard Greenfield - Neil Sedaka)
"Ride Baby Ride" (Mentor Williams - Charles Higgins)
"San Diego Serenade" (Tom Waits)
"He's a Rebel" (Gene Pitney)
"Thinking Of You" (Wendy Waldman)

This was not your usual album of recycled covers. There were at least four songs on this album that were worthy of Top 10 singles status: "Something New," "Needing You," "#1 With a Heartache," and "He's a Rebel." Where was the promotion that was needed at the time to break this album out of the ballpark?

Third, the cast of musicians and background vocalists is a mini-encyclopedia of the top rate session players of the time: Ben Benay, Steve Cropper, Craig Doerge, Ken Edwards, Chuck Findley, Andrew Gold, Jimmie Haskell, Davey Johnstone, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Dee Murray, James Newton Howad, Nigel Olsson, Billy Payne, Brenda Russell, Brian Russell, Lee Sklar, Sneaky Pete, Robert Wachtel, and Richie Zito. You know that you're in for a class act when listening to these musicians.

Should you ever be fortunate enough to find this album, by all means purchase it. You will never regret it.

Barbi Benton's "Something New" is an extraordinary album on many levels. This is one of the pop sleeper masterpieces of the last fifty years. It should have been a giant hit, and certainly should have been recognized as the terrific collection that it is.

First, Benton's vocals standout in this collection of songs. She is a talented pop/country singer that shined in this excellently produced set. Benton is on par with Olivia Newton-John at her best. Produced by Robert Appere, the musical settings perfectly capture Benton's vocal talents.

Second, the selection of songs is first rate as you can see:

"Something New" (Andrew Gold)
"Needing You" (Chuck Jackson - Marvin Yancy)
"In The Winter" (Janis Ian)
"#1 With a Heartache" (Howard Greenfield - Neil Sedaka)
"Lucky One" (Carol Carmichael - Dean Parks)
"Riding On a Rainbow" (Milt Shaw - Bernard Bierman - Jack Manus)
"Staying Power" (Howard Greenfield - Neil Sedaka)
"Ride Baby Ride" (Mentor Williams - Charles Higgins)
"San Diego Serenade" (Tom Waits)
"He's a Rebel" (Gene Pitney)
"Thinking Of You" (Wendy Waldman)

This was not your usual album of recycled covers. There were at least four songs on this album that were worthy of Top 10 singles status: "Something New," "Needing You," "#1 With a Heartache," and "He's a Rebel." Where was the promotion that was needed at the time to break this album out of the ballpark?

Third, the cast of musicians and background vocalists is a mini-encyclopedia of the top rate session players of the time: Ben Benay, Steve Cropper, Craig Doerge, Ken Edwards, Chuck Findley, Andrew Gold, Jimmie Haskell, Davey Johnstone, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Dee Murray, James Newton Howad, Nigel Olsson, Billy Payne, Brenda Russell, Brian Russell, Lee Sklar, Sneaky Pete, Robert Wachtel, and Richie Zito. You know that you're in for a class act when listening to these musicians.

Should you ever be fortunate enough to find this album, by all means purchase it. You will never regret it.