I'm Coming Home Again [Import] [Limited Edition]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
24-bit digitally remastered reissue of the jazz vocalist's 1981 double album, packaged in a miniature gatefold LP sleeve. Absord Music Japan. 2003.

Tracks:

I'm Coming Home Again - Hubert Laws, Carmen McRae
Burst in With the Dawn - Freddie Hubbard, Carmen McRae
I Need You in My Life - Hank Crawford, Carmen McRae
Come in from the Rain - Cornell Dupree, Carmen McRae
I Won't Last a Day Without You - Jorge Dalto, Carmen McRae
(Won't Cha) Stay with Me - Hubert Laws, Carmen McRae
Everything Must Change - Carmen McRae, Grover Washington, Jr.
Sweet Alibis - Carmen McRae
Masquerade Is Over - Carmen McRae, Buster Williams
I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love - Hank Crawford, Carmen McRae
Mister Magic - Hubert Laws, Carmen McRae, Grover Washington, Jr.
New York State of Mind - Carmen McRae

Customer Reviews:

A Classic Gem of Jazz for All Time!!!.......2004-04-30

This is one of the best jazz albums ever recorded...period. Every song flows flawlessly into the next. Each cut is arranged, engineered, and orchestrated perfectly.

Carmen McRae is in very fine voice throughout. She doesn't simply sing these lyrics. Her voice becomes an instrument itself, expressing emotion with deep feeling. Just listen to "I Need You In My Life" or "Won'tcha Stay With Me" to experience this phenomenon.

The guest musicians who added their gifted artistry are none other than Hank Crawford, Jorge Dalto, Cornell Dupree, Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, Chris Parker, Grover Washington Jr., Buster Williams, and Errol "Crusher" Bennet. The musicians in addition to these guests are pretty awesome. Individually and collectively, they burn up these tracks with some hot sounds.

The opening title song "I'm Coming Home Again" is magical with Hubert Laws accompanying Carmen. "Burst In With The Dawn", written by Al Jarreau, is a great uptempo number featuring the trumpet of Freddie Hubbard. Carmen's phrasing in "Come In From The Rain" is mature and the guitar solo from Cornell Dupree is excellent. "Everything Must Change" is wonderfully produced, from Carmen's vocal to the sounds of Hubert Laws and Grover Washington, Jr. "Mister Magic" is truly the best version of this song ever. Carmen is magnifique, Hubert Laws is very fine, and Grover Washington Jr. has never been heard like this before, not even on his own album version of this song. The finale is a knockout: "New York State Of Mind" with a soulful Carmen, featuring the great Freddie Hubbard and the gifted pianst. No matter how many times I play it I never, ever tire of hearing this one.

This work was originally recorded in 1978 in New York. It is now digitally remastered on CD in Canada. The sound is flawless.

My Introduction to Carmen McRae.......2002-09-07

This album was my first introduction to the vocal talents of Carmen McRae. The music backing McRae is an absolutely glorious fusion of modern and old school jazz. The singer's phrases is so effortless. This set of music is wonderful for a truly romantic evening with your "significant other", two stiff high balls and candlelight.

A heavy jazz masterpiece not for the average listener........2002-08-23

By this time Carmen had lost a lot of highs in her voice because of smoking too much.Carmen moans,groans & wails some of the finest jazz & pop material of with some of the finest musicianal backing.This is high anxiety music at its finest.A masterpiece in a painting is only done once & you can't play it and hear it agin.These are masterpieces to play again & again.If you wanted something light to click your heels up to forget this one."I Need You In My Life" is fantastic "Come In From The Rain" just as good just listen to the thunder & lightning at the end of it;listen to Cleo Laine do it on "Woman To Woman" different & also excellent.On "Everythinhg Must Change" Carmen does an 8:54 version of it.Carmen starts out on her blusey sultry behind the beat phrasing & then her musicians come in and play instrumental classical & sxxx kicking rock horn jazz and then creschendos into Carmen singing out into the middle of the desert where the camels are dead and there is no water but there just happens to be a full orchestra & a great piano to back her.Don't miss "Sweet Alabis" &"I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love" ain't nothin light."Mr. Magic 12 minute delight & "New York State of Mind" 7:4l also delight.Carmen does a beautiful balad version of the Carpenter song "I Won't Last A Day Without You".All selections are exceptional.There are 2 or 3 different formats on the market of this; doesen't really matter which one you get,stay away from the extended import version with just an extended disco vesion of Mr. Magic.This is some of Carmen's finest work towards the end of her carrer.I was floored when I accidentally found this on CD years ago.This recording company has excellent taste to be remastering something so time transcending as this recording.

Average customer rating:

Historical Time Capsule

The Civil War
Douglas Jimerson
Manufacturer: Amerimusic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004SU99
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Tracks:

Tenting on the Old Camp Ground
Wait for the Wagon
Clari: Home, Sweet Home
Oh! Susanna
The Bonnie Blue Flag
Do They Miss Me at Home?
Yellow Rose of Texas
Goober Peas
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Aura Lee
Marching Through Georgia
Just Before the Battle, Mother
That's What's the Matter
We are Coming Father Abraham
Gentle Annie
I'll be a Sergeant
Dixie
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp "The boys are coming"
For the Dear Old Flag I Die
Battle Hymn of the Republic
The Battle Cry of Freedom
America
The Bonnie Blue Flag
My Maryland
Yellow Rose of Texas
Woodman, Spare that Tree
Juanita
Green Grow the Lilacs
Lorena
Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming
Rock'd in the Cradle of the Deep
How Firm a Foundation
Blue Bell of Scotland
Storming of Monterey
Joys that We've Tasted
Polly Hopkins and Tommy Tompkins
Drummer Boy of Shiloh
Roll, Alabama, Roll
Weeping, Sad and Lonely
Vaccant Chair
Goober Peas
All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight
Dixie
Oh! Susanna
Massa's in de Cold, Cold Ground
Old Folks at Home
Camptown Races
Beautiful Dreamer
Nelly Bly
Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair
Gentle Annie
Hard Times Come Again No More
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Deep River
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
If You've Only Got a Moustache
Old Dog Tray
The Glendy Burk
My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night
Some Folks
When This Dreadful War Is Ended
Was My Brother In The Battle?
Nothing, But a Plain Old Soldier
Battle Hymn of the Republic
America
Barbara Allen
Skip to my Lou
Kathleen Mavoureen
Adam and Eve's Wedding Song
Old Sister Phoebe
Oh! Susanna
Twenty Years Ago
The Ship on Fire
Silver Bell Waltz
Your Mission
Dixie
Go Down Moses
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
Free at Last
Martha: Ach, so fromm
Die Zauberflote, K 620: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schon
Faust: Salut! demeure chaste et pure
Faust: Gloire immortelle [Soldiers' Chorus]
Hail, Columbia
We are Coming Father Abraham
Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean
Taps

Customer Reviews:

Historical Time Capsule.......2000-08-12

This is the most comprehensive recording I've found of songs popular during the Civil War period. The performances are a time capsule of Civil War music.

Average customer rating:

CARMEN MCRAE MASTERPIECE~BRAVO CARMEN & CO!!!

I'm Coming Home Again
Carmen McRae
Manufacturer: Absord Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00008OJYC
Release Date: 2003-05-05

Tracks:

I'm Coming Home Again - Hubert Laws, Carmen McRae
Burst in With the Dawn - Freddie Hubbard, Carmen McRae
I Need You in My Life - Hank Crawford, Carmen McRae
Come in from the Rain - Cornell Dupree, Carmen McRae
I Won't Last a Day Without You - Jorge Dalto, Carmen McRae
(Won't Cha) Stay with Me - Hubert Laws, Carmen McRae
Everything Must Change - Carmen McRae, Grover Washington, Jr.
Sweet Alibis - Carmen McRae
Masquerade Is Over - Carmen McRae, Buster Williams
I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love - Hank Crawford, Carmen McRae
Mister Magic - Hubert Laws, Carmen McRae, Grover Washington, Jr.
New York State of Mind - Carmen McRae

Album Description

24-bit digitally remastered reissue of the jazz vocalist's 1981 double album, packaged in a miniature gatefold LP sleeve. Absord Music Japan. 2003.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

Customer Reviews:

CARMEN MCRAE MASTERPIECE~BRAVO CARMEN & CO!!!.......2007-03-27

Carmen McRae was a legendary singer by the time the 1970's came around and her extraordinary recording output warranted far greater commercial success but with no radio support for great singers in that musically bleak period Miss McRae went from one label to another but always managed to release classic and creative collections such as this awesome masterpiece with guest appearances by fellow music legends Hubert Laws, Freddie Hubbard, Hank Crawford, and Grover Washington,Jr. and her tremendous tour-de-force version of Grover's "Mister Magic" is a wondrous listening experience! It was said that this Canadian project was a labor of love by Carmen's fellow musicians and they all donated their time with no pay in honor of Miss McRae...this is rare in the music world and shows the respect and admiration these giants had for the talented and overlooked Carmen McRae and did she ever rise to the occasion and deliver...this collection of great songs contain all definitive versions and Carmen really nails the Billy Joel classic "New York State Of Mind" and makes it a truly riveting experience that must have thrilled Mr. Joel!!! "I'm Coming Home Again" is haunting and moving as never before and "Burst In With The Dawn" is funky with a great Carmen vocal. Throughout this classic collection Carmen weaves her magic as never before and the musicans really cook and you can tell this was a very inspired musical fantasy in the studio for all...ultimately it is a magical musical experience for the listener and get this superb 2 disc Import version while it is around as the other versions of this classic don't have every great moment from the original 2 lp release plus the sound mix is perfection! Bravo Carmen and thank you for this treasure chest of incomparable performances...you are missed!!!

Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts: Songs of Stephen C. Foster

Average customer rating:

A "Boxy" Performance

Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts: Songs of Stephen C. Foster
Jeffrey Dooley
Manufacturer: Lyrichord Discs Inc.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000IM8D
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Tracks:

Beautiful Dreamer
Soiree Polka - Kathryn Cok
Ah! May The Red Rose Live Alway!
We Are Coming, Father Abraam, 300,000 More
Linger In Blissful Repose
Santa Anna's Retreat From Buena Vista - Kathryn Cok
Farewell! Mother Dear I Go
Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair
That's What's The Matter
Hard Times Come Again No More
Summer Longings
I'm Nothing But A Plain Old Soldier
My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night

Customer Reviews:

A "Boxy" Performance.......2002-05-05

Taking Stephen Foster's music out of the parlor and into the concert hall is not a new idea but here it just does not work. Jeffrey Dooley, a noted countertenor whose repertoire includes the works of Handel and Purcell, composers whose music responds to countertenors with excellent effect, renders a performance here that sounds like it was recorded inside a box, resulting in a high-pitched echo that hurt my ears and made it difficult to follow the lyrics of the songs. I gave this recording two stars because the instrumentals are quite good.

Average customer rating:

Listening to Carmen is coming home again
Essential Carmen
Great Recording! However, Be Aware.......

I'm Coming Home Again
Carmen McRae
Manufacturer: Buddah
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000K22B

Tracks:

I'm Coming Home Again - Hubert Laws, Carmen McRae
Burst in With the Dawn - Freddie Hubbard, Carmen McRae
I Need You in My Life - Hank Crawford, Carmen McRae
Come in from the Rain - Cornell Dupree, Carmen McRae
I Won't Last a Day Without You - Jorge Dalto, Carmen McRae
(Won't Cha) Stay with Me - Hubert Laws, Carmen McRae
Everything Must Change - Carmen McRae, Grover Washington, Jr.
Sweet Alibis - Carmen McRae
Masquerade Is Over - Carmen McRae, Buster Williams
I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love - Hank Crawford, Carmen McRae
Mister Magic - Hubert Laws, Carmen McRae, Grover Washington, Jr.
New York State of Mind - Carmen McRae

Album Details

Remastered Reissue of 1981 Release.

Customer Reviews:

Listening to Carmen is coming home again.......2003-08-13

The lyrics and Carmen's phrasing are soulful and rich, especially "I'm Coming Home Again". I first heard it at a seminar and use it as therapy with my clients in my mental health practice. If anyone knows the authors of the music and lyrics I would like to give them credit and thank them for the healing and the pleasure they have brought to so many.

Essential Carmen.......2001-07-05

I'd forgotten how much I liked this album back when it was released in 1980. After all these years, I'm glad I recently broke down and bought the Japanese version. This was my introduction to Carmen and it holds a special place for me. For several years prior, a friend played me some of her earlier recordings