Eva's Immortal Legacy (Songbird - Eva Cassidy)

Name: jusophine

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Product:	Songbird - Eva Cassidy
Date:	04/04/01 (273 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Pure class, easy to listen to.

Disadvantages: You may neglect the rest of your album collection.

Songird is a collection of songs recorded by the late Eva Cassidy, who tragically died of bone cancer back in 1996. Her music has now been brought to British audiences thanks to airplay on Terry Wogans BBC2 radio show, and more recently, an airing of her version of Garland's classic 'Over The Rainbow', on Top Of The Pops 2, accompanied by a simple video of her singing the song.

The album features songs taken from three of Eva's albums; 'Live At Blues Alley', 'The Other Side', and the posthumously released 'Eva By Heart'. The album is a testomony to Eva's musicianship, in which she covers the styles of jazz, gospel, folk and blues. It features not just her vocals, but also her acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboard, and strings. If you have never considered yourself a lover of these types of music, don't be put off, the album is extremely easy to listen to(demonstrated by it's recent rise to #1 status in the British album chart), and is pure class.

The album opens with Eva's version of Sting's hit 'Fields Of Gold.' I'm going to stick my neck out and say that for my money, this is an improvement on the original, for it's simplicity in high-lighting the melody and poetic words. Like so many songs from the album, the words of this song seem strangely full of premonition;'You'll remember me when the west wind moves along the fields of Barley...I swear in the days still left, we will walk in fields of gold.' This is a truly beautiful song.

'Wade In The Water', is a traditional song with Eva's own arrangement. It's a blues/jazz number that is reminiscent of Negro Spiritual music. I defy you not to tap your feet or click your fingers along to the swinging bass.

One of my favourite songs from the album is 'Autumn Leaves'. The song features a piano solo(performed by Lenny 'The Ringer' Williams), and Eva accompanying he
rself with accoustic guitar. It's a calming, peaceful song, that demonstrates the power of nature(in which Eva sought refuge), to evoke memories and emotions of past loves.

The next song is called 'Wayfaring Stranger'. Another traditional song that Eva herself arranged. My husband says of it,"What a funky 70's tune!" Well it does have a certain 'groovy' sound to it. It demonstrates the way in which Eva was able to turn her voice to a more demanding 'husky' sound.

The title track from the album, 'Songbird', was infact written by Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood's partner. It speaks of an all-healing love. Fleetwood himself would often 'sit-in' and play drums for Eva when ever she played his club 'Fleetwood's' in Alexandria, Virginia. The song is another ballad, and features wonderful backing vocals by Eva. Enchanting.

'Time Is A Healer', is a laid back flowing kind of song. It features the sounds of the Hammond organ, which gives it a distinctly 'gospel' feel. In some way I feel that the following lines of the chorus must be of comfort to those who were close to her;
'Time is a healer,
and all hearts that that break,
are put back together,
'cause loves heals the wound that it makes.'

'Oh Had I A Golden Thread', is a 'jazz-gospel' number, that again features the distinct sound of the Hammond organ, which follows the lead her melody takes. During the song Eva's vocals soar to great heights and acrobatics, indeed it's hard to believe that this great sounding voice can be coming from a petit white women. She has every bit of strength in her voice as some of the greats such as Arethra Franklin.

The album features three more wonderful songs, but of these, Eva's best known and probably best loved song, 'Over The Rainbow', has to be my all-time favourite. It epitomises the cle
ar, quality tones of Eva's voice. It is a haunting and now so poignant recording. The song leaves me with a feeling of the sense of loss surrounding the death of such a young and vibrant person, with all the hopes and dreams that she must have had. In this way, it is a bitter-sweet song in the true sense. What can I say, a superlative song that has reduced me to tears on more than one occasion.

In 'Songbird', Eva Cassidy has left us a collection of her finest work, immortalising her gift for generations to come. If you have not read my opinion on Eva's life and would like to, you will find it under Artists- Eva Cassidy In General. If you choose to buy this album, I can assure you that it will soon become a special belonging, that will recieve hours of play.

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