Search - Marlena Shaw :: Blue Note Years

If you're a Fan..........Get This along with her "Anthology"

fetish_2000 | U.K. | 02/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Amongst the most versatile vocalist's of her generation, thereby able to both belt out a high powered ballad, and imbue tunes with a delicate tone, she should have by all rights completely dominated the female diva scene in the 60/70's but alas it wasn't to be. Having recorded for several record labels (Columbia, Verve, Sony, CBS) this compilation concentrates squarely on her time with the legendary `Blue Note' label. Alas, it doesn't contain my favourite Marlena track "California Soul", but what it does include is a smouldering 10 minute live version of "Woman of the Ghetto", and a sexually charged version of "Me and Mrs Jones", with Marlena easily manoeuvring between powerful & expressive disco diva vocals, and vibrant sensual smouldering. Because of her work spread across various record labels, are her best work cannot be easily compiled onto one Cd, But here remains the best of her work on the worlds most distinguished jazz label."

Good Music, But...

WhutchaNeed | USA | 08/09/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"THE BLUE NOTE YEARS has 16 songs from 1972-1976; three are live recordings (1, 10, 11) from 1973.



The music is good, but the packaging is trash. While the recording/release dates are provided via publishing/copyright years, little else is provided: no albums of origin, musician personnel, chart info, etc. There is no other photo included other than the same couple black & white photos used on the cover. The essay by Dean Rudland is unremarkable at best; it is poorly punctuated and printed in a difficult-to-read cursive font.



But while the booklet is lacking, the music is enjoyable and the sound quality is good.



Stateside/EMI did a much better job with their Baby Washington collection.



Note: Only tracks 3 & 4 are from 1976 and 5 & 6 are from 1974; the other twelve tracks are from 1972 or 1973."