Customer Reviews

On the Way to Love

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I liked this album a lot. I find it a return to the R&B/Pop world that Patti explored in the '80's with such albums as "Every Home Should Have One," "Gettin' Away With Murder," and the self-titled "Patti Austin." Patti sounds very soulful on "If You Really Need Me," "Let Me Be Me," "Tell Me Why" and "Southern Rain." "Girlfriend" is a tune you hum later after you hear it, singing the refrain, "got your back covered." My favorite song though is "What Can I Say," a sunny day, top down on the ride jam about a love that kinda catches one off guard. I love Patti's voice, period, so I've bought most of her CD's over the years. She seemed to be exploring her jazz roots on such CD's as "In and Out of Love" and "Street of Dreams," and they were very good, but nothing that grabbed me like this one did. So when I'm feeling a little down, I pop this in the player and get carried away and a little happier. And with the world being what it is today, I like being "ON THE WAY TO THAT FEELING" of joy that I get when I listen to this CD.

Because this CD is NOT a Quincy Jones produced effort. The only thing it shares is the label and some of the guest artists. It is a disappointment in that Patti has a great voice -- however, it is mismatched with the same producer (Paul Brown) that worked with pop-jazz artists like Al Jarreau, Boney James, and Norman Brown -- and as a result, it spends waaay too much time trying to be "radio friendly"! The fact that Boney James plays on one cut (uninspired, I might add) does not make it better.

Overall, this disc is nowhere near the status or quality of a classic like "The Real Me" or her early "Quincy produced" Warner Bros. efforts. In fact, it attempts to "contemporize" her sound at the expense of mediocre material.

I guess I expect too much from my Divas.......

After years of floundering semi-successfully, Patti Austin has come back with a nice blend of soul, jazz, and pop. Austin shows a depth that is missing today in the overabundance of carbon copy-sounding ingenues. The eleven tracks strongly showcase the vocal prowess of the under-appreciated Austin. Strong cuts are "Girlfriend," "Love's Been Kind to Me Lately," and "Playin' Around." Prior to purchasing this CD, I had read the Austin returned to Quincy Jones' guidance. My information was incorrect, but producer Paul Brown surrounds Austin with talented assemblage of musicians (James Ingram, Siedah Garrett, Boney James, and others). While not as satisfying as the Q-produced recordings, this is still the work of an accomplished vocalist.

Hopefully, sufficient airplay will be given and the singer will ascend to the ranks of superstardom that she so richly deserves.

This is a simple joy. A great voice, warm and smooth, matched with the same producer that worked with today's leading pop-jazz artist like Al Jarreau, and quality production. It is not a home run, but the music doesn't try and be trendy and lets Ms. Austin stand in front of slinky grooves, tender adult love songs and interesting songs that deliver on repeated listening. Patti has fun on the bouncy "Girlfriend" and teases on the slow burn on a song like "Let Me Be Me," a slow burn R&B and jazz-influenced song. Listen to the largely vocal version of "Loves Been Kind to Me Lately" at the end of the record to find out why her voice is so well loved by those in the know. This record may not be a classic like her "Real Me" albumn, her early QWEST pop albumns, or Patti's earlier CTI records. This CD creates a stronger R&B and jazz vibe, however, that should please long-time fans of her GRP label work and anyone who likes the modern smooth jazz and adult R&B music so popular on the radio. I give it 3 and a half stars for quality and 1 star for the return of a classic singer. We will round down for now, next record we round up!

I love this cd, glad i received it, she is the greatest and the best singer ever, I loved her ever sice I heard "Rhythm of the street" and "Baby Come To me" Go out and get this cd today, you'll be glad you did, I would love it if they relesed her music videos and concerts on DVD as an added bonus. Patti Austin girl, you've still got it going on and to hear you sing is truuly a blessing.

Finally a long awaited gem from the underated Ms Patti Austin. All the tracks are a showcase of her vocal range and unsurpassed with the ever Patti style. A highly recommended album and with tracks like "If you really need me NOw" with Boney James and Ingram is sure we do need talent like her around. Lets hope the stations gives her the airplay and recognition she deserves. "Love's been kind to me lately" is a real gem with honesty and emotionaly pack in deliverence as you just get into the mood she puts you in. "Let me be me" yes let Patti be herself of which she always does...better every time like rare wine. Go get it and you'll be asking for more....get her other previous albums if you have not....too good to miss.

