Customer Reviews

Sweet Harmony/Open: Your Eyes

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While Maria Muldaur's solo debut album was a brilliant piece of work, it was with her third recording "Sweet Harmony" that she hit her stride. An eclectic mix of musical styles that swept its way through many genres, "Sweet Harmony" was (and is) nothing short of brilliant. The title track is simply a beautiful rendition of the Smokey Robinson song. The harmonies that accompany Muldaur (courtesy of Linda Ronstadt, Wendy Waldman, and others) are mesmerizing. The song builds and builds until it sends one into a trance like state. It's easily one of my favorite tracks from any album. Kate McGarrigle's "Lying Song" is a terrific song to begin with ("Let me ask you if you know, the story of a puppet Pinocchio? He had a habit that caused his wooden nose, to grow and grow and grow") and Muldaur, who was an early champion of the McGarrigles, delivers it perfectly. The album has a fair amount of 30's and 40's sounds to it. "We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye" and Hoagy Carmichael's "Rockin' Chair" (featuring Hoagy himself on vocals with Muldaur) are perfect renditions of these pieces. They keep true to the originals while keeping themselves firmly planted in the here and now.The two ballads by Wendy Waldman are bittersweet and heartfelt songs that add gravity to the album. "Jon The Generator" is one of those "romp" type songs that Muldaur always excelled at. Add to all of that Neil Sedaka's "Sad Eyes" , Smokey McAllister's "I Can't Stand It" and the Rev. W. H. Brewster's "As An Eagle Stirreth In Her Nest" (with a tip of the hat to The Staple Singers) and it all adds up to a classic. One wonders how such diverse material could possibly hang together and make a coherent album. Therein is where the greatness of this recording is found. The work flows seamlessly from style to style without missing a beat and feels wholly natural.
"Open Your Eyes", while less successful, still has it's moments. "Birds Fly South" (with Stevie Wonder on harmonica) is wonderful as is the Burn's Sisters "Finally Made Love To A Man". Here Muldaur records for the second time "Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be), a song which has been one the staples of her career. Also notable is her take on the Betty Wright classic "Clean Up Woman" and Rory Block's "Love Is Everything". Perhaps the highlight of the album is David Nichtern's "Elona" a lovely jazz tinged ballad about lonliness which Muldaur would keep in her repertoire and rerecord again later in her career.

A lot of people consider Maria's first 3 albums her best, and this is her third (and hardest to find for awhile). Sweet Harmony is probably Maria Muldaur's best album (unless it's in a tie with Waitress In A Donut Shop). It benefits from an excellent song selection that hopscotches from one genre to another, while the album retains its own personality and good dynamic flow. I play this all the way through every time, and it keeps interesting due to all the different textures, has many high points, and leaves the listener with a satisfied feeling. If you are a fan who has yet to hear this album, get it while it's available because it's a seriously worthy addition to your Muldaur collection, and who knows if availability will get spotty.

Others have done a good job of describing the songs, but my favorite is "Sweet Harmony" itself, which is a really incredible uplifting performance which I've been waiting to hear on CD now for years.

As for Open Your Eyes, it's a more pop effort which I'm not too fond of, although it still has several enjoyable tracks. The feel is quite different. The piano often reflects a certain Elton John sensibility known to that era. I consider it a bonus disc to the excellent Sweet Harmony album.

Maria continues to make great recordings that are well worth checking out. Recent CDs I'd recommend include Meet Me Where They Play The Blues, Love Wants To Dance, and Richland Woman Blues.

Maria Muldaur's first three solo albums were produced by Lenny Waronker and Joe Boyd and represent a musical hat trick that few artists can claim. Having the last--and best--of these three recordings (Sweet Harmony) available at last on CD is a dream come true. This is Maria Muldaur's finest moment on disk, and not until Richland Woman's Blues a few years ago did she again produce something nearing the perfection of this record.

