To See You

Harry Connick Jr.

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 11, 1997)
• Original Release Date: November 11, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002C42
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #152,217 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Slow and sensual, Harry Connick Jr.'s ode to love is a shock to those accustomed to the pop stylings of his best-known work. In spirit, To See You represents a return to Connick's prestardom self, reflecting the imaginative musicality of that edgier sensibility. Yet Connick shows off a matured ability for composition and arrangement, creating poignant tapestries for his love-struck protagonists. On "Heart Beyond Repair," Connick confidently backs off midway through a torch-song vocal, giving saxophonist Charles Goold room to blow seductively through to a quiet swing groove. Connick lets the song fade in and out, finding a mysterious rhythm in the quiet patches, only to bring back that croon for a final coda. Elsewhere, the inventive use of the orchestra colors "Love Me Some You" with abrupt tonal and dynamic shifts, enhancing the song's jazzy, sometimes dissonant core. In exploring the oldest subject matter known to humanity, Connick has a trustworthy muse with which to experiment. Fortunately, his exploration of the heart yields riches of tuneful discovery. --Matthew Cooke

Jazz Times

[H]e eschews a former penchant for vocal swaggering, and his keyboard work is less contrived. Best tracks: "Once" and "Let's Just Kiss," with lyrics and melody that could earn them status as 21st-century standards.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It gets the job done, May 21, 2003

By	BustaChong "bustachong" (Torrance, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Just to clear this up because it's bugging me, the one star comment was slightly inaccurate in regards to songwriting; Harry's writing is actually pretty clever when you look at works in Blue Light Red Light, We Are in Love, and the Star Turtle concept album, to name a few. This particular album, as explained in the liner notes, is a CD solely dedicated to love, and the many forms thereof. If you're looking for a "When Harry Met Sally"-esque swing, or a "She" funk sound, stay away from this bad boy. "To See You" is the type of thing you put on during a candelight dinner or something romantically similar. If I were to point out a flaw, it would be the tendency to sound similar song-to-song, but I'm thinking that was the intention. The orchestration on top of the jazz quartet and, of course, Harry's jammin' voice makes for a very romantic CD indeed. If you could express the feeling of love in notes and words, this is a pretty accurate example.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too much of a good thing?, February 14, 2002

By A Customer

What's the best part of the Cracker Jack? The peanuts of course. Everyone loves the peanuts because they are delicious. However, when the Cracker Jack peanuts were marketed as just peanuts without the popcorn, the product didn't perform well. It seems the peanuts' appeal is diminished when taken out of the Cracker Jack formula.

This album is filled with wonderful songs, and fine performances. The arrangements and ensemble playing are top notch. The vocals are, of course, outstanding. Any track by itself is a true gem.

You put all this together, and it becomes too much of a good thing. Too much of the same kind of music, same tempo, same dynamic, same instrumentation. It makes me drowsy, even though I recognize that the music on the thing is outstanding.

The reason why composers write symphonies with four contrasting movements is because the human mind just can't take that much of the same thing without becoming bored. A coherent artistic product has to have some variety to be interesting as a whole. The best albums mix moods, styles, tempi to keep the listeners interest. To see you's weak point is that it is too much of the same thing.

However, the songs are really excellent, and if you want some unobtrusive background music for a romantic dinner, you can't beat this. It seems a shame to relegate this to background music though, because the songs are so good.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I'm torn, July 2, 2005

By	M. Copeland "connoisseur of true music" (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I know Harry is super talented, but this album seems to be maybe too much of a good thing. It is definitely subtle and somber, and I think it can verge on monotonous. I hate to make Harry background music, but that is really what this cd is good for. Songs wane and meander too much for the average listener. Like it or not, there is something about being able to "predict" music that makes it likeable. This is great mood music behind a formal dinner party or a romantic evening, but one should be warned not to listen to it in the car - you'll likely fall asleep at the wheel! But it was a wonderful effort, Harry. Truly a generous and classy composer and artist.