From a Whisper to a Scream

Esther Phillips | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000026D6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,556 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Red-hot Blues!!!, June 8, 2005

By 

Beverly Praiswater - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From a Whisper to a Scream (Audio CD)

Esther Phillips could hold her own against any blues singer, male or female. She personifies the blues.

Having visited the rougher side of life, "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" is sung as though Esther's soul is turned inside-out. Written by Gil Scott-Heron, it is achingly beautiful. The title song "From A Whisper To A Scream" is one of the rawest blues tunes ever! Written by blues great Allen Toussaint, he must have been thrilled with Esther's rendition. Esther's vocal has funky tones in "Til My Back Ain't Got No Bone" accompanied by a soulful sax solo. Her vocal expression is perfection! You can feel the wanting in Esther's heavy vocal "Baby, I'm For Real", a ballad which was written by Marvin Gaye. Nothing can compare to sultry Esther singing "Your Love Is So Doggone Good". This steamy number is so thick you could cut it with a knife. When Esther sings "How Blue Can You Get?" written by Leonard Feather she IS about as blue as it gets. Full-bodied blues, Esther's hot interpretation of "Scarred Knees" is thankfully over six minutes long. "Brother, Brother" is a soulful tribute like none other for its songwriter, Carole King. Completely tender, Esther's artistry is very fine when she sings "Don't Run And Hide". "A Beautiful Friendship" is a mature and beautiful ending for the album.

Originally recorded as an LP in 1971, the arrangements contained bass, drums, guitar, percussion, organ, piano, trumpet, flugelhorn and three saxophones: alto, tenor, baritone. In addition are such seldom used instruments (by today's standards): trombone, violin, viola, cello, and harp. This alone tells you how full-bodied these blues arrangements are.

This album is the definitive example of what a blues singer is all about. So if you love the blues, and you ain't got this one, you better add it to your collection!!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars STUNNING MASTERPIECE~BRAVO ESTHER PHILLIPS!!!, May 5, 2004

By 

Bradly Briggs (TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From a Whisper to a Scream (Audio CD)

One of the best singers for all time, Esther Phillips was never finer that in this awesome collection that moved Lady Soul herself to give Esther The Grammy that she herself had won but knew Esther truly deserved!! I have always loved Aretha as I was fortunate to experience this Legend In Concert in a small club while in my teens in 1964, but when Aretha made this totally unselfish move, I really delevoped an even deeper love and RESPECT for her!! Esther was a child star who grew up way too fast and I believe that this laid the foundation that made for a difficult life for this brilliant but troubled singer. When Esther went into the studio and laid down the tracks for this classic masterpiece, she was in top form and at any price this incredible work would be a bargain as this will never happen again!! Raw and naked emotion and extraordinary vocal brilliance are stunning here and hearing and feeling is believing!! In my huge collection nothing is cherished quite like this one!!! Thank you Esther for sharing such incredible brilliance and leaving behind timeless classics such as this wonderous collection for us to enjoy for all time!!!
BRAVO ESTHER!!!!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars why hasn't this been remastered re released?, August 2, 2004

By 

G. Aldrich "G" (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From a Whisper to a Scream (Audio CD)

Esther Phillips has a phenomenal voice, her vocal talents can easily compare to Aretha, Sarah Vaughan or even one of the more recent nu soul artists like Erykah. I was introduced to her music via a UK based DJ Gilles Peterson who has a habit of eductaing his audience to soul and jazz gems of yesteryear as well as hot new acts.

This album is a crate diggers jewel, hard to come by and expensive when found. Aretha gave her grammy to Esther as she felt it was the true winner that year. And yet it is still not readily available.

For an idea of what great soul jazz music Esther made during her Kudos era check out the Anthology collection or the Kudos years or the recently re released What a difference a day makes. If you have never heard her before get ready for an aural treat the likes of which you never imagined possible in a non sexual context... hold on! thats over kill, no one can sing that good... She is great though, a great artist who deserves more exposure,

If you know what i am talking about.. post here so we can consumer pressure a re release of this well crafted emotive representation of a tortured artist at her best....