Customer Reviews

Sugar

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

SUGAR is sweet, but not as sweet as this!! This is my favorite Leon Redbone recording. I like this one just a little bit better than ON THE TRACKS, which most of his fans consider his best work. Maybe because it's new to me. If you're new to Leon you might want to start with ON THE TRACKS. If you're already a fan and don't have this, you don't know what you're missing.

This is sweet sweet Jazz music. Crooning New Orleans' Jazz Ballads and Mississippi Delta Blues is Redbone's signature style. Stand out tracks include: the spooky haunted house jive of GHOST OF THE ST. LOUIS BLUES. The beautiful lakeside croon of PRETTY BABY and WHEN I TAKE MY SUGAR TO TEA, the crazy mad cackle of LAUGHIN' BLUES, a strange Orleans Marching song called WHISTLING COLONEL complete with Leon's wonderous songbird whistle jam with a piccolo, and of course you get his soft signature yodel.

This recording is unusual in that it has a good many Orleans Jazz instrumentals without Leon singing vocals. More than I was expecting the first time I heard this. This may suprise some fans who are looking for more Leon Redbone to add to their collection. But don't let that fool you. This is a great recording. JAZZ FANS TAKE NOTE: This is one of the best modern recordings of a dying art form. This is New Orleans Jazz at it's finest. And some fine crooning to boot. No one sings quite like Leon Redbone. And I mean, NO ONE. If you have eclectic taste in music, you must have this.

A HOST OF LEON REDBONE'S FINEST RECORDING HAVE JUST BEEN RE-ISSUED BY ROUNDER. GET YOURS BEFORE THEY DISAPPEAR AGAIN. YOU WON'T BE SORRY. I also recommend UP A LAZY RIVER, RED TO BLUE, ANYTIME, ON THE TRACKS, DOUBLE TIME, FROM BRANCH TO BRANCH, and CHAMPAGNE CHARLIE. ENJOY.

Is there any other? Is there any equal? Can there be, my sugar and me, the scion of harmony! Another topper of all time great musical charms! Redbone brings the lost melodies back to life. Don't just buy this CD. Buy every Redbone you can. There will never be another in our lifetime.

I agree with the other reviewer, this is one of Leon Redbone's best albums and my favorite to listen to. I prefer it to "On the Track," not because the individual songs are necessarily better (some are!)on "Sugar," but becasue it definitely flows better as an album. However, it is difficult to compare the two albums, because "On the Track" is more bluesy than this album, which has New Orleans jazz flavor throughout.

And Leon Redbone really gets a smooth sound on this record. Every song is a downright pleasure. "So, Relax" is a great song (and an original composition), perhaps a Leon Redbone musical manifesto. "When I Take My Sugar to Tea" is a particularly fine performance, but you could say that about every song here. "14th Street Blues," though Leon Redbone does not sing (or even whistle), is an absolutely perfect piece of music.

If you're looking at the reviews of this album, do yourself a favor and buy it. This will give you endless hours of enjoyment. But even though this may be Leon Redbone's best album, you can't buy just one. As others note, this music is strangely addictive, and you will find yourself wanting more and more of his albums, so be forewarned.

I have seen Leon many times live and also have talked in length
to him over a drink or two. This Cd is just great. I love 14 st blues it flows like butter.

I saw his performance when I was at "Johnny Carson's show" as an audience many many years ago. That was extremely great and I immediately became big fan of Leon. Since then, I have listened his musics very often. His songs make me relax very well. You see his voice and musics very often in several t.v. commercials.

An obscure fact: in the book "The English Patient" - but not in the movie based on the book - the song that Hannah is playing on the piano that draws Kirpal Singh (the Sikh bomb defuser) to the villa is "When I Take My Sugar To Tea." Another fact: There is no finer rendition of "When I Take My Sugar To Tea" than Leon Redbone's! I love this CD! Leon Redbone's sound is truly unique. He plays fine old tunes and somehow delivers the "grammaphone" quality in the music. If you want to hear piano tunes that will transport you back to the early part of the 20th century, then Leon Redbone is for you.

the slower numbers on this disc make excellent late night listening with the volume turned up and a glass of port beside the open fire.

This is my favorite Leon Redbone album. So much so that I had "14th Street Blues" played at my Navy retirement ceremony instead of "Anchors Aweigh."

Leon's style lends itself so well to his old-timey selections - and the outstanding musicians accompanying each recording produce absolutely phenomenal results.

"Sugar" is a great introduction to this reclusive but oh-so-talented musician.

Highly recommended!

I can't tell you how many times I've listened to this CD but I'm about ready to buy another copy. I've worn it out for crying out loud! Leon is at the top of his game here and it shows. If you've been to any of his live shows and never bought one of his CDs,... this should be the one. It's great singing, playing and terrific songs from beginning to end. It will leave you with a sly smile on your face as you whistle down the hallway. Buy it!