Search - Stacy Sullivan :: West on 40

Sparkling variety

Steven R. Becker | Columbus, OH USA | 09/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are songs that should be #1 on at least three different charts. "Goodbye don't get any better than this" should be a country classic/hit. "I feel the earth move" should be a smooth jazz classic/hit (and make Carol King jealous of the vocals and arrangements). "Everyday" is a great rock rendition. Any guy whose girl plays and "A long good night" and doesn't perk up has been dead over a week. "Night life" is fantastic. There are no clunkers anywhere.

This is not an album for background, each cut demands your attention, and rewards it.

You will have several favorite cuts, and your absolute favorite will change from week to week or month to month.

Just great vocals and arrangements, start to finish.

"

Second album is a masterpiece

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 08/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oklahoma may not be one of the more famous states, but it has produced its fair share of musical talent including Patti Page and Reba McEntire. Stacy Sullivan may not attain the level of success that those two fine ladies did although she certainly has the talent. Stacy's elder sister, KT Sullivan, is a successful cabaret singer (well worth hearing), but Stacy's own music is more wide-ranging, with elements of jazz, pop and country - the same elements upon which Norah Jones built her huge success. I love Norah's music but, to my ears, Stacy has a superior voice.



This album (like her debut, At the beginning) is generally mellow, but there are a few more energetic songs on this one, culminating in a rousing cover Everyday.



As on her debut, Stacy has selected covers from a variety of sources including Amanda McBroom (Dreaming), Carole King (I feel the earth move), Bob Dylan (Simple twist of fate), Mary Chapin Carpenter (Why walk when you can fly), Willie Nelson (Night life), Hoagy Carmichael (How little we know) and Buddy Holly (Everyday).



The other songs are new to me and may be originals. They are A long good night (very sultry), Goodbye don't get any better than this (an amusing country song written by Stacy's brother, Tim), I hate to see you go (a sad ballad), Trying to do the right thing (a lovely romantic song) and Make it look easy (a great up-tempo song).



Stacy is capable of singing several different types of music equally brilliantly. In the 1940's, such versatility was appreciated (as the popularity of Jo Stafford proved). In today's market, where American radio stations select a target audience and play music to suit, they do not usually like such versatility - however, Norah Jones has proved that a versatile singer can rise to the top.



I don't understand what the album title (West on Route 40) has to do with the music, but when the music is this good, it really doesn't matter. If you enjoy Norah's music, give Stacy a listen - she's even better."