What a Crying Shame

Mavericks

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 1994)
• Original Release Date: February 1, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca Nashville
• ASIN: B000002OR0
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,942 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
What a Crying Shame is more commercial and conventional than its debut predecessor, but every bit as enjoyable. Raul Malo has such a terrific voice that he can wear his broken heart on his sleeve without lapsing into self- pity. In fact, the very act of confessing his hurt seems to charge him with rocking excitement, especially when he gets a melodic hook as juicy as that on the title track or the Roy Orbison tribute, ""I Should Have Been True." Trisha Yearwood sings harmony on the saloon ballad ""Neon Blue," and the band turns Bruce Springsteen's ""All That Heaven Will Allow" into the honky-tonk shuffle it was always meant to be. --Geoffrey Himes

Amazon.com
A simply stunning country album. Granted, the songs here mark a disappointing retreat from the complex emotional truths and social commentary of the band's previous From Hell to Paradise, but with a sound centered around the gorgeous, soaring tenor of singer-songwriter Raul Malo, the newly simplified songs here still manage to convey rich emotional moods. With updated Ray Price shuffles, Roy Orbison-influenced country pop, a crossover cover of Bruce Springsteen's "All That Heaven Will Allow," and catchy Nashville hits like "O What a Thrill" and the title track, What a Crying Shame includes some of the finest mainstream country music of the last 25 years. --David Cantwell

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Vocals, Great Music, January 6, 2000

By	jekyllnhyde "jekyllnhyde" (NJ) - See all my reviews

The ultra-smooth, expressive vocals of Raul Malo highlight this great collection of honky-tonkers, soft rockers & country ballads. The ballads "I Should Have Been True", "Neon Blue" & the Orbison-esque "O What a Thrill" are perfectly suited to Malo's vocal delivery, while the more up-tempo tunes like "There Goes My Heart", "Just A Memory" & "All That Heaven Will Allow" work equally as well. Even my least favorite track, the jump-bluesy "The Things You Said to Me" isn't really that bad. This is easily their best effort so far.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What A Crying Shame, April 8, 2002

By	"rauladelante" (where in the world am I?) - See all my reviews

The Mavericks were simply the best mainstream country band of the 90s. They had some other great albums, but this one is regarded by most fans and critics as their finest. The record features top notch musicianship and songcraft with lead vocalist Raul Malo cruising through each song with ease. Raul was also in on the writing of seven of the tracks, four of which were with the great songwriter/guitarist Kostas.

Starting with the self-pity binge *There Goes My Heart* and finishing with the heart-on-the-sleeve *The Losing Side of Me*, The Mavericks go through all the phases of the love game. Echos of Malo's aching voice will haunt you throughout the Orbisonesque ballad *I Should Have Been True*. Then listen as he goes through the remorsefull *Aint Found Nobody*. The Mavs are confident troubadors, blending many retro country and rock/pop sounds. Watch as they jump from the 50s dancehall rocker *The Things You Said To Me* to the straight-ahead honkytonk of *Just a Memory*. Then comes the latin beat-driven *All That Heaven Will Allow* and into the loungy, intimate weeper *Neon Blue*. Finally, there are three fantastic moments on this record: *What A Crying Shame*, with its catchy guitar hook, steady drums, acoustic strum, and terrific organ, will tear out your heart and leave you wishing for a more "positive" story. Highlighted by its beautifull waltzing fiddles, *Pretend* is an excellent midtempo tune with a classic melody and great lyrics. A third song that strikes the middle of the target is the beautifull, romantic *O What A Thrill*, which is complete with lush strings and wonderfull piano work. As soon as the first verse starts: 'Oh girl in a moment I may kiss your lips', the song is an instant classic!

All in all, *What A Crying Shame* is a thrilling album from top to bottom with not a single weak song in sight. Get it as soon as you can and you'll be singing and dancing right along!

Thanks for reading!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, October 8, 2001

By	V. VanCamp "lovesbookslovesmusic" (Ithaca, New York USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Mavericks are a really terrific band with a wonderful and very specific sound. No matter what song they are singing - you can tell it is them.

I am thrilled with this cd. It is absolutely fantastic. I find it rather hard to describe the sound the Mavericks have. They are kind of country, kind of bluegrass, kind of folksy and kind of 50's!

However they are described... they are absolutely worth listening to. I strongly suggest that you give them a try!