Customer Reviews

Woman Love

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Who can explain what goes through the mind of a record exec? As Burton's liner notes explain, this album was quashed for US release in 1980. What a shame, but this release is now our gain! Can anyone explain how a song as beautiful as Heavenly Blue could be ignored? Or the snappy horn solo-ed Fine State of Affairs? This follow up to Dream Of a Child just seems to grow on you with repeated plays...One and Only, another gorgeous ballad, has Cummings signature all over it, along with the album closer Wakin' Up Today. With a host of band and studio buddies, including Jeff Baxter on guitars, Lenny Castro on percussion and Jim Horn on sax, this collections fills a big gap for us US fans...It should never have been shelved...listen and see why!

You have to own this one. This is the recording that caused Burton to walk away from millions. Once you've heard it, you'll understand why he stuck to his "guns, guns, guns". It is lamentable though that this may have cost him being more of a recognizable solo artist outside of Canada. I feel he's as talented as his contemporaries (Billy Joel/Elton John), but perhaps his principles cost him that kind of recognition. At least if you're reading this, you're one of the folks who know how talented this man is. This is Burton's favorite solo recording, it'll be one of yours too.

I have been a Guess Who fan since 1970, and bought all of the Burton Cummings albums that were available, including his self titled first, My Own Way to Rock, Dream of a Child, and Sweet Sweet. When Woman Love became available on the internet, I snatched it up. I was amazed and a bit upset that although the other material was great, this CD was superior. How in the world did this classic collection of BC music not make it to the public before this. Please release Plus Signs and Heart.

Interesting. I am a Canadian, and I recall "Fine State of Affairs" as a big hit here, and likely my fave BC solo track ever. It's so full of nostalgia, humour, atmosphere and you can really pop your fingers to it. Anyway, I picked up an original vinyl of this not too long ago and surprise - the album is excellent. I was surprised to read about it being "quashed" for US release. In case the original artwork was not reproduced in the CD, I'll tell you what you got inside. First, the inside record sleeve: A picture in glorious soft-focus colour, the entire size of the sleeve, showing a well-dressed Burton and an unidentified young blonde woman, skipping hand in hand through a beautiful park, a look of ecstacy on Burton's face. Why is the woman unidentified? because she's wearing a paper bag over her head! On the other side, the same scene from the back. Then, you get the lyric sheet. Another picture, but in sepia-blue, of Burton and his bag-lady, this time sitting on a rock, with Burton in a smoking jacket, hand on her shoulder, looking very pensive and far-off but in an aristocratic way. Listen to the words of "Fine State.." and maybe this all makes sense. I think BC had a rep as a misogynist, but who cares? the album is great and features Garry Peterson (ex-Guess Who drummer) and Kurt Winter (ex-GW guitar) on many cuts. The songs are beautifully crafted ranging from smooth jazz to 50's blues or toe tapping hooks. Production first-rate and Burton's voice still had lots of edge (he's kind of lost it now, as recent Guess Who reunion tours show).

... I can hardly believe that this collection of radio-friendly tunes was never released in the US! Were the execs at the US offices of Epic records asleep at the wheel when "Fine State Of Affairs" came out?

I tell ya, you Americans have missed out on so much terrific Canadian music over the years - Keith Hampshire, Zappacosta, Peter Pringle, Roch Voisine, Powder Blues, Michel Pagliaro, the Spoons, etc., and the list goes on and on. There's a whole lot more to us than just Anne Murray and Shania Twain!

This style of music really suited BC - too bad he didn't stick with it.

One of the most overlooked players in rock, Burton Cummings is at the absolute height of his (immense) powers on this release. How the US record company could reject an album half as good, let alone as sublime as this is, remains one of the great mysteries of rock. But kudos to Burton for sticking to his guns and refusing to alter it to please 'the suits'.

'Had To Be You' is possibly the best song he's ever written, and I think it's one most people will relate to lyrically. 'Where Are You' is also superb, and as Burton himself notes, does indeed sound VERY like contemporary Boz Scaggs tunes. But, while those two tracks stand out, virtually everything else comes very close to being that good - the exception being the title track - the only cover tune on the album, which, I suspect, few people will find to their tastes. It's BCs favourite cut from this album, which goes to show that the artist really isn't always the best judge of his own work (strangely, BC is usually spot on, but not this time!)

That minor misstep aside, this is easily Burton's best solo album. Come to that, it's better than anything the Guess Who ever put out either. Almost worth ruining a career on, you might say...rock on Burton!

If you are only familiar with Burton Cumming's first few solo efforts, you will experience, in my opinion, his low points and high points together on Woman Love. The first track, Feels All Wrong is dreadful. It is a frenzied paced over-the-top pop song that sounds more like an experiment than a strong follow-up to his wonderful past solo efforts. This along with the title track and one or two others are throwaways.

Then suddenly you here track two, One And Only; a jazzy pop soul song that you will play over and over. Heavenly Blue, the CDs fifth track is considered Cummings finest song ever. This track alone is worth the album. There are several other high points on here. Burton's writing and his voice are at their peak on this release.

Burton is a gifted writer, along w/ his musical talents, and in the liner notes, he articulates the tribulations & heartaches involved in his struggle against the record execs regarding how this record was to sound. Burton's victory was only partial, as the final product, WOMAN LOVE, was released exactly as he envisioned it (he also was producer), but only in Canada. This was a tragic decision for Burton, and for his dedicated US fans, as he was never much heard again stateside("You Saved My Soul" was to receive airplay for about 5 minutes). This is a tougher sounding CD than his previous solo releases had been. Several good rockers, perhaps the best tune being "It Had To Be You", featuring "Skunk" Baxter (who did some of the best Steely Dan leads). The Voice sounds very Guess Who on that one. Those who favor the smoother, mellower side aren't disappointed with "Heavenly Blue" and its storybook imagery, and "Where Are You", kind of a boogie fever, swingin' in my 3 pc white suit under the moonlit Brooklyn Bridge thing. The title cut, originally done by Gene Vincent ("BeBopaLuLa") takes same getting used to, being a little quirky, but interesting as Burton sizzles passionately (good stereo echo voices) over a bass line that reminds one of "Fever" (with similar percussion to the Dion version)in reverse. If I had to pick at something, I'd say that the closer, "Waking Up Today", is not on par with the rest. But some of my friends on the web think it's the best cut on there...go figure! Of the BC solos, I'd rank this one 3rd behind PLUS SIGNS (released in Canada in '89--needs to be reissued) & MY OWN WAY TO ROCK, and ahead of BC (Debut LP), DREAM OF A CHILD, HEART, SWEET SWEET, and UPCLOSE & ALONE.

Burton Cummings solo career doesnt get any better than this. Hard to believe this record was never released in the U.S. Its got the great ballads such as Heavenly Blue and One and Only. Its got great rockers like Mile a Second, Had to be You and Fine State of Affairs. I bought a copy of this record in Canada in the early 80's. Hearing it on CD for the first time reinforces the feelings I had for it back then. Though much less known than the other BC reissues, this is the best of the bunch. Just goes to show that record company politics can and do get in the way of great music at times.

I have enjoyed the Guess Who from the age of 10...on up. I didn't buy Burton's solo albums when they were released. However now that I'm in my 50's...and there is such a shortage of great music...I've collected all of Burtons albums. Of all of them, this has to be my favorite of them all. Its a shame it never was released in America as I've read. "One and Only"....Great vocals....and lyrics...just beautiful. Unfortunately this is a pricey C.D. But from start to finish its worth every dollar. I was lucky to get a gently used copy. Hopefully Burton will hear his fans asking for a new release of this great album. RDC/Kansas City