By the Time It Gets Dark

Mary Black

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 1994)
• Original Release Date: 1987
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Gift Horse
• ASIN: B000000LX7
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,380 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #28 in	Music > Indie Music > World Music > Europe > Celtic
  #34 in	Music > Folk > Traditional British & Celtic Folk > Celtic Folk
  #34 in	Music > Indie Music > World Music > Europe > British Isles

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
While other of her albums spanning the mid '80s to the middle of the following decade are marred by cheesy or tinny-sounding overproduction and a breakaway from the acoustic-based accompaniment that suits her most truthfully, By the Time It Gets Dark presents Mary Black, folk vocal stylist, at her best. Less dark than Sandy Denny, less twee than Nanci Griffith, yet coming from a similar tradition and approach, Black's vocals are warm, earthy, and expressive. Her live version of "Moon River" is sweet, pure, and sublimely lovely. And she's near about perfect on such well-chosen gems as Richard Thompson's "Farewell, Farewell" or (more popularly rendered by Griffith) "Once in a Very Blue Moon." By the Time It Gets Dark is thereby the most logical and pleasant step toward Black's more recent work of the new millennium. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Believe..., March 28, 2001

By	Richard W. Williams (Glastonbury, Ct. USA) - See all my reviews

Believe the others. This is truly the most fully realized collection of some of the best songs, arrangements and volcals of any of her collections. Her singling is always bordering on perfection, but often her purest subtleties become clouded in overproduction. Not Here!

Listen with care to three of the best things she's ever done.

"Once in a Very Blue Moon" presents us with a borderless pop gem. Not Irish, Not American, simply universal pop. "Farewell, Farewell" is perhaps the prettiest "Celtic" inflected song she's ever blessed with her voice. "Katie", upon first listen, sounds like a good old fashioned pop ditty, that on closer inspection demonstrates just what can happen with a perfect hybrid of Celtic/American Folk/Pop.

These are only three, but all teh songs will be welcome in your ears many times over.

If you are unfamiliar with the seemingly limitless talent of Mary Black, this is a great disk to begin what will surely be a lifelong appreciation of this highly under-purchased artist.

Warning: Much of her later music, with the possible exception of her last "Speaking with the Angels", is mostly overproduced pop. There's nothing here to muck up the beautiful mix. Buy it, if only for the lovliest version of "Moon River" you'll ever hear.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Mary Black's Best, March 14, 2000

By	Bernard D. Aboba (Bellevue, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is one of my favorite CDs. Tinged with sadness, this CD is about people in transition, from travellers (Farewell, Farewell), to young men going to work at the mines (Schoolday's Over). Listen to this when you are in a contemplative mood, trying to figure out what to do next.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A heartbreakingly beautiful CD, October 15, 1999

By	Carl Syberg (a back table at the Baked Potato, N. Hollywood) - See all my reviews

For those who will allow themselves to be vulnerable, this is an incredibly heartfelt recording. Richard Thompson's "Farewell, Farewell" alone is worth three times the price. Mary makes you feel every meaning. Declan Sinnott's guitar playing is an absolute joy, and the guitar sounds are delicious. This is one of those CDs that you want to listen to alone.