Taken

Rhonda Vincent | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: INGROOVES
• ASIN: B003YKVGJ2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,963 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #97 in Music > Country > Bluegrass > General

Editorial Reviews

2010 release from the new Queen Of Bluegrass. Taken features special guests Dolly Parton, Richard Marx, Little Roy Lewis, and The Next Best Thing, along with versatile and accomplished instrumental support from The Rage. An engaging personality that blends down-home sincerity with big-city style has put Rhonda Vincent at the very forefront of Bluegrass music's continuing resurgence. A dynamic and tireless performer onstage, Vincent has captured all the power of her live performances on Taken. From evocative ballads to uptempo barnstormers, Taken brings together the best of the classic and modern, and is a vivid testament to Rhonda Vincent's superior status as a bandleader, vocalist, and instrumentalist.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice Bluegrass sound!!, October 2, 2010

By 

James Moulton (Abington,Pa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Taken (Audio CD)

This is a nicely produced bluegrass record that has a bit of a pop sound, and I miss some banjo pickin', It is good that she has some sessions players back again, really makes for a better disc.
Only problem I see is that the songs sound familiar, nothing really sticks out. It sounds like something I have heard before.
My favorite Vincent CD is Rhondas "One Step Ahead

I just find that it really does a great bluegrass sound and is a great recording.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vincent Has "Taken" Our Breath Away With Her New Disc, September 22, 2010

By 

Timothy Yap "thy4568" (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Taken (Audio CD)

Prime Cuts: Taken, Back on My Mind, A Little at a Time

As purveyor for of making bluegrass palpable to a younger generation, Rhonda Vincent is a prime ambassador. Rightly so, Vincent has gone all out to prove that bluegrass is not retro music for the generation passed. And this time she has visually placarded her belief by dressing herself in a tiny cleavage showing luminous blue top on the CD cover looking more like a Cosmopolitan model than a hillbilly clodhopper. Nevertheless, when it comes to the sonic content of this disc, Vincent does not sell out at all. She has remain loyal to her mother's milk even though "Taken" is the first album in over a decade not to be released on Rounder Records. Rather, it is released independently on her own Upper Management imprint. This time Vincent and her road band "Raging Live" have taken the producer's chair. But they have not chary in their production: they have again enlisted the help of some of the movers and shakers of the music industry (e.g., Dolly Parton, Richard Marx and Bryan Sutton) as well as Nashville most wanted writers (e.g., John Starling, Amy Dalley, Tom Shapiro and Roger Brown).

At the get go, it's worthwhile mentioning there are a few gems here: lovers of love ballads will be smitten by the title cut "Taken." A gorgeous ballad about love at first sight, pop crooner Richard Marx lends his radio friendly pipes to Vincent's angelic vocals that truly make this a genuine highlight. While award winning bluegrass guitarist Bryan Sutton adds his weepy slide work to the lonesome heartbreak tune of "A Little at a Time." Regardless of love in its various conditions, good or bad, Vincent sings as though she was the one engrossed in the moments. Even on the couple of inspirational numbers, Vincent never disappoints: with the gentle licks of the guitar, Vincent offers hope for the downtrodden on the beautiful "You Must Have a Dream." Backed by a heavenly sounding male chorus, Vincent brings us to church with this southern Gospel tune, "God is Watching."

When the velocity picks up Vincent is just as smashing. Calling to mind Vincent's signature tune "You Can't Take It With You," "Back On My Mind" has everything going: an infectious melody, excellent string work and Vincent's raging vocals. Lead single is the sizzling tasty "Sweet Summertime" which showcases Vincent's sweetness on this descriptive ode to the carefree living of summertime. Some serious toe taping moments abound with Vincent's fresh take of Barbara Mandrell's 1972 hit "Tonight My Baby's Coming Home." Vincent has literally transformed this Urban Cowboy pop ditty into a vacuous bluegrass endeavor. Vincent who has had sang backing for Dolly Parton on numerous records has had the favor returned. Parton joins Vincent by providing harmony vocals on "In the Garden By the Fountain"--giving life to what is otherwise an ordinary piece.

Just like with most mostly efforts--"Raging Live for You" is more a showcase for her band's mastery over their instruments than anything else. Other than such minor quibbles, "Taken" is a charming disc of well-chosen songs performed by what Wall Street Journal rightly crowns as the "Queen of Bluegrass." Take a listen to the track "Taken" and it will take your breath away.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Group and Great CD, February 18, 2011

By 

James F. Racle "Jim Racle" (Olympia, WA.) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Taken (Audio CD)

I recently saw Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. They are a great group to listen to in person. This CD is about as close as one gets to actually being there.