Is This a Cool World Or What

Karla Devito | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 1996)
• Label: Renaissance
• ASIN: B000005NMW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #519,986 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Cool World

2. I Can't Stand to Reminisce

3. Heaven Can Wait

4. Midnight Confession

5. Big Idea

6. Almost Saturday Night

7. Boy Talk

8. Just One Smile

9. I'm Just Using You

10. Work

11. Bloody Bess

12. Just Like You

13. Karla DeVito [Interview]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best voice in all of Rock & Roll., June 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Is This a Cool World Or What (Audio CD)

Karla DeVito continues to amaze me. Everything she has done, from singing with MeatLoaf to starring on Broadway in Pirates Of Penzance to this amazing album "Cool World" is better than any other female vocalist on this planet. Where can you find a diva like DeVito: funny, powerful, poignant and blessed with the best set of chords Rock & Roll has ever heard. This album should not be missed.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is This a Cool Girl, or What?, February 9, 2007

By 

Garan Grey "Garan Grey" (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Is This a Cool World Or What (Audio CD)

While Karla was becoming the first female star featured on MTV in the early 80s, I stumbled across this debut album and instantly became a lifelong fan. Karla was appearing at The Bottom Line then, but I wasn't able to go. How I wish I had, because when Columbia signed Cyndi Lauper they decided they didn't need two talented offbeat gals and stopped promoting Karla. Big Mistake. Big. Huge! While Cyndi, who I do like, is a Character, Karla is a Personality - Intelligent and fun. How many pop singers include references to Freud, Jung and the frontal lobe in their lyrics? I've been lucky enough to meet Karla a couple times, and she is, in the best sense of the words, cool and warm at the same time.

Karla is a multifaceted creative talent, with a charming, charismatic personality. She can sing, act, write songs, do character voices (check out Disney's BONKERS series) and give a solo performance that could knock your socks off! Did you know Karla was director Ken Russell's favorite to play the lead in the movie EVITA when the film was first being discussed back in the 80s? She did a brief stage tour in the role and nailed it, according to the glowing reviews. Years later he still referred to Karla as "My Evita."

Karla performed WE ARE NOT ALONE (that was co-written with Robby Benson) on the BREAKFAST CLUB soundtrack. A fun song Karla & Robby wrote called NOBODY MAKES ME CRAZY LIKE YOU DO was on her second album, and covered on an album by Diana Ross. Karla's second solo album was WAKE 'EM UP IN TOKYO (First released on A&M, not yet on CD) There is fun stuff on that album, but the producers didn't allow enough of Karla's personality to come through the heavy handed arrangements, and they really should have included We Are Not Alone. My favorite track on her second album is I ROCKED THE BOY, which shows more of the fun personality found on her first album. That song is so catchy that I can picture Karla dancing in a music video every time I hear it.

After rave reviews for her Broadway performance in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Karla married her co-star, (Robby) and decided to concentrate on being a good mom. With Robby, she has raised two talented young people and I admire her for that. Had she not taken that path, she'd be headlining MAMMA MIA! on Broadway at the very least.

There is far more to Karla than being Mrs. Robby Benson (though he is clearly Karla's biggest fan). Robby's devotion to Karla inspired him to write a new musical, OPEN HEART, that's been well received in two productions and is available on CD and download from Amazon. The album contains one touching track called Forever, in which Karla proves she still has the vocal strength we heard 20 years before.

Karla's very first released recording was a single of It's My Party done to a disco arrangement that overpowers her voice a bit - search the net for a CD called Where Disco Dared to find that.

Karla's rare vinyl single SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO MY HOUSE, released by Epic in the 80s, has been showcased often by Dr. Demento but is not yet on CD.

Karla's catchy performance of Dance In My Pants with Jim Steinman is available as a download online. Also on Amazon: Rick Derringer Live at the Ritz has two great tracks of Karla singing Cool World and Just Like You live.

Another album available through Amazon is Desolation Angels Anthem, with two very nice tracks by Karla: Walk Away Renee and Whitebird. The arrangements feature Karla's voice nicely, In fact, her performance is very well framed by The Roches.

Karla DeVito is a formidable and versatile talent. Grab COOL WORLD (and every other Karla performance you can get) and enjoy this cool girl. Catch the mischief in her eyes and the spirit in her voice. Brava, Karla!

On Karla's YouTube page you'll find a bunch of videos that convey her engaging personality as well as her voice. Now wouldn't you all love to see and hear MORE albums of Karla DeVito? Let's hear from you! Better yet, log onto you Tube and Tell Her!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars High energy, great voice, toured w/Meatloaf (Bat Out Of Hell, November 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Is This a Cool World Or What (Audio CD)

Great voice for rock. If you like Pat Benetar, you'll like Karla. High energy music, similar style to Meatloaf, Bat Out Of Hell. Great version of Heaven Can Wait and Cool World will get you moving.