Spirit Voices

Helen / Matthewmann, Stuart / Hall, Andrew Adu (Composer), Christopher / Cann, Warren / Currie, William / Ure Allen (Composer), Jean Jacques / Cornwell, Hugh / Duffy, Brian / Gr Burnel (Composer), Peter Gabriel (Composer), Kwang-Jin Kim (Composer), Albert Hay Malotte (Composer), John Phillips (Composer), Paul Simon (Composer), Split Enz (Composer), Sting (Composer), Irish Traditional (Composer), James Warren (Composer), Bill Whelan (Composer), Brian Wilson (Composer), James Warren (Performer), Terl Bryant (Performer), Bruce Johnston (Performer), Bruce Russell (Performer), Gabriel Crouch (Performer), Nigel Short (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: James Warren, Terl Bryant, Bruce Johnston, Bruce Russell, Gabriel Crouch, et al.
• Composer: Helen / Matthewmann, Stuart / Hall, Andrew Adu, Christopher / Cann, Warren / Currie, William / Ure Allen, Jean Jacques / Cornwell, Hugh / Duffy, Brian / Gr Burnel, Peter Gabriel, Kwang-Jin Kim, et al.
• Audio CD (October 28, 1997)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003G1B
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #321,394 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not their best work, but it's OK, June 8, 2001

By	Bron Mitchell "bronm" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

As an avid King's Singers fan I know what a fantastic sound this group is capable of producing, and one of the things that attracts me most is their versatility and their enormous repertoire. From madrigals to folk songs to popular tunes, there is nothing that the King's Singers cannot do - and do well at that. And even though this recording isn't their best work, I still stand by that conviction.

I have difficulty pinpointing exactly what it is about this CD that misses the mark. It just seems to be minus that "edge", that certain special "King's Singers touch" that is evident in most of their music. Part of it might be that the majority of these songs have one person doing the lead vocals and the rest of the group subordinated to the role of back-up singers. Don't get me wrong, they still do it well, but I bought the CD to hear all of them, preferably in more or less equal amounts, not five of them singing "oohs" and "aahs" and one soloist. Mind you, this demerit is (almost) forgiven by the fact that Bob Chilcott's solo voice is gorgeous, and I have no qualms whatsoever about the gentle, lilting touch he adds to Lift the Wings and In Your Eyes. In fact, I believe his voice is the most redeeming quality of this production!

I suppose I would also prefer this CD if there were more a cappella items (I think there are only 2, possibly 3), and they would do well to lose the guest lead vocalists whom they introduced for four of the songs. While it's always nice to see artists collaborating, I would take the King's Singers over the others any day!

My favourite tracks on here are most definitely the first four but, although I hate to say it, the whole calibre of the recording goes downhill from there. Vienna is just strange, and The Lord's Prayer, the final song on the CD, is so woeful I could barely stand to listen to it right through! Everything else falls into the "yeah, it's OK I guess" category - pleasant to listen to but not overly inspiring.

On balance, I'm glad I purchased it, but for those who are just beginning to love the King's Singers, a word of advice: If you want to hear this group sing contemporary music, Good Vibrations is a far superior album.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pop Music re-invented... in complete harmony!, February 23, 1999

By A Customer

This one is a real winner. I never thought The King's Singers could put pop music to a higher level. Classic songs from Crowded House, Peter Gabriel, Sade, Sting, The Beach Boys, Paul Simon and others are given wonderful new interpretations. This album has gotten me hooked, now I need to great the works from this fantastic group.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Charming collection, January 26, 2008

By	S. M. Ferguson (Grew up in St. Paul's Crocus Hill, now in New Jersey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album doesn't seem that typical of The King's Singers, but I found it charming and listenable. If you take your analytical hat off, release your prejudices and just let their interpretations carry your thoughts and feelings, you'll find it a very pleasant journey.