Michael Feinstein Jimmy Webb - Only One Life (15 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

Personal Opinion Only

Eric Something | Seattle, Wa | 10/08/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I was not really that impressed with this effort. Michael's
voice is technically on-point however, the way he interprets
Jimmy's lyrics just leave something to be desired. Gems include
"Belmont Avenue", "Piano" and "All Of The Loves Of My Life/ Only
One Life." People more interested in Jimmy Webb's full-length collaborations should also seek out The Fifth Dimensions "Magic Garden", Thelma Houston's beautiful (and underrated) "Sunshower"
as well as Richard Harris' "A Tramp Shining" and Jimmy's own
cd "Suspending Disbelief.""

Lush

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 10/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collaboration between Michael Feinstein & Jimmy Webb succeeds on numerous levels. Nora Jones' blockbuster CD "Come Away With Me" showed that one could concentrate on melody at a slower pace and be successful. Here, a wonderfully romantic set has been crafted. "I will win the worship in their eyes & I will lose it," Michael sings on the opener medley from "After All the Loves of My Life." 6 of the tracks here are Jimmy Webb tunes recorded for the first time including the title track that is also included in bonus form. Michael does a version of "Didn't We" that could be a closer for last call @ the pub. One of my favorites is the doo wop flare of "Belmont Avenue" from a musical Jimmy wrote called "A Bronx Tale." "Up, Up & Away" is given a Brazilian flavor and works fabulously. "She Moves, Eyes Follow" is one of Jimmy's classic melodies, "She laughs & laughter follows like ripples follow a storm." Michael takes Art Garfunkel's hit "All I Know" and gives it a very soft vulnerable sensibility. "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" and "Adios" are two of Jimmy's great songs that Linda Ronstadt has stamped while Michael's intense takes show a different facet for each tune. "Skywriter," "Is There Love After You?," "Time Flies," and "These Are All Mine" are less familiar Webb tunes that show his hallmark classic sense of melody, emotion and drama. Long a favorite from Webb's "Letters" LP, "Piano" shines with Michael's gorgeous vocals. The CD has a computer accessible video of Webb & Feinstein discussing the songs and the project that is excellent. This set is successful because it fearlessly touches the emotions in a great amalgam of performance & material. Bravo!"

It's about time!

Lee Armstrong | 10/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As someone who's admired Jimmy Webb's music for years, I kept waiting for his good friend Michael Feinstein to do a CD of his work, and it's finally here! The new music's excellent! "Time Flies" and "She moves, eyes follow" are alone worth the cost of the CD, but there's so much more! Webb's songbook is so large one can easily see Feinstein doing another CD in the future, which I hope he'll consider as there are always songs of Webb's you want included in any CD of his music that aren't. In an era where music isn't what it should be, this is a breath of fresh air!"

Another elegant posterity recording of a songwriter's oeuvre

groucho | Chapel Hill, NC, USA | 01/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is another of Michael Feinstein's "songbook" album but this time, its dedicated to the songwriting genius of Jimmy Webb (remember "MacArthur Park" as sung memorably by Richard Harris and disco-fied by Donna Summer?). The arrangements of the songs were a bit one-note, but as was explained in the liner notes, it was intended that way inorder not to conform to a formula that it should have uptempo numbers interpersed with the slower ballads. I have almost all of Feinstein albums and I must say that this is quite a departure for this New York cabaret singer and pianist because of the "contemporary" material. Feinstein is a great interpreter of the American Popular Song material where he devoted albums and mined the genius of Jule Styne, the Gershwins, Jerry Herman, Hugh Martin and Irving Berlin. The delight is hearing unknown gems from the unproduced musicals of Webb along with his famous ones like "Up Up and Away", "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" and "Didn't We". While its heresy to call this a makeout album this side of Liza Minnelli's "Gently", this CD is really a great companion for rainy days where one stays indoors curled in a couch with hot chocolate and muffins and where basking in the warmth of Feinstein's glorious vocals will transport you to the high heavens."

Meaningful, Beautiful Selections

Lee Armstrong | 01/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being recently widowed, this whole CD speaks directly to my heart. I haven't stopped listening since I bought it. For anyone who has lost the love of their life, this CD is the one. I bought it initially after hearing Only One Life on TV...But Is There Love After You, These Are All Mine, Didn't We, Adios, All I know, Skywriter all seem as though they are being sung just for me. I realize most people won't relate on the level I did, but I certainly thought it was worth mentioning. It has had an absolutely profound effect on me. Amazing music, straight to the heart, beautifully sung and written."

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