Customer Reviews

Voice of an Angel

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

 

 

I have never doubted any of Della Reese's talents: her singing, her acting, her salesmanship (remember her doing Campbell's Soup commercials in the 70s?) Likewise, my grandmother remembers Reese's variety show from the 60s and speaks very highly of the divine Della Reese. And although I'm not a fan of "Touched by an Angel," I always stop on that show any time Della is anywhere on screen. I'm tempted to agree with one of the previous reviewers of this collection--I wouldn't exactly classify Reese's voice or presence as angelic, and for now, a better word escapes me. Therefore, you must listen to this CD for yourself. "Don't You Know" is, of course, Reese's biggest hit--from 1959. So lush and romantic, you'll weep every time you hear it. My other favorite is "Let's Get Away From It All," also from 1959. This song is of course more closely associated with The Chairman of the Board, but Reese's version is more raucous and hilarious. How can it not be with lyrics like, "You'd better start your packin', we're leavin' Hackensack and baby, let's get away from it all..."? There are some lovely jazz-type ballads here as well--Della, a piano, a little bass; her voice is a little too loud on some of the softer numbers (and certainly on the louder, brassier numbers), but all in all this is a very sophisticated yet campy collection. You don't have to play all of the songs at your next smart cocktail party--program in the ones you like and let Della's voice speak, rather sing, for itself. Believe me, people will ask you about it, as though it never occurred to them that Reese could sing--or that she had a career before "Angel..." As well, there are some marvelous pictures of Della in her day--she's very striking and very glamorous. If the voice isn't angelic, it's certainly American (in spite of some of the stilted pronunciations of words with long aaahhhhh sounds--as in Caaaahn't...)and highly androgynous. In fact, as a child, I refused to believe that "Don't You Know" was sung by a woman. But that's the charm--the elusive charm of Della Reese. Some of these songs will disappoint you; don't let that stop you. You can't love everything a talented individual does.

You will be amazed at how good this cd is. What a wonderful voice;if you aren't familar with Miss Reese's work this is a great one to start with. Don't worry; you can (and will) be back to buy the rest of her work.

Why a surprise package? Perhaps the fault of a senior memory bank. Seeing Della reese on the tube got me thinking.My vast collection of artists did not include her. Give yourself a treat! A treat that lasts about 70 minutes of sheer delight! I must not have remembered how distinctive Della's vocalizing can be.Per liner notes.."Della Reese swoops and soars with an unabashed big souled hunger".Twenty tracks! Each better that the last. # 16 " Someday" Towers above them all! Welcome home Della!

Della Reese is the ultimate performer.Her voice is beyond description:amazingly powerful,expressive with flawless elocution and most original articulation,that requires much taste to be appreciated by real connoissers!Each song is a unique composition and none is like the other.After you listened to Della,the other blues or jazz stars seem colourless,despite their own qualities,they all are outcasted by Della's incredible temperament and talent.She is the alpha and the omega of song:she can sing everything,from gospel,blues to jazz and even classical music!!Della reese is without contest the BEST singer in the world!She has the trumpets of Jericho in her voice,and sings like an angel!She makes songs alive,she is not only an entertainer (actually the best) but she delivers a message in singing,of life,passion and joy.She is true and authentic and once you heard her,she put a spell on you forever!Moreover,she is gorgeous,and charismatic!Della Reese is the ultimate diva!

I heard of Della Reese for the first time not on Touched By an Angel, but on the old "Sandford and Son" show. How Fred went crazy when he heard that name! Now we can listen to her voice on CD-and it is a great voice. She is brassy-like Ethel Merman, but she does ballads nicely also. The CD also has great pictures which remind me of pictures of Pearl Bailey (when are we going to get a retrospect of her recordings?). With the rediscovery of "Lounge" music in full swing, this release is a welcome addition to the archives of recorded pop music -Darin Tysdal

Long before "Touched by an Angel", Della Reese was a huge singing star. With three million-sellers, four Grammy nominations, and a reputation as one of the most versatile singers of her time, this compilation is a great documentation of that period of time. All of these songs were recorded for RCA Victor, so that means that you won't get her first big hit "And That Reminds", which she recorded for Jubilee Records back in 1957. Strangely, it also somehow leaves off her big hits "Not One Minute More", which she DID record for RCA, and to a lesser extent, the beautiful "The Most Beautiful Words". I find it strange that the compilers didn't include either one of them. But, what they did include is a vide variety of songs from the Great American songbook. Della had no problem singing everything from "All by Myself" to a swinging rendition of "I'm Beginning to See the Light". Della's voice is incredible. Her diction is near perfect, and nobody had a vibrato like her. You can hear some influences from Sarah Vaughan and Mahalia Jackson, but her sound remains very much her own. It was rare for African American women to have big, I mean really big mainstream hits at that time, so the fact that Della managed to score the hits that she did, is a great testament to her incredible talent.

I have never doubted any of Della Reese's talents: her singing, her acting, her salesmanship (remember her doing Campbell's Soup commercials in the 70s?) Likewise, my grandmother remembers Reese's variety show from the 60s and speaks very highly of the divine Della Reese. And although I'm not a fan of "Touched by an Angel," I always stop on that show any time Della is anywhere on screen. I'm tempted to agree with one of the previous reviewers of this collection--I wouldn't exactly classify Reese's voice or presence as angelic, and for now, a better word escapes me. Therefore, you must listen to this CD for yourself. "Don't You Know" is, of course, Reese's biggest hit--from 1959. So lush and romantic, you'll weep every time you hear it. My other favorite is "Let's Get Away From It All," also from 1959. This song is of course more closely associated with The Chairman of the Board, but Reese's version is more raucous and hilarious. How can it not be with lyrics like, "You'd better start your packin', we're leavin' Hackensack and baby, let's get away from it all..."? There are some lovely jazz-type ballads here as well--Della, a piano, a little bass; her voice is a little too loud on some of the softer numbers (and certainly on the louder, brassier numbers), but all in all this is a very sophisticated yet campy collection. You don't have to play all of the songs at your next smart cocktail party--program in the ones you like and let Della's voice speak, rather sing, for itself. Believe me, people will ask you about it, as though it never occurred to them that Reese could sing--or that she had a career before "Angel..." As well, there are some marvelous pictures of Della in her day--she's very striking and very glamorous. If the voice isn't angelic, it's certainly American (in spite of some of the stilted pronunciations of words with long aaahhhhh sounds--as in Caaaahn't...)and highly androgynous. In fact, as a child, I refused to believe that "Don't You Know" was sung by a woman. But that's the charm--the elusive charm of Della Reese. Some of these songs will disappoint you; don't let that stop you. You can't love everything a talented individual does.

I think the title is completely wrong - this woman's voice is so dominant and strong, its not soft and angelic at all!I dont really think Mrs.Reese voice was well suited for this kind of repertoire, since she was too strong to sing night club's ballads - her interpretation of "Little girl blue" is simply wrong, it should be sung sensitively not with bitternes and sarcasm as Mrs.Reese is doing.Since I heard her singing soul and blues in the late 60-ies, maybe that kind of music was more closer to her talnet.Also, nobody has mentioned her anoying mannerism and strange fact that the lady insisted on false british accent which I found awful.Its only on the wonderful soul ballad "Call me" that she lost this accent (all of a sudden?) and she is really great there.