Customer Reviews

Sometimes When We Touch

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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I was a fan from the word go, or rather when she set her foot on American soil. I have seen her live many times at Wolftrap near DC and she always amazes me with her talent. The fluidness of this music and he handling that CLeo gives this music are little slices of heaven. She can be brassy, or breathy, warm or clipped. Either way she has class and talent. One of the things I like especially about Cleo is that she knows how to handle a song, or the approach to take, it is always right on que. I have even met the lady and she is gracious. I believe her recording of Sometimes When We Touch, makes other versions, including the one who made it famous, seem small and dated. After Cleo is through with that song, it is an instant classic. Buy the album, if you love CLeo, you will adore this CD. Now on the other hand if you are not familiar with Cleo and need to get your feet wet first, BUY THIS CD. Its great for new commers. Trust me, it will stay in your CD tray for a long time.

I've been a fan of Cleo Laine's for a long time. This teaming with James Galway is fantastic. The choice of songs if perfect for the two of them and arrangements by John Dankworth (Dame Cleo's husband) are smooth and lend themselves to Galway's dancing flute. Favorite cuts of mine are "Skylark", John Denver's composition "Like A Sad Song", "Drifting & Dreaming" and the title cut "Sometimes When We Touch". I'm a songwriter/singer and I wish Dame Cleo would sing one of mine-she's outstanding!

This album is beatiful music...the jazz element is not very evident in these arrangements. DRIFTING, DREAMING is written by Eric Satie, HOW, WHEN, WHERE is the famous Pachebel Cannon. James toots his flute on THE FLUTERS BALL and Galway and Laine soar on LO,HOW THE GENTLE LARK. ANYONE CAN WHISTLE is a Sondheim classic. This is a different album but a very worthwhile one to listen to.

Check out CLEO LAINE and her husband John Dankworth.

This disc is worth having just for the neat coupling of the Carmichael and Shakespeare songs, "Skylark" and "Lo! Here (not hear) the gentle lark.." from Venus and Adonis. Quite beautiful. Unlike another reviewer I do also enjoy the scat version of Percy French's "Phil the Fluter's Ball"!

I've been a devoted fan of Cleo Laine since I first saw her and her husband, John Dankworth, in concert in the mid-70s and was amazed by her incredible vocal range and loved the primarily jazz repertoire. In my opinion, there is no other artist who can outperform her in that medium. This collaboration with James Galway is a change from her usual style and yet is delivered in an engagingly appealing fashion that I found to be delightfully charming.

From the very first song, 'Drifting, Dreaming' to the last, a lovely rendition of John Denver's 'Like A Sad Song', Cleo and James perform beautifully together, and as usual, Cleo becomes the song itself. A few songs are slightly out of place in the lineup but I can understand why they were included - 'The Fluter's Ball' showcases James' talents extremely well. 'Lo! Hear The Gentle Lark' is a perfect example of Cleo's phenomenal vocal range. I especially love Cleo's renditions of 'Sometimes When We Touch' and 'Consuelo's Love Theme'. Okay, I confess. I love the entire album - all of it - every track! My favorites? - I think the compelling 'How, Where, When?' and the lovely, beguiling 'Keep Loving Me'. I'd be first in line to buy a sequel to this wonderful album.

I purchased the LP of 'Sometimes When We Touch' over 20 years ago, the CD only recently because I love the music and play it all the time. This is becoming difficult to find but the search is well worth the effort. This CD would be an excellent addition to a Cleo Laine or James Galway collection!

I first purchased this collection in 1980. I liked the original version of "Sometimes When We Touch" by Dan Hill. I was curious to how Cleo Laine would interpret this piece. What a pleasant surprise to hear a much superior version of a song I already liked very much. The first selection "Drifting, Dreaming" is a utopian moment of lovemaking in a cloud. Anyone who is familiar with Erik Satie's Gymnopedie No 1 (and its inspiration) will really appreciate what Cleo and James did here. The voice, the lyrics, the music and arrangements all come together as if in a lovely daydream. "Sometimes When We Touch" has some of the most touching and personal lyrics from the late 70's. We were in the middle of the disco craze, and meaningful lyrics were pretty much left to early part of that decade. Cleo's version has clarity and emotion. I'm sure Dan Hill was quite pleased to hear his song done so beautifully. "Play it Again, Sam" ok, but not a favorite of mine. "Skylark," the title says it all. A gentle breeze on a steamy summer day. "How, Where, When?" I love the forward momentum of this piece. Pushes and pushes you somewhere, but where? Almost an intellectual piece in its abstract use of language. Cleo does a splendid job of making simple lyrics into such a movement of thought and feeling. "The Fluter's Ball" I hate this song and this type of music. It stirs not an emotion (I want to feel) nor a thought (I want to think). The only feeling and thought I have when I hear this piece is to turn it off. "Consuelo's Theme" puts this CD back on track. This is really more a classical piece than a pop piece. Her voice is an instrument. When I hear this piece I recall the 60's instrumental "Love Is Blue". My whole body fills with emotion when I hear this piece. It could go on and on and on. "Keep Loving Me" another gentle gem. "Anyone Can Whistle" ok. "Still Was the Night" James Galway is great here. He and Cleo really blend well throughout the CD but especially on this piece. They really weave into one another here. "Lo! Hear the Gentle Lark" better than ok, but not much. "Like A Sad Song" as in "Sometimes When We Touch" Cleo took a terrific song and made it even more terrific. Every word is clear. Her voice is always simmering with emotion. Set your CD player to play tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 & 12...and Lo! Hear the Gentle Lark.

Cleo Laine and James Galway have produced a wonderful album of songs in which there is not a single dud. The whole recording is brilliant, but there is a special place in our hearts for Skylark. Hoagy Carmichael's song has been sensitively arranged and performed by two of Britain's finest musicians.

John Dankworth and the rest of the band complement them superbly.

It is now approaching 30 years since it was recorded, and sounds as fresh as when it was made.

Highly recommended