Customer Reviews

Whispering Jack

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

John Farnham is by far one of the best Australian voices of the decade. This Australian teen idol of the sixties has had his career ressurected in mamoth proportions with the release of this phenominal cd. "A touch of paradise" is by far the best track on the album. Farnham's jazzy voice singing the romantic lyrics is the crowning jewel on this release. " Take the pressure down" was a hit in Australia and it's not hard to see why. This upbeat song makes you want to dance. This album is soft classic rock with romantic and passionate lyrics sung by an Australian sensation. This is Farnham at his best.

Capped off with the anthemic "You're the Voice," John Farnham's WHISPERING JACK is one monster of an album! I've had it in both cassette and CD format, and it is really a great performance. John was with the Little River Band, and gave them what I feel, their best albums - "The Net", "No Reins," And "Playing to Win." His signature tune, "Please Don't Ask Me" is one of the best romantic ballad performances of the 20th century! He has a wonderful voice--it can be rich and bombastic; smooth and seductive; mellow and evocative. He's been a smash in Australia; it's a shame he never caught on in America. He's one of the best pop/rock vocalists we've had!

John Farnham has been a huge force in the Australian music scene for decades, though he's little known in the United States. After going the garage band and cabaret route in the 1960s, he joined the Little River Band as lead vocalist in the early '80s.

"Whispering Jack," first released in 1986, was his spectacular return to solo performing. There was a wonderful VHS from his "Jack's Back Tour" that everyone in New Zealand and Australia wore out at least once; the one heartbreak is that the most fabulous performance on the VHS was "Amazing Grace," which was NOT one of the tracks on the audio version. I'd give anything to see that performance again -- and if I were in Australia I COULD since "Whispering Jack (20th Anniversary CD / DVD Edition)" was released there in late 2006 -- but right now I can't play PAL format and that's all I've been able to find.

Still, the CD delights me, even without "Amazing Grace." Yes, I replaced the audio tape with the CD and still listen to it almost every week. The haunting and challenging "You're the Voice" is the showpiece, but "No One Comes Close" always rocks me ("Of all the lovers I've ever known, you stand alone / No one comes close to you"), as does "Touch of Paradise."

Farnham's vocals stand the test of time. As for the production, there's a hint of mid-'80s garage band flamboyance about it -- and why not? That's the reality of it. But every note, every chord of this CD is special to me still.

Linda Bulger, 2008

Once upon a time there was a record store that so believed in certain newly released albumns, it guaranteed if you didn't like it you could return it for a full refund. Whispering Jack was one of those albumns, I bought it and you couldn't have paid me any sum of money to return it, it was that good! This albumn is one of my all time favorites and I am so glad it has been released on CD. Unlike most pop CDs which only have one, maybe three good songs on them, this CD is filled with good songs, memorable music and catchy lyrics.

This album was the making of John Farnham the solo artist, and almost succeeded in erasing the memories of his 60s hit "Sadie The Cleaning Lady". Full of powerful, superb songs which were cleverly orchestrated, the biggest advantage is that they show off his amazing voice. His most popular hit "You're The Voice" went on to top the charts for some time, and since then he has often been refered to simply as 'The Voice', which is a fitting tribute to his skills as a singer. Well loved in both Australia and New Zealand, he is relatively unknown in the US, which is a great pity - his brand of passionate rock should have been lapped up in the States if he had ever managed to get the right sort of publicity there, but it was not to be. As a live artist he is one of the most entertaining I have ever seen - cracking jokes with the audience and really creating a buzz amongst the crowd. If you must buy only one John Farnham album, make it this one - then you will probably want to follow it up with another (and that one should be 'Chain Reaction').

John Farnham has been a musical icon in Australia for too many years to recall. Possessing an extraordinary vocal ability this album represents one of his finest hours. It is a classic and deserves to be referred to as one.
Whispering Jack is folklore in Australia and deserves similar praise throughout the world. It is a travesty that the vocal abilities of John Farnham aren't recognised on a far wider stage then just his own country.
This album is worth every last cent.

Wow, what an album! I must admit I haven't heard it for 16 years but its still packs the punch it had back then. Few albums survive the test of time and what a prime example "Whispering Jack" is, the debut solo album by John Farnham arguably the most talented artist to emerge out of Australia. He did for it what Bruce Springsteen did for the U.S. giving the country a public hero every man woman and child could aspire to. It's really quite a remarkable album, arguably his best and one which really defined the meaning of making an individual and unique sound in the roaring synthesized noise that we call "the 80's". If you don't buy this album at least listen to "Touch of Paradise", "Pressure Down" and "You're the Voice" and hear for yourself what it means to be an unforgettable hero in Australian culture.

When I was younger (and I am not that old), I thought John F. was simply wonderful. Then my music tastes expanded, and I forgot about John's music. Recently, I found a compilation tape of his music, and regardless of the type of music I have been listening to in the meantime, which has included death metal, rock, pop, folk, and other genres, I returned to this music with refreshed enthusiasm and enjoyment. He, AND HIS BAND to my mind, have made an impressive mark on Australian music. They are truly excellent musicians and have produced a number of albums that are well worth the inclusion in any discerning musician's collection.

I discovered John when he became the replacement singer for The Little River Band ... and was immediately hooked, and a fan. I purchased Whispering Jack as a CD, which I wore out... My favorite is Touch of Paradise... and this "album" remains one of my all time favorites.

Well When I found out that John Farnham Joined The Little River Band, I really Liked him. I thought he made the Little River Band more better than Glenn Shorrock, But Still I liked Glen Shorrock too. I never knew John Farnham till he joined The Little River Band, and glad that he is one of my favorite singers. I picked this up as a Cassette, I played it so much that I wore the Tape out. But as Of today I replaced it with a CD and continue to enjoy this album from the First track to the last. I can't exactly tell you which track I like because I like all of them, but if I had to choose It would be Reasons & You're The Voice. Great songs. John Farnham has since released more albums since "Whispering Jack" but doesn't stand up to this album. I've always been a Fan of band's from Austrailia. Starts with Air Supply, Little River Band, Rick Springfield, John Farnham & Ac/Dc. Buy this Album....You won't be disappointed. If you're looking at The Little River Band with John Farnham pick up No Reins, My Favorite LRB Album With John Farnham.