Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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48 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
HE TOUCHES THE HEART, November 17, 2003
For those who follow these reviews, I haven't written one in over a year. On November 3, 2002, I got very 'personal' in my last review, talking about the inspiration and hope I felt when listening to Liza Minnelli's valiant comeback attempt in her "Liza's Back" CD. I didn't get too specific, but the fact is, we had just learned that my wife, Sande, was suffering from cancer. My beloved Sande died in February of 2003, and just as I was ordering Steve Tyrell's latest CD, "This Guy's In Love," I was notified that his own beloved Stephanie had died of cancer on October 27th of this year.
Knowing this, it is almost impossible to listen to this latest collection of wonderful Tyrell songs without, once again, 'getting personal.' I'm not naive enough to think he ran out and recorded every number the same day he got his own bad news, but still.....I can all too easily imagine the depth of his suffering and pain when I hear the melancholy treatment he lends to such classics as "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," "The Nearness of You," "I've Got A Crush On You," and "They Can't Take That Away From Me." Especially touching for me was hearing "A Love Like Ours" (dedicated in the liner notes "for Steph") and "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" (which is actually about a broken romance, but I think Mr. Tyrell and I understand the deeper, more tragic undertones of the lyrics.)
However, the last thing I intend to do here is imply that only the lonely (or heart-broken) can enjoy the vast talent of Steve Tyrell. I, personally, have been a major admirer of his since he first started recording, which you will know if you ever happen to see my 'Listmania' compilation titled "THE BEST MEN (Musically Speaking)." I place him in pretty good company on that list! He has a rare gift of coveying emotion, be it happy or sad, and he is quickly becoming a legend. And without sounding more morose than I already have, I have updated my own future (and I'm hoping for the very DISTANT future!) funeral arrangements to include only two recordings....both his from earlier releases...."For All We Know (We May Never Meet Again)" and "I'll Be Seeing You."
So, OK, this may all seem a little depressing, but it's not. A voice like Steve Tyrell's....his magical ability to touch the heart (and soul)of everyone who has the privelege of hearing him sing....is something to celebrate, shout about from the rooftops, and ENJOY. Enjoy the genius of Steve Tyrell on his latest CD, and let's hope for many, many more....for many years to come.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great singer with a spectacular song set!, November 11, 2004
Steve Tyrell has a magnificent voice! That somewhat raspy, soothing tenor voice of his is perfectly suited to sing the "standards of the American songbook" like the songs on this CD. This was my first Steve Tyrell CD and it will certainly not be my last!
Steve's CD starts out with "Isn't It Romantic?" and "Just In Time." A very nice beginning! Most if not all of the songs on the album are re-arranged somewhat to give them a distinctive style and feel that is Steve's own. He moves effortlessly from song to song. Steve gives a strong performance on this CD.
It's hard to say which song of mine is my favorite on this CD; they are all wonderfully performed and arranged! I was always partial to "Georgia On My Mind" but "Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You" blew my mind away! Terrifically strong and yet very romantic both at the same time!
This is actually an "enhanced CD," which means that you can place it in your computer's CD drive to help you navigate to Steve's web site. If you don't have a computer you can alternatively use Steve's web site listed in the insert as www.stevetyrell.com.
The liner notes include the song credits with some lovely black and white photos of Steve. There's also a photo of Steve with Burt Bacharach in 1969. He dedicates the album to his recently deceased mother.
The quality of the sound is excellent; you'll swear he's right in your living room!
In short, I highly recommend this CD for fans of the standards and of course for Steve's fans as well. If you like great performers such as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., or more modern artists like Dr. John, you will love this CD! You'll also like this if you liked Rod Stewart's recent songbook CDs. I write this at the beginning of the 2004 holiday season; this would also make a lovely present for someone you care about! Great for romancing, too! SMILE
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS GUY'S IN LOVE; Isn't It Romantic?, December 21, 2003
One might think we've heard the best of Steve Tyrell. With three albums--A NEW STANDARD, STANDARD TIME, and THIS TIME OF THE YEAR--already to his credit, each one more exciting than the one before. But no. Tyrell has fulfilled all expectations with his new offering, THIS GUY'S IN LOVE.
Opening with Bob Mann's groovy guitar, Tyrell steps up to perform his magic on Rodgers and Hart's "Isn't It Romantic?" and within the first few bars, I felt my face auto-launch into smile mode. The standards are here, but with Bob Mann arranging, you can count on a fresh approach. The old and familiar songs sound as though they were written for Steve Tyrell. And Tyrell's style makes them sound as if he wrote them himself. And of course, Tyrell calls on the talents of the best musicians out there. Alan Pasqua, Bob Mann, Clark Terry, and Plas Johnson shine on several of these selections. Mann adds nice vibes to "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To." And Antoine Silverman's fiddle melds well with Tyrell's unique take on Hoagy Carmichael's classic, "Georgia On My Mind." This is so special. You can't listen to Steve Tyrell sing "Georgia On My Mind" without smiling. With Tyrell's marvelous voice, lyric by the Bergmans--"Amazing how serene it is, the shade of evergreen it is"--and Mann's wonderful guitar, "Love Like Ours" is easily the most romantic moment on this generally romantic album. Michael Brecker performs jazzy sax solos on Gershwin's "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and Jules Styne's "Just In Time." Brecker took time out from winning Grammys, and is noted in Jazziz magazine as, "...the most influential tenor stylist of the last twenty-five years." Burt Bacharach arranged, co-produced, and plays piano on two songs he wrote with Hal David. "This Guy's In Love With You" belonged to Herb Alpert for thirty-five years. Now it's Tyrell's song. "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" was previously recorded to perfection by Barbra Streisand but Tyrell gives new life and a bit of drama to this incredibly beautiful ballad. There are no duets and that's a good thing. While the ladies who joined him on previous albums certainly held their own, we do buy Steve Tyrell's music to hear Steve Tyrell. Listen to it. Isn't it romantic? And what a gift for everyone you love. They're sure to find an old favorite love song sung the way Steve Tyrell--and I--think they should be sung. Or maybe you'll find a new one. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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