Search - Kathy Mattea :: Time Passes By

A Great Way for Time to Pass By

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 05/21/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Time Passes By" finds Ms Mattea in a reflective mood as she contemplates about her the time that has passed by. You will enjoy her thoughtful reflection of unrequited love on "What Might Have Been," or be amused by a delightful story as in "Harley," or enjoy an afternoon of romance out in the wide open spaces in "Summer of my Dreams." This album finds Ms Mattea in a reflective mood -- sometimes with a tear of joy, sometimes with a cry of regret, and sometimes with a whisper of hope. The album closes with the classic "From a Distance" in which Mattea and producer Allen Reynolds add a celtic touch to this classic. A very satisfying album for the thoughtful and for those tired of the mechanical assembly line country."

Kathy in reflective mood

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 06/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kathy was one of the top country queens in the late eighties. Her blend of various musical styles - mainly country with folk influences and a little (only a little) pop flavor - reaped a rich harvest. This album was released in 1991 but failed to make the impact of its predecessors. I cannot believe this had anything to do with the quality of the music here, although this is a very reflective, mellow album devoid of any catchy, up-tempo songs that were a feature of her earlier music (remember Walk the way the wind blows). At a time when up-tempo songs were particularly fashionable, this may not have pleased country radio stations. Even so, A few good things remain was a big country hit.Kathy and her husband Jon Vezner became friends with the obscure Scottish folk singer Dougie Maclean. On Kathy's first visit to Scotland, the three of them got together with some other Scottish musicians and recorded From a distance, a song first recorded by Nanci Griffith but which has also been covered by several other singers, including Bette Midler (whose version was an international pop hit) and Cliff Richard. Kathy's version features bagpipes during instrumental breaks. Before buying this CD, I wondered if this was really a suitable song for bagpipes (which I enjoy if used correctly) but I need not have worried. The result is a masterpiece.Apart from that track, the album was recorded in Nashville and produced by Allen Reynolds, who is perhaps best remembered as Crystal Gayle's producer during her most successful period in the seventies. The titles of the songs - Time passes by, What could have been, Summer of my dreams, A few good things remain - often fit the reflective nature of the album. The strange story song, Harley, seems out of place lyrically with the rest of the album, but it is quite amusing even if doesn't sound credible.This is not my favorite Kathy Mattea album - I generally prefer her earlier music - but it is still an excellent album that should not be ignored."