Customer Reviews

Virgin Tracks

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This CD was such a gift that I don't really know where to begin! It started with two back-to-back blockbusters: "Another Mr. Right" and "Welcome The Rain" (this year's MAC Award winner for best song of the year), and was followed by a set of new songs that have become favorites of mine very rapidly. "I Break So Easily" is fodder for anyone who has felt vulnerable in relationships, "Never Have I" speaks to everyone who has yet to find their perfect mate, and "Fire Escape" burns with the passion of newly found love. There are so many keepers on this CD that I can't name them all.

But the thread which ties them all together is Richard's voice, which has a warm earthiness that touches me to the most remote parts of my soul. How can one singer use her voice to both make me cry and make me feel joyous at the same time? Lisa Richard does, and with the kind of depth of feeling that is rare and very special.

There's a secret in the hidden track she provides, tacked on to the last song. The disc pays tribute to very talented theater songwriters, and Richard has added her own early attempt at composing in a refreshing display of self-deprecation that will make you laugh out loud. Only a very secure person would do this, and with her unique and beautiful voice, obviously Richard is not afraid in the least to laugh at herself.

All I can say is, buy it and enjoy!

The review that prompted me to buy this CD called it "an embarassment of riches" and it is an understatement.

Every song is a joy. During the first listen I waited eagerly when the changer switched to the next tune. You never know what is going to greet you next. Big band, salsa, gorgeous ballads. They are all here. With a voice that can be soft and beguiling one minute and powerhouse the next, I was completed shocked that I'd never heard of this singer. The arrangements are so rich you'd expect to hear these musicians backing Streisand or Eder. And the extra surprise of getting a duet with Susan Egan (I'm a big fan), with both of them belting out their gospel best. Why has this woman not yet been on Broadway?

This was my first listen to Lisa Richard, and I will go back now and buy every recording she has ever made.

As much as I enjoyed Lisa's first CD, this new one is an improvement I never expected. Unless your heart is made of stone, these songs will move you. Out of touch with family? Yearning for love? Can't find your perfect soul mate? She has chosen songs that although new, they quickly become favorites that touch you deeply. The arrangements are beautiful, but Lisa's voice is the clincher. She has never sounded better, and there is a warmth and beauty to her singing on this CD that tells me this gal is going to be a star. Not many are blessed with that kind of unique sound.

Lisa Richard's second album continues to explore her diversity and depth as a performer to great success. She has a way of transporting the listener to a time when men were gentlemen and women were ladies (until it was time not to be). You can almost smell the smoke of a 40's nightclub from the first few notes of "Another Mr. Right" and the big band strains of "You Make me Laugh." But intermixed flawlessly are songs like "Fire Escape" (A fun blend of Caribbean Jazz) and the gospel-esque duet with Susan Egan. Love songs are definitely a specialty, from the hysterical "How was it for you?" to my favorite "A Sorta Love Song" (because it is SO true boys). Lisa's range as a vocalist matches the style and individuality of each song, and in doing so creates a listening experience you will enjoy over and over. This album is playful, sexy and has a lot of sizzle. But I'd expect nothing less from Lisa.

Lisa Richard says that she is in awe of songwriters. Those who are assembled here have their never-recorded before songs - the "virgin tracks" - of this CD given birth by a dynamite performer. From the day I first purchased and listened to "Born to Entertain", I couldn't wait for the next Lisa Richard CD. And, boy, was the wait worth it. A panoply of differing styles and different music in a terrific collection, Lisa has the big voice of Linda Eder and the tender frailty of Judy Garland. My favorite tracks are "Welcome the rain" and "Another Mr. Right". However, I think that the one she enjoyed recording the most is her duet with Susan Egan ("Don't you be shakin' your faith in me").

One thing that impressed me is the number of good songs for women on this CD that were written by men. There is even one that was inspired by Barbra's marriage to Brolin and Bruce Kimmell bemoans writing a song on this CD that he could never sing! Lisa does such a good job on all of them that there is a feeling of melancholy when it's all done. You're sad that the CD is over and yet you remember the joy of listening and appreciating each track. That's showmanship, pal. That's leaving them begging for more, and Lisa Richard does that in spades. Susan Egan's best friend does it again.

A fan of Lisa's previous CD, Born To Entertain, I never expected that I would love her new CD even more. Her voice is warm and smooth as honey. The songs, although all new, become old favorites in short order. There is the same variety of styles that I have come to expect from this singer, with the added plus of some positively beautiful songs which are small in scale and big on impact (Reach For The Moon, I Break So Easily). Welcome The Rain is the best recording I have heard of a song all year, and Lisa's performance just soars. Don't miss this one, folks.

I admit that I am not the biggest fan of what I call "Broadway" albums, but after reading a review of this on the All Music Guide I couldn't resist the urge to buy. This is an eclectic collection of songs, and as a dedicated jazz listener, I couldn't believe the instrumental players that contributed to this album. But the biggest surprise of all was how much I enjoyed the singer, who I had never heard before.

Her take on the sweet sounds of "Antigua" was world-class in my opinion, and Grant Geissman's melodic guitar in "The Forgotten of the Heart" is haunting and brilliant and creates the perfect background for a voice that is rich, emotional and very easy on the ears. The big band tracks on this CD are superb. While the quality of the musicians is without debate, Lisa Richard is a match for them in spite of her Broadway roots. "Never Have I", which is very top-40 in flavor, far surpasses the dribble I hear when I tune my radio dial.

If you're a fan of new,cutting edge music by some great composers, this cd is a must. Then you add to the package, that wonderful voice that comes soaring out of Lisa Richard, and you're mesmerized for hours! The selections range from heart breaking ballads, such as Never Have I (my personal fav) To hysterical tracks, and a combination of the two... The duet with Susan Egan shows there are positive duets around for females....and don't miss the bonus track. So basically, I thought the cd was ok!

With a voice that alternates between the low-range warmth of Karen Carpenter and a high belt like Linda Eder's, Lisa Richard soars through a collection of new songs and makes you love them like old friends. There are so many different stylistic colors here. On the first listen through I was never sure what was coming next and was eager to keep them coming! I have found myself listening to this CD over and over again, with the same level of enjoyment, and for me that's the true test of a quality CD.

As a big fan of Lisa's music I have been eagerly awaiting this new release for two years. It did not disappoint me, but rather, it astounded me. Lisa has taken new songs from Broadway's best song writers and has created a collection that I can not stop listening to. Usually when I hear a CD that contains all new material I find it hard to warm to it, but this one has broken that mold for me. There are no tracks here that make me want to hit the skip button.

I do have favorites, tho', and Welcome The Rain is one of the best inspirational songs I have ever heard. Heisler and Goldrich have written a song that touches my heart quite deeply, and Lisa's voice absolutely soars in performing it. Stephen Schwartz's Never Have I was a revelation, showing that he writes pop songs as well as for Broadway. A Sorta Love Song, buried late in the CD (?), was so rich with imagery and feeling that I found myself playing it over and over. And then there is a smattering of the big band style songs I loved from Lisa's first CD.

An extra gift that I really appreciated was the comments each song writer made about their song in the liner notes. Overall the CD is a shockingly excellent followup from her first CD.