What is so amazing about Sweet Harmony is its musical eclecticism--a trait that Muldaur had always shown before (especially on her debut), but not taken to the heights she achieves here. Yet the album feels of a piece, even as it jumps from genre to genre. She opens with the blue-eyed soul of the title track, one of her most blissful songs that conveys true joy. From there she goes to the easy going pop of Neil Sedaka's Sad Eyes, and then tackles Kate McGarrigle's sly, little-known romp Lying Song. She shows confidence in handling a standard like Rocking Chair (with harmony by Hoagy himself!!), and churns out We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye with the sort of close, Looney Tunes-inspired harmony singing that puts Bette Midler's Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy to shame. The album is rounded out by a couple of lovely Wendy Waldman songs (whatever happened to her?), the raw I Can't Stand It, the fun Jon the Generator, and a convincing gospel number. It's all exquisite, an album unequalled by her other, more popular peers like Raitt and Ronstadt.

I gave this album 4 stars only because it also has a second disk featuring the far-inferior album Open Your Eyes, produced by Patrick Henderson and David Nichtern. It's a game effort to recapture some of the spirit of the Waronker/Boyd albums, after she turned out the disastrous rock effort Southern Winds. But the material is inferior, and her voice sounds like it's somewhat the worse for wear after tackling the dreck on her previous record. However, there are a few nice things here, including yet another take on one of her favorites, Lover Man (though it is inferior to the version she did on her duet album with Geoff Muldaur), and a cover of the classic Clean Up Woman. Buy this for Sweet Harmony, and see why Maria Muldaur was--and is--one of the most underrated singers of our time.

Its great to get to listen to this period of Maria Muldaur's

long and adventurous career. There are many highlights on both

collections, I was more familiar with "SWEET HARMONY" and my favorites Sad eyes and of course, the

title track , great recordings. Every release from Maria during

the 70's found her tack'ling some obscure pieces of music from

another era, always done with class, she was different but

back then there were so many talented female singers interpreting musical styles from all over the place,(Bonnie Raitt, Phoebe Snow, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris) to name

a few, back then all you had to do was show up at a weekend party and one of these talented singers music was playing on the turntable. I think Maria has only

gotten better in the 90's right to the present, her vocals have

such a bluesy, deeper sigh and she is a strong belter, never

afraid to cover the blues, jazz, R & B, a sexy ballard or funky spirituals. One of our great singers. Money well spend. I'd like them to release

all her collections from this period into the 80's.

Full marks from me! I do agree fully with the other reviewers here. This recording sounds as great today as it ever did. I love it and from what I have heard of Maria Muldaur, I'd say it's her best album to date.
I can't say I like the 'Open your Eyes' CD much (I haven't given it much of a chance, but first impressions were not very convincing), but no matter, 'Sweet Harmony' is the reason for me buying this and I'm glad it's available again.

Found this long-out-of-print CD while browsing Amazon's Music catalog. Couldn't believe it was available. Met Maria Muldaur one time and told her about not being able to replace a ruined album from ages ago. Great to hear that sweet voice again. It even came with a second disc that I'd never heard. What a good deal!

Maria's bonding with a lifelong favorite writer on "Sweet Hatmony"- was and is a great joy. Hoagy Carmichael sings with her on "Rocking Chair" They made each other happy,and that was and is contagious to a fan of both.

I thank Wounded Bird Records for reissuing these two wonderful albums by Maria Muldaur who is by far among our finest singers. She really deserves to be better known than she is but like others who have had radio hits, like Melanie with "Brand New Key" and Janis Ian with "At Seventeen", one gets pegged for their hit song. Maria transcends her "Midnight At the Oasis" hit on "Sweet Harmony" and the song is sheer magic. It is incredibly beautiful! This album has a wide range of treasures such as her homage to the 30s act, The Boswell Sisters, in covering their wonderful song, "We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye". It maintains the flavour of the era and it is a standout song for me. Maria rocks on "I Can't Stand It" and the album ends with another beautiful track, "As An Eagle Stirreth In Her Nest". Wisely, these two albums are on separate CDs. "Open Your Eyes" is a fine album but quite different from "Sweet Harmony". I have not come to know it yet but I know as I become familiar with it, I will love it. "Birds Fly South" is a sublime song. Maria is more soulful on the second album. It is a true treat that these albums are available on CD! After all, Maria Muldaur is a true artist and I am grateful that the majority of her work has been reissued. This is a two CD disc set not to be overlooked. I cannot recommend this set highly enough.