Customer Reviews

The Woman I Am: The Definitive Collection

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It has been an awfully long time since Helen Reddy had her last big chart hit. Her music has all but disappeared from the radio. That's too bad. But the fact of the matter is that Helen Reddy was a major force in popular music during the 1970's. For those seeking a pretty complete anthology of her hits Capitol's 2006 release "The Woman I Am: The Definitive Collection" would appear to be an excellent choice. This disc contains just about every one of her important Top 40 hits as well as a number of gems from her LP's. Everyone will remember the great hit singles from her heyday like "Angie Baby", "Delta Dawn", "Ain't No Way To Treat a Lady" as well as the song that made her famous "I Am Woman" from 1972. But if I had to choose my favorite Helen Reddy tunes they would have to be her remake of Cilla Black's "You're My World" followed closely by 1973's "Peaceful". To be honest I had not listened to Helen Reddy's music for quite some time and I had forgotten what a terrific voice this lady possesses.

"The Woman I Am: The Definitive Collection" includes a colorful and informative 12 page booklet. I was surprised to see that another reviewer was quite critical of the sound quality of this disc. I did not find that to be the case at all. In fact, I found the sound quality to be superb and I thought the remastering really enhanced my enjoyment of these 30 year old recordings. A big "thumbs up" on this one.

The Woman I Am compiles all of Reddy's biggest hit singles from her heyday, but the real finds are minor hits, stray b-sides, & tracks never before anthologized, such as Crazy Love, Think I'll Write a Song, Candle On The Water from Pete's Dragon, and the lesser known Mama, written by Harriet Schock who also penned one of Reddy's gold-sellers, Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady. (I know Reddy is more or less retired, but she should seriously consider an entire album of Schock material.) Saving the best for last (download at iTunes), Reddy has included her original demo of I Am Woman where, accompanied by the rhythmic strumming of a lone guitar, she delivers a gutsier vocal performance than the saccharine-sweetened ear candy that nevertheless topped the charts.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS: The 20th Century Masters Millenium Collection of Yvonne Elliman (who after all originated I Don't Know How To Love Him and curiously shares another Reddy overlap with Somewhere In The Night), the 20th Century Masters Millenium Collection of Rita Coolidge, Bette Midler's The Divine Miss M (to hear how Delta Dawn should be done!), and any of Harriet Schock's CDs, particularly American Romance & Live: From Fairfax To Pasadena -- or for the truly adventurous, her long out-of-print 70's LPs, which may prove more difficult to find but are certainly worth the effort.

Long time favorite.....The Woman I Am: The Definitive Collection.........Helen Reddy....I am woman....worth buying just for that song!~....I'm glad to have this again ...the CD not the eight track....

This CD has many of Helen Reddy's classic hits. Wish she would come out of retirement and do another album!

Helen Reddy was often dubbed the queen of 1970's pop. She was definately one of the best female vocalists from the decade for sure. If you are only going to buy one Helen Reddy CD; this is the one to own. It has all of her best songs. Exceptionally great tracks include : Best Friend, I am Woman, Peaceful, Emotion, Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady and Candle on the Water. Her music inspires, entertains and educates as she put it herself in a recent interview.

This is a wonderful collection of Helen Reddy's greatest hits. I am thouroughly enjoying it.
TT

I purchased this item for a gift and the recipient is extremely please. It was a very smoothe transaction with swift shipping, I received it before the expected date. I will definitely do business with them again.

Helen Reddy has always been my favorite. She has an amazing voice. I love this CD!!

Plenty of Helen Reddys good songs! Only a couple I didn't recognize and don't care for. I'm 57.

i have been wanting a cd of this artist for a long time and i always turn to amazon.com because they have the best prices around. good cd