30

Harry Connick Jr.

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 23, 2001)
• Original Release Date: October 2, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005QERZ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #151,438 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After 1988's 20 and 1992's 25, Harry Connick adds another chapter to his series of pared-down piano-and-voice albums. 30 is essentially a man and his keys--you have to wait until the fifth track, "If I Were a Bell," for a bass to finally sneak in. Connick starts things off with Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'" and continues with another low-down boogie, an instrumental version of the Mack Gordon/Harry Warren song "Chattanooga Choo Choo." The material's fairly conservative (Connick's a traditionalist through and through) and usually fulfills its relatively modest aims--which, after all, is more than can be said about many records. Cole Porter's "Don't Fence Me In," for instance, acquires a nice boogie shuffle. Wynton Marsalis adds understated trumpet to the last track, "I'll Only Miss Her (When I Think of Her)," but the Reverend James Moore's vocals on "There Is Always One More Time" are a little too overheated in this record's minimal context. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Mellow, October 24, 2001

By	Jennifer (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This will be one of the albums I keep in my CD changer forever. It has some with vocals, and some just instrumental. For the most part it is just Harry and his piano. It is very mellow and is a great way unwind after a crazy day. He does get a little up tempo with "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree". My favorite song on the album is "There is Always One More Time". Harry has a guest vocalist on this song. It is a beautiful song and Harry makes it even more beautiful. He is a truly gifted pianist and singer which he proves with this album. I would have liked to have seen a little more originality in the two albums he released this time, but he did not let down this fan by any means.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Show, Good Show, October 25, 2001

By	JB - See all my reviews

I have read the Amazon.com editorials on both '30' and 'Songs I Heard' and have to completely disagree with the negative tone that the dear editor portrayed on the album (30). I bought both albums at the same time and initially liked Songs I Heard better, as it is a very warm album. However, 30 is gaining ground quickly. It seemed to me that there was a larger percentage of instrumental music without voices than normal in 30, but still Harry shines through in both piano and voice. I will say, though, it seems to me to be more towards a blues album (maybe Harry's mid-life crisis? ;-P ) and focuses almost primarily on losing someone (a girl) rather than holding someone. There is certainly a hint of Harry's New Orleans jazz roots with two songs specifically referring to it ( track 6 and 9). For the editor to say the vocals on "There's always one more time" is out of context is to not understand the context. Was it different from the other tracks? Certainly. Perhaps you can argue that, but it follows a line of progression.... jazzy--New Orleans--Blues-- You could swear they are in a New Orleans Soul Gospel church in about 95 degree weather and 110% humidity singing the roof down. In that context, it follows beautifully. 30 is different. 30 is good.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harry + piano = excellence, November 17, 2001

By	"52w" (LONDON United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

With this CD you will hear Harry at his most intimate just his piano and voice and a few close friends. You feel that you are actually sitting in on the recording. His playing is both exciting and mellow and his singing is soulfull and inspiring. Some reviewers seem to be confused that Harry does not sing on every track but that is the nature of such CDs as 11, 20, 25 and 30 where Harry's piano playing takes the spotlight. Harry minus his big band does not mean the listener is being short-changed instead they are experiencing another side to his music. Relax and enjoy it!