Customer Reviews

Woman's Touch

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way" is one of my all-time favorite songs-- a true Soul classic. Now, 17 years since her last album, Thelma is back with a superb collection of new tracks.

First, the cover photo. At 61, Thelma Houston looks fantastic. And as for the music, my "first listen" random streaming thoughts: the voice is strong, rich, soulful, powerful, glorious. Back-up singers: awesome. Stand-out gems: a slowed-down, funked-up version of Marvin Gaye's "Aint That Peculiar" that is a bluesy, gospel-influenced gem. Top-quality recording, great instrumentation, hot brass. Her take on Sting's "Brand New Day" is wonderful. Thelma's voice rips into the song, and the sublime back-up singing is a joy. If anything, Thelma's voice seems to have gotten richer and more expressive over the years.

I recommend this album without reservation. If you appreciate soul, R&B, Motown, or outstanding female vocalists, Thelma will fill you with love and happiness!

Five SOULFUL Stars!! WOW! Thelma Houston has produced a HUGE performance after more than a decade's absence! What a great concept: taking songs associated with great male soul performers, Ms Houston takes command and does each one her way. Long thought of as one of the major 'Disco Divas' and famous for her awesome disco anthem "Don't Leave Me This Way", she proves she's ready for the next phase of her career beyond the earlier singing days and her acting and stage careers. Using great arrangements, a hip enthusiastic chorus, a hot band, and her own huge beautiful soulful voice, this is a clear 'grand slam home run' of a CD.

From Teddy Pendergrass ("Wake Up Everybody") to Marvin Gaye ("Distant Lover") to Sting ("Brand New Day") to Al Green ("Love and Happiness") to her update on Isaac Hayes' version of Glen Campbell's "By The Time I Get to Phoenix" to Luther's "Never Too Much", she comes up with winner after winner, redefining each song into a new diamond-like personal performance. Each song carefully crafted to be a winner and stand on it's own. She 'talks' her way into many of the songs, in the R&B/soul tradition of 'setting up a song with a story', established by singers like Mr Hot Buttered Soul, Lou Rawls, Barbara Mason, and Linda Clifford. She does major musical surgery on both Marvin Gaye songs: a gospel-influenced "Ain't That Peculiar" and a sizzling "Distant Lover". The icing on the cake: the Percy Mayfield blues classic going all the way back to 1950, a dynamic "Please Send Me Someone to Love" that begins with a four note quote from Gaye's "Let's Get It On". Spread the word, Thelma's back and she's on fire with a fabulous voice. The sound is clean and clear. My Highest Recommendation. Five HUGE Stars!!

(This review is based on an iTunes digital download.)

It's been far too long since Thelma Houston made a cd, and while I would like to see a collection of NEW songs, I know that is not happening much with classic arists.
However, any time Thelma makes a new cd it is a welcome return. A nice thread of songs made famous by male singers now get "Thelma's" touch. and while you here at Thelma's page, if you have not heard her 1970 "Sunshower" lp produced by Jimmy webb this is a great time to pick up that gem as well before it's gone.

OMG!! Thelma it is about time! This is one GREAT CD. The song selections couldn't be better. It is everything that is good about classic R & B. But doen't expect retro. Thelma doesn't just cover the songs SHE OWNS THEM! Move over Isaac, Thelma's By The Time I Get To Phoenix sets a standard in a new light. Wake Up Everybody addresses 2007 without being preachy. Sting's Brand New Day is a brand new song.....a better song. You MUST BUY this CD. Crank it up and drive until it has played through a few times. You won't stop smiling.

It might seem like an insignificant moment to you, but it hit me hard with the first note I heard Thelma sing on her new CD, A Woman's Touch. It wasn't the song I was listening to that gave me the flashback, no, the song on my soundtrack memory was Thelma's 1977 hit "Don't Leave Me This Way", and it pierced my mind's ear in stereo. It was my 18th birthday, disco was living, and I had the rest of my life to make a mark on the world. I was learning to be a disc jockey and working at a local dance club spinning records. Because I was suddenly deemed legal, I was promoted from "teen" nights to "adult" nights. Being 18 meant I could stand behind the turntable until 2 AM as well as sip on a 3.2% beer. I had planned my play list for this historic night in advance and Thelma's was the first song I laid the needle on. All was well.

All is great with Thelma Houston's new CD! I shook myself from my memory flashback and listened in the present as Thelma sang. This is her first studio release in 17 years and as I listened, I wondered about the memories it might have evoked in her.

