Sweet Beginnings [Import]

Marlena Shaw | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 13, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sony Japan
• ASIN: B00005HTE3
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #526,618 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Pictures And Memories

2. Yu-Ma

3. Go Away Little Boy

4. The Writing On The Wall

5. Walk Softly

6. Sweet Beginnings

7. Look At Me Look At You (Were Flying)

8. No Deposit No Return

9. Johnny

10. I Think Ill Tell Him

Editorial Reviews

Japanese edition of the 'quiet storm' vocalist's (once the most popular female vocalist at Blue Note) 1977 album for Columbia. Considered one of her best it includes her hit cover of Gerry Goffin & Carole King's 'Go Away Little Boy'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent, May 1, 2010

By 

Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber Print DJ ... (Mahwah, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sweet Beginnings (Audio CD)

Soul singers, except for Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, George Clinton, the heavies, are not inventors. They go where the music does.

As goes Marlina Shaw. Shaw did a fantastic album in the late 1960s called Spice of Life which had soul, jazz, and a terrific cover of the 5Ds "California Soul."

Roll your CD player up a decade, and we have Sweet Beginnings. This is a commercial album, but given streamlined late 1970s soul, this is good. Here we have a little jazz inflecting work, some disco, and some nice torch song.

But what makes it all work, well, is Shaw's taste. This album walks a thin rope down the mainstream middle, avoiding extremes such as the syrup bath of How 'Bout Us by Champaign, the Big Easy whip crack of Labelle's Lady Marmalade, or the experiments of George Clinton.

Shaw has, like all great singers, an actors pacing and drama, and she makes the right choices each time out. She is able to make the soul sweet and not sappy, and her voice is crisp, direct and unaffected. So even when she covers what would be lounge of a lesser talent, "Go Away Little Boy," Shaw keeps it light jazz, great light jazz, and it works to a tee.

Great album

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb jazzy soul beautifully remastered, August 21, 2011

By 

barry (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sweet Beginnings (Audio CD)

Marlena Shaw has always been a strong willed versatile female vocalist who can tackle a multitude of genres to huge success. Her standard style is as a true jazz singer and there is a hint of jazz in all her songs whatever the genre. SWEET BEGINNINGS from 1977 was Marlena's first release with Columbia and is very succesful at showing the great and diverse talent this woman possesses. The album opens with PICTURES AND MEMORIES a soulful uptempo track that rings with r@b and jazz touches. Then we move onto the album highlight which is her take of GO AWAY LITTLE BOY. This song has classic all over it and she rings out every emotion as she caresses this jazzy story song for almost 7 minutes. It is here that her true mastery of the craft is shown. The title track and THE WRITING'S ON THE WALL both show her tackling strong uptempo r@b tinged tracks. Excellent. LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT YOU and JOHNNY totally change things with their light and airy sound that provide an amazing backdrop for very sensual performances from Ms. Shaw. WALK SOFTLY is a lovely ballad. The album closes with a joyous uptempo jazz track I THINK I'LL TELL HIM that is true Marlena Shaw. This peppy number is actually about a woman talking about telling her man she has cheated and she is thrilled. And this is what Marlena Shaw does. Her personality is in the forefront as she owns each song with emotive ability. She lives each song and this album provides many styles which she tackles in amazing voice.

The album is a tour de force from beginning to end and BBR presents it here on cd beautifully remastered with a bonus track and extensive liner notes. A great musical package. This cd is a must have. This is not just a great jazz/soul album from the 70s but rather a cd from one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time. If you know of Marlena Shaw a purchase is a no brainer and if this is your first introduction you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SWEET, SEXY, SASSY AND SOULFUL !!!., September 27, 2011

By 

Ian Moodie "MR CELESTIAL" (MIAMI FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sweet Beginnings (Audio CD)

I became aware of MARLENA SHAW'S amazing style and ability by the thought provoking and haunting song "GHETTO CHILD", which realy got me hooked!!.
Her style is so unique...the monologues...her crystal clear voice...which can go up and down the scales in an instant...her versatility is similar to AL JARREAU!!.
Thanks, this wonderful album,which is perhaps her very best is at last now available on a fully digitised compact disc, with a top class inlay card loaded with outstanding liner notes, well presented!!.
This sassy album, perfect from top to bottom, kicks off with the sad yet lively "PICTURES AND MEMORIES",real sweet!!, then comes the ultimate track.."YU-MA/GO AWAY LITTLE BOY"!!. This cut have it all!!..sweet, sexy, sassy and indeed soulful!!. Mayhaps MARLENA SHAW'S greatest record!!. IT's my most loved MARLENA song!!. This is drama at it's best!!.
Next is "THE WRITINGS ON THE WALL", as lively as ever!!. "WALK SOFTLY" is a sad pretty ballard, I love this one too!. Things get busy again with the title tract.."SWEET BEGINNINGS", real sweet and uptempo. The jazz in her realy comes out in the breezy "LOOK AT ME,LOOK AT YOU(WE'RE FLYING)",well done, a favourite!!.
Another jazzy piece is the swinging/dipping "NO DEPOSIT,NO RETURN",this one will wake you up!!. "JOHNNY" is a mellow ballard refering to a very special friend in a fantasy manner..smooth..MARLENA finishes off with the lively,jazzy, yet very brazen.."I THINK I'LL TELL HIM", here, she cheats and is summoning the courage to tell him!! that's guts!!!. I love it!!. The single version of "PICTURES AND MEMORIES" is added as a bonus tract.
IF a fan, it is already under lock and key in your private stock!!, if not,please reserve your copy today...highly recomended.. It will quickly become one of your favouries...just as it is one of mines...