There are some albums that, even before listening, you automatically sense that, going on past form, you're on a winner. Of course, going on past form doesn't always work out as expected - ask any punter!
However, when you have a vocalist and guitarist such as Petra and Andy performing songs associated with Julie London then you can rest assured that you're on the musical equivalent of an odds-on favourite.
It's an album that is just so beautiful. Petra doesn't attempt to copy Julie - who could? Instead she puts her own interpretation on Julie's songs. It's a two-way street and no one loses.
Husband Andy slots nicely into the Barney Kessel/Al Viola role both as accompanist and tasteful soloist. Some of his chords give you goosebumps making you wish you were a guitarist or, if you are a guitarist making you wish you weren't! Listen to the guitar intro and the subsequent backing on It Never Entered my Mind and you'll see what I mean.
Every track's a gem and, if you thought you'd never ever want to hear Cry me a River again - this may cause a rethink!
There may be better vocal albums this year but I'm not holding my breath. Lance
Lonely Girl; Trav'lin Light; You've Changed; The End of the World; Something Cool; Here's That Rainy Day; The Meaning of the Blues; Blues in the Night; It Never Entered my Mind; I Should Care; Baby Won't You Please Come Home; Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most; Cry me a River.
2 comments :
Ah, great to see this review. I remember seeing Andy and Petra for the first time in 2017, on a Chicago visit - I was hugely impressed by Andy's lyrical playing and Petra's lovely voice. This new album sounds terrific - I'm wondering if Lance has any information about its release, and how we can purchase it here in the UK?
Doh! I just went to Petra's website - petrasings.com - and ordered it from there. Easy peasy!
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