Search - Janis Siegel :: Experiment in White

20 Years haven't dulled 'Experiment In White'

J. Collins | 07/07/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hurray! About time! (String of similar jubilant exclamations!)Janis Siegel's '82 solo platter is one of those elusive recordings that (I assumed) would never be offered in a commercial digital transfer. Though the rest of her solo catalog (and work with Man Tran) has been available at some time on CD, this album (originally on Atlantic Records) has been out of print for long years. It took a minor label in upstate New York to bring "Experiment In White" out of mothballs, and I for one am thankful for their efforts.Funny thing is, this label (Wounded Bird Records) has done a better job at sound with 20-year old master tapes than Atlantic did with their original pressings. And it's not just a matter of digital vs analog quality here...this CD has brilliant, CLEAR highs and solid lows, quite unlike the pinched sound I got with five separate sealed copies of the vinyl album. It's a shame that there aren't any bonus tracks, but at this price I think the omission is certainly acceptable.The musical direction of this album is a bit more varied than some of Janis' latter day albums; EIW includes bits of R&B, Folk, Big Band, Scat, Vocalese, and of course, pure Vocal Pop. Though some of these "experiments" are far more successful than others, the album is always a pleasant listen. Fans of Janis as balladeer will swoon at "All The Love In The World," "Guess Who I Saw Today" and "To Be With You." Want something more edgy? How about Janis' duet with Jon Hendricks, "Don't Get Scared," or their interplay in "Jackie"? I know, you want something spunky and sassy, and I've got two tickets for you: "Back To The Islands" and "Hammer And Nails."My favorite track is a great remake of Mary and Les Paul's "How High The Moon." Janis' version features her voice in a massed overdub, which packs a subtle wallop as it rides atop Les Paul's gorgeous guitar tracks. This arrangement later became a standard of Manhattan Transfer's stage shows, but even THEIR version pales in comparison to the one included here.Speaking of inclusions, this album has guest talent all over it. Jon Hendricks, Phoebe Snow, Les Paul, Mac Rebennack, Ralph MacDonald, Marcus Miller...even a young Whitney Houston gets in on the act by joining her mother Cissy Houston in the chorus. But ultimately, this is Janis' show, and she takes to the boards in joyous, exuberant voice. THIS is the Janis Siegel who transformed lightweight songs like "Helpless" and "Twilight Tone" into driving musical statements. Though some fans may find this album a bit too scattershot to qualify as "Jazz" or even "Pop," I don't think anyone could deny the ambition and unvarnished passion of Janis Siegel's performances in "Experiment In White.""

Well it's about time! and.... thank you!

Kevin Stanton | Pittsburgh | 03/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Janis' first solo effort is finally on cd. With an extra track too!

Although this seems to be little more than a showcase for her talents, it is carried out well.

'Back to the Island', 'Guess Who I Saw Today', 'How High The Moon' and 'Hammer and Nails' really get their justice with her.

Her voice is expressive and immediate. She can smooth it out (Guess who I saw today) or make it rough (Hammer and Nails) or bounce it along (Back to the Island).

Her resume at the time was limited to the Manhattan Transfer and included mostly standards and doo wop. The extra track, 'Something Tells Me I'm Into Something Good', is reminiscent of the doo-wop the ManTran did. I do believe they do backup for her here too... but it is a good version nonetheless. The comfort of working with other voices that are known to harmonize well and support of friends was a wise choice.

'Jackie', 'To Be With You' and 'All the Love in the World' also shine here.This is unlike her later releases, but worth the buy.

Anyone who is into the Manhattan Transfer or Janis herself will appreciate this cd. Long awaited and worth the buy.

"

Fortunately, she didn't quit her day gig.

Larry D | Los Angeles, CA United States | 05/12/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"As a Manhattan Transfer fan from the first time I saw them on the Merv Griffin Show in 1974, I bought the LP of "Experiment in White" upon its release in 1982, without having heard note one. I haven't had a working turntable since the early 90s, and hadn't heard this collection in probably 15 years. I think Janis Siegel is one of the better pop and jazz vocalists of her generation (I fear that her decades of relative pop success with the ManTran have deprived Janis of the jazz cred enjoyed by contemporaries like Cassandra Wilson and whippersnappers like Jane Monheit); but back in '82, I found this album scattered and only intermittently interesting -- still do. Like many of the Transfer's albums, when it's good it's very good; and when it's not, one wonders what she could possibly have been thinking. "Back To The Islands" is in mono (on purpose -- the liner notes reference Phil Spector and "Back to Mono", in French yet), but aside from that, there's nothing particularly special about it: it could be Nicolette Larson. The other obvious attempts at a hit single ("All The Love In The World", "Lovin' Eyes", "To Be With You") are equally typical 80s pop fare, and none of these cuts age particularly well. Things finally get crackin' with "Hammer and Nails", a cover of a tragically obscure Staple Singers number from 1962, with a beat borrowed from the Pointer Sisters' "Yes We Can Can", Phoebe Snow trading lead vocals, and veteran session singer Cissy Houston and the young Whitney on backups. Side two of the LP began with "How High the Moon", which probably seemed like a good idea at the time, but it's merely a note-perfect copy of the Les Paul-and-Mary Ford record, so why bother? (The Manhattan Transfer would record it, as well, so somebody must have liked it.) "Guess Who I Saw Today" showcases Janis' Big Ballad voice and it's good, but you only need to hear it once (it's not Janis' fault -- it's the nature of the song itself). Along with "Hammer and Nails", two collaborations with Jon Hendricks are the high points: "Don't Get Scared", which Hendricks had originally performed with King Pleasure in the 50s, and "Jackie", originally done by Annie Ross just prior to the formation of Lambert Hendricks and Ross. Again, they're both the kind of note-for-note covers that were the Transfer's bread and butter for the first 20 or so years of their career, but they're well executed and not the most obvious choices she might have made (I mean, hey, she could have done "Twisted"). The bonus track, "I'm Into Something Good", is just plain unnecessary -- Herman's Hermits did this one for the ages, and just about anybody who cares about such things has also heard Earl-Jean's (slightly less fabulous) original. The fact that Ellie Greenwich (who co-wrote the song) sings back-up on it is trivia. Besides, back in the day, Ellie was singing back-up for just about anybody who'd have her. I bought this CD for old times' sake, and for "Hammer and Nails" (which righteously rocks). But unless you're a Janis Siegel freak or a Manhattan Transfer completist, I'd turn back if I were you."