Search - Timi Yuro :: Very Best of

Big, wonderful, emotional voice and impressive talent.

Line of beauty in jazz | Miami, FL | 07/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dinah Washington once said of her, "Timi's voice doesn't come from the throat, but from the heart. She doesn't just sing the song, she lives it".

The little girl with the big voice, Timi Yuro was America's finest white soul singer of the 1960s.

Her million-selling debut single, "Hurt," introduced a performer of such profound poignancy and depth that many listeners assumed she was a man, an African-American, or both, and while Yuro never again achieved the same commercial heights, her finest records deserve mention in the same breath as Aretha Franklin, Irma Thomas, Dusty Springfield and the other soul queens of the era.

Timi was born into an Italian-American family in Chicago. Against the wishes of her father - who beat her for singing - from seven to 10 she was encouraged by her mother to take operatic training, and recorded several demo discs. She was also exposed to African-American culture through her friendship with black neighbours, who played records by Dinah Washington, an artist who left an indelible influence on Yuro's style.

In 1961, when rhythm and blues artists like Ray Charles and the Drifters were crossing over into the US pop charts, the timing was perfect for a white, female artist with the emotional firepower of an African-American soul singer. Such an artist was Timi.

Her deep, strident, almost masculine voice, staggered delivery and the occasional sob, created a compelling musical presence, the white performer who astounded everyone with the depth of her music and fantastic songs such as the Bacharach's classic "The Love Of a Boy", 'Hurt", the Charlie Chaplin's staple "Smile", "Confessing", "Make the World go Away", "I Apologize" and "What's a Matter Baby".

"Hurt" was a remarkable recording début for Yuro - the power, the confidence and the feeling for lyrics are all in place.

Though Yuro's more famously associated with "Hurt," it's "What's a Matter Baby" (whose title is angrily spit out almost as a single word) that is her masterpiece, where she shows all her incredible skills, mixing an infectious brew of pop/soul/country.

"The Love Of A Boy", was arranged and co-written by Burt Bacharach, but she refused to sing a follow-up, "What The World Needs Now", in the way he wanted. The song became a hit for both Dionne Warwick and Jackie DeShannon.

The sound is very soulful, Timi is backed by a tight Stax sounding house band, and she performs with her customary passion.

Timi is not with us anymore.

It's a great loss to the music world and this album serves as a reminder of that beautiful voice that went lost.

Listening to this compilation, you will get in the mood for more of this big, wonderful and emotional voice.

Dusty in Memphis

Best Of...1958-1980: Come and Get Me

Very Dionne

Burt Bacharach's 60 Greatest Hit Songs

"

Another "Best Of"

M. J. Rossiter | UK | 10/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It seems a shame that so many of Timi's compilation albums all seem to contain many of the same tracks, with some being rerecordings. All of thse are wonderful, as this lovely little lady never made one bad record.

She really was blue eyed soul, and I don't think anyone has ever put such emotion on record. She was so underated, but why? She could sing the phone book and rip your heart out!

She cut an album called "Something bad on my mind" in London in the mid sixties, and it was one of her best, and yet it appears to be the only one never released on cd. Several tracks from it have been released on various compilations, but never the entire album. Please do all us fans a huge favour and put this album out on cd for us.

There is a company who will transfer any album to cd, but my copy of this particular album is far too valuable to risk sending it anywhere. The company in question told me it is virtually unobtainable, so, once again, please release it on cd.

We have lost Timi, but her voice will live on forever.She was unique, with perfect phrasing, and a voice that would melt the hardest of hearts. Her version of "Are you lonesome tonight" (not included here) makes Presley sound like an amateur!

I have everything Timi recorded on vinyl, but i am loathe to play them because they are far to precious, and I am scared they could be damaged as many are collectors items, but somehow cds don't have that feeling about them yet, and I don't mind how many times I play them. Those with the original albums and 45s will know what I mean.

Mike Rossiter UK"

Very Best of Timi Yuro

Joanne C. Perry | victoria australia | 07/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This tiny lady Timi Yuro has one of the best voices that has been heard.

She is brilliant and should have been given the chance to go on further."