Customer Reviews

Temple Bar

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been a fan of John Waite for a long time. This is my favorite solo album by far. And as usual, artists reveal their greatest works from the pits of emotional despair. John is no exception. "Downtown", "Price of My Tears", "The Glittering Prize" reveal some of this despair. I am also very impressed with how he took a classic song like Bill Withers' "Aint no Sunshine when She's Gone" and made it his own. What a beautiful cover version. I even like the cover of "I'm SO Lonesome I could Cry" by Hank Williams. Just John's voice and a Dobro. When John teams up with the likes of Glen Burtnik and Mark Spiro, he can't make a bad song. If this album were vinyl, I would have worn a groove in it long ago. Very classy. Excellent album start to finish. And you can't say that about many albums these days.

As a fan of The Babys and John Waite I bought this album with alot of anticipation. While some of his solo work had been disappointing, I had heard him perform a couple tunes from this effort via a television show. I was not disappointed at all. From beginning to end this is a first class piece of work. His songwriting has never been better. The only drawback is a cover of Hank Williams, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. It's a poor cover and really doesn't fit at all with the rest of the albums tunes and feel. Other than this, it's well worth the price of admission.

John waite has done a great job on this album. The best solo effort ever!. His cover off the Van Morrisson song "someone like you' is so melancholic. His voice sound so great. "Downtown" a great introspective song about his great hit "Missing you' .well I could go on. Just buy it.

John waite has done a great job on this album. The best solo effort ever!. His cover off the Van Morrisson song "someone like you' is so melancholic. His voice sound so great. "Downtown" a great introspective song about his great hit "Missing you' .well I could go on. Just buy it.

Whether it's his work with the Babys, Bad English, or his solo ventures, it's hard to pick a favorite John Waite song. He can take you many places with that voice--the one that rocks, aches, whispers, seduces, pleads, regrets, inspires, and hopes. His unique, always soulful phrasing no matter the genre commands you to listen and invites you to connect.

Having said that, it is easy to narrow down the selections of the best album he's recorded. "Temple Bar" is, from top to bottom, a masterpiece that everyone missed when it first came out due to poor marketing. It should have been a Grammy "Album of the Year" contender.

I can't wait to hear what Waite has in store for his fans on his next album. In the meantime, don't hesistate to treat yourself to this one.

And oh, in response to the reviewer who wrote "The only drawback is a cover of Hank Williams, 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry.' It's a poor cover and really doesn't fit at all with the rest of the albums tunes and feel.", I respectfully disagree. I believe it complements the other love songs on the albums from a lyrical standpoint. Some folks may not know that John Waite grew up listening to country music in addition to blues, so it's fitting that he slips in an occasional country and western tune on his albums in homage. Other items in this genre like his cover of Bob Dylan's "Girl From the North Country," "Restless Heart" from the 80's as well his duet with Alison Krause in the cover of Don Williams' "Lay Down Besides Me" are treats to hear on YouTube. To me, he's like the male version of Patsy Cline when he sings country.

This is one of those wonderful albums that you can listen to all the way through from beginning to end. Not a filler anywhere on this album. You know you've got a gem when that happens. John Waite has a great voice and a wonderful ability for story telling in his music and this is one of his best albums!

I have been a John Waite fan before most even knew who he was. This has to be one of my favorite albums he has done. Downtown, More, Glittering Prize are all first rate tracks. A very introspective album. I LOVE IT! If you even remotely like Waite, this is a must have.

Being in the 40-something age bracket, I've liked John Waite since his days with The Babys but really only grew to LOVE him in the 80's when he went solo with "missing you". It would be really hard to pick my favourite JW song but this album is definitely my favourite. Being an Aussie, I have to order all my JW music via the internet and I envy you guys in the US. Some day I plan to get there just to see the amazing JW in real life. My favourite song on this CD would be "Price of my Tears" but there's so many brilliant songs on this CD. It's hard to describe the effect his voice has on me but it's like being taken to a different place. No one else has that effect on me! As our Aussie 'Molly' Meldrum says, "Do yourself a favour" and buy this CD!...and try all the others while you're at it!! There will never be anyone who moves me like John Waite.

This is without a doubt the best John Waite release ever. I've written a few reviews and this is the only 5 star to date. John has proven himself worthy of the best songwriters company as far as Pop music goes. In my mind, anyway, no less a valid art form than any other. John's songs are as catchy as any on his '84 release "No Brakes" or the Bad English CDs. "Where Would I Be Without You", the CD'S first song and highest charting single, is just the tip of the iceberg."More" is probably the best all around song, for immediate catchiness combined with great introspective lyrics, although "Downtown" rivals it very closely."Price of My Tears","The Glittering Prize" and "In God's Shadow" are all right there for pure excellence. If you like John Waite, even a little, this album will make you like him a lot!!!!!!!!

By far the best Solo work John Waite has done so far and without a doubt,his talent is only getting better.Do yourself a favor and buy this cd,you won't be disapointed.