Making A Connection
Thelma Houston's new work is a collection of her favorite songs from some of the greatest male singers. She truly redefines the work of such legends as Luther Vandross, Rev. Al Green, and Sting, as well as Marvin Gaye. She doesn't just cover them; she makes these songs her own.

Now, I really want to put this in the right words; her presentation of these seasoned hits was done in such a unique style. Wait, that's too vague. What I'm trying to say is that Thelma seemed to be talking as well as singing the lyrics. She knew the ideal each song held and she conveyed it with her own message. There were actually times on the CD that it seemed she was talking to me. The topics ranged from taking time to address the world around me and taking my own stand, to the courage and heartbreak involved in leaving someone, or something, behind. I found my own personal theme in this project - I might not always like what it is happening around me, but I have the right and the power to change my life and the lives around me. As a woman, I'm allowed to be weak for a moment or two, but I need to know that I'm always the rightful owner of my mistakes. I'm also the diva of my own destiny. After my tears, my celebrations should be bright and bold with a great rhythm and blues beat. It's okay to get mad, it's okay to cry, it's okay to leave and to laugh, and at the end of the day, it's most definitely okay to dance.

A Woman's Touch
Thelma Houston
©2007
Shout! Factory

1. Wake Up Everybody
2. Never Too Much
3. Brand New Day
4. Ain't That Peculiar
5. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
6. Distant Lover
7. Love And Happiness
8. Dance (Disco Heat) /You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
9. That's The Way Of The World
10. Please Send Me Someone To Love

My personal favorites were, "Wake Up Everybody", "Brand New Day", "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" (made me cry) and "Dance/You Make Me Feel" (made me dance).

Thelma Houston's new CD "A Woman's Touch" on the Shout label is an excellent return to form. The years have added to her vocal expressiveness. Both the instrumental backup and her powerhouse vocals are topnotch. The opening track "Wake Up Everybody" is incredible that opens with a Middle Eastern flavor and shifts into a positive anthem with a great funky groove, "Wake up all you teachers, you'll better teach a new way; Maybe then they'll listen to what you have to say." Luther Vandross' "Never Too Much" glows to a disco beat. Houston transforms Sting's "Brand New Day" into a soul croon. Smokey Robinson's "Ain't That Peculiar" slows as Thelma wrenches tidal waves of emotion. Perhaps the most updated track is Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix." Houston worked with Webb on her under-appreciated "Sunshower" set and adds a three-minute talk intro before wading into the classic melody on the 7-minute track. Marvin Gaye's "Distant Lover" swoons with a classic soul arrangement, "Heaven knows that I've longed for you every night & sometimes I yearn through the day." Al Green's "Love & Happiness" jumps alive with Thelma's masterful touch. The set concludes with Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone to Love" with a slow sweet swinging beat, "Heaven please send to all mankind understanding & peace of mind, and if it's not asking too much, please send me someone to love." This is a great set from a classic voice. Enjoy!

It has been literally YEARS since Thelma Houston has recorded an album and here she is twenty-three years after her last R&B hit, "You Used to Hold Me So Tight" (#6 U.S. R&B) with the same smoky and powerful voice which is completely intact!

Here, one of R&B's most unsung ladies of song tackles other (favorite) songs originally recorded by some of her favorite male vocalists which include Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Glen Campbell and the late, Sylvester (James. Every song which she sinks her big chops into, she does so with aplomb and a voracious musical hunger and an enthusiastic approach.

As always, Houston remains a fave in quieter R&B circles while other divas have attained more public favor. This is perpelexing as she has comparable vocal abilities along the lines of Jennifer Holliday or Gladys Knight. Thelma's is by NO MEANS a small voice. Therefore, this album should have won in the Grammy's "Traditional R&B" category. To date, her one TRUE shining moment remains the Disco/Soul classic, "Don't Leave Me This Way" from 1975 on Motown.

I have always liked Thelma Houston and enjoyed her Motown hits like "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning,"yet I wasn't really a fan... UNTIL NOW! I picked up this CD based on the song selection and a review I had seen praising the project. I am so glad I got it, because the entire CD is STUNNING! Honestly, "A Woman's Touch" is one of the best CD's I have heard in years, in any genre, and I buy a LOT OF CD's! I can not praise this disc highly enough! A classic!

This cd is very disappointing for the disco queens who loved Ms. Houston in years gone by. Save your money.