No one can fairly accuse the dynamic Patti Austin of selling out; plenty of singers have sacrificed thir talent and standards for an easy (and moronic) sting of hits they've been embarassed to later recall. Ms. Austin has instead sacrificed some commercial success for a bit of dignity, which is present throughout her excellent body of work over the past couple of decades. This album, which features the pedestian but classy production talent of Paul Brown, doesn't seem as special as other Patti Austin albums I've heard, but, to be fair, she'd have to produce a absolute masterpiece to overshadow her past albums (particurally "That Secret Place," a personal favorite.) Overall, I'd suggest you buy this album, but she's definately made better recordings.

As a long-time Patti Austin fan, I will probably never dislike anything she records. She is a TRUE diva with God-given talent. "On the Way to Love" seems to be a new Patti crossing into other styles of musical tastes. It's not "Havana Candy," "Body Language" or "Love is Gonna Getcha," but it does include tracks that bring out the rich, sultry voice that we all have come to love and look forward to from Patti Austin.

I like the CD, and I'm glad that I bought it. Patti seems to be on a roll, recording three CDs in almost as many years starting with "In and Out of Love," "Street of Dreams" and now "On the Way to Love." I'm already looking forward to her next one!

Performers have many legitimate complaints about major labels, but there's no denying the greatest benefit when you have the company's attention: money. It's clear Warners spent some on Patti's new CD from the cover art to the music inside, and there are some fine moments: "What Can I Say" provides a slinky groove; "Girlfriend" is straight out of the neo-soul school; "Playing Around" presents a refreshingly "tough" Patti; and "Let Me Be Me" is slow burn required listening for the Mariah Careys of the world who have yet to understand the value of restraint. And, of course, Patti is Patti. 'Nuff said 'bout that? Paul Brown's lush, yet simple production of all this avoids the sometimes tawdry, unpolished arrangements that marred her last two releases. True, it ain't "Real Me, The Sequel" (that may come in her planned CD tribute to Ella) or "Again With Quincy", but it was definitely worth the wait and my money. And yours.

(...)This recording was supposed to mark singer Patti Austin's return to godfather and musical legend Quincy Jones' Qwest Records, where she released four wonderful albums in the 1980s, but, alas, the company finally folded shortly after this album's debut. Producer Paul Brown's glossy touch is on display all over this disc, Austin's first major label release in years, but surprisingly not as refined as the artist's most recent output. That is to say, a mediocre Patti Austin record is far more superior than most so-called singer's best efforts. Whatever is wrong here, it should be stated that it is never Ms Austin at fault. Maybe Mr. Brown's clean production style is just too sharp. Who knows? This CD is still recommended as a great pop, R&B purchase, better than most crap being released today. It is an album (CD)that is as much about R&B and pop as it is about contemporary jazz.

Austin started out with a great voice when she began as a teen recording artist in the 60s. The thing is -- it has only improved with age and each new recording!

It is between "Girlfriend" and the delightfully breezy "What Can I Say?" for the #1 spot as my favourite song on this outing. The first song features a church choir bridge that turns out to be La Austin's sole voice multi-tracked to soulful perfection! "What Can I Say?" is one of the best "starting the day, stretching, singing in the bathroom mirror, having a coffee tunes" ever. Austin is sexy and soft here. Serious students of pop vocals could learn alot from this one! Siedah Garrett's reflective midtempo "On the Way to Love" serves Austin's style well but could just as easily have been recorded by a contemporary Ray Charles (Mr. Ingram if you're reading this ...)Austin gets to the heart of the matter with a very soulful rendering here. "Love's Been Kind to Me Lately" would have been a great single/radio play contender. With great production values and a fine lyric, it is an almost perfect pop song. "Make It Right" could have been a Rufus funk anthem. That group's Tony Maiden plays on the tune and even Ms Chaka Khan herself must be smiling on Patti's great vocal. "If You Really Need Me Now" was my least favourite tune upon first listenings but I have to say, it does really grow on you with its friendly smooth jazz flow and James Ingram's minamilistic vocal hook. "Playin' Around" is perhaps the first song where Ms Austin sings a curse word. (She has said this is something she's always wanted to do on a record!)

"Let Me Be Me" ... Trip hop? A powerful, mid-tempo WOMENS song. Another Grammy worthy performance from Ms Patti. (When will they ever learn?!)"Southern Rain" has a great rhythm and tight vocal, lyrical hook, good message, while "Tell Me Why" is another one that is deceptively simple but grows on the listener with multiple plays. "Love's Been Kind to Me Lately [Unplugged Version]" showcases the elegant beauty of Patti Austin's voice.

For Patti fans, this recording is close to ... but not her best. New fans, this record will become a new favourite.
KDP--------------------------------------------------