Twisted Desire

8 1/2 Souvenirs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 24, 1999)
• Original Release Date: August 24, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00000JY9K
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,952 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #74 in Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz > Retro Swing

Track Listings

1. Sharp Dressed Man

2. L' Amour Toujours

3. Twisted Desire

4. Eva Luna

5. Dancin'

6. Lonely in Love

7. Life Style

8. My Baby

9. The Rhythm Is Magic

10. Under Your Skin

11. Spider Lady

12. Yes, Yes, Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Twisted Desire is a "yes, yes, yes!", March 9, 2002

By 

Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twisted Desire (Audio CD)

One of the best moments in my music history is my hearing a jazzy group who did a brassy version of ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man." Since hearing this version, I'll take this over the original anyday. I was not only turned by the rendition of this particular song, but the others on the album. The arrangements, instrumentation, rhythm, and sensually-voiced female vocalist was my introduction to 8 1/2 Souvenirs.

"L'Amour Toujours" gets a French flavor with Justin Sherburn's accordion, while "Eva Luna," with its backing violin, leans towards a Spanish sound. "Dancin'" could have belonged on "Happy Feet" with Olivier Giraud's vocals, the intense rhythm guitar, and horn arrangement.

The difference between this album and Happy Feet is that there are slower numbers to offset the upbeat ones. Of those, the forlorn "Lonely In Love" is a showcase for Chrysta's voice, accompanied by a guitar, violin, and drum. Following that is the jamming "Life Style." As lyrics in the chorus say, "It's all about laugh and cry/It's all about getting high/life is giving me the eye." Also, most of the songs are in English as opposed to the diversity in Happy Feet.

"My Baby" sounds like something Steve Winwood might have done on his Roll With It album, except with a strong horn arrangement.

The other three upbeat numbers are "The Rhythm Is Magic," with its Latin flavouring and Spanish lyrics, "Under Your Skin," and "Yes, Yes, Yes," which like "Life Style," could inject life to any dull party.

Olivier Giraud has one song as vocalist, but overall, this could be considered a Chrysta Bell solo album. A lot more Chrysta is gold to the ears, and in that aspect, it is 24-carat. If Sade sang a register higher and much quicker, that might result in Chrysta Bell.

Here's hoping that the souvenir count next time equals 34 (8 1/2 times 4 albums). I can only speak for the 1st album and this one, but so far, I've struck gold with this group.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 8 1/2 Souvenirs do it again!!!!, September 8, 1999

By 

David C. Miller (Tucson AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twisted Desire (Audio CD)

I've been so hungry for new stuff from 81/2 Souvenirs since Happy Feet and then in July seeing them at the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Jazz Festival. This CD filled in the gaps for me because I didn't know about the band before Montreal. The band is surely evolving in a positive direction and I thoroughly enjoy the two CDs even though in a lot of respects they a somewhat different. Please, oh please, put out a live album....they are the most exciting band on stage. Don't miss them!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Where the feet are happy it succeeds!, October 4, 1999

By 

John A. Gregorio (Castalian Springs, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Twisted Desire (Audio CD)

The band cooks but the players don't appear to be as accomplished as past band members. It may be the band has not played together long enough. The music which differs from their previous styles is very good, but is found played by many "dime a dozen band." Still, a cd worth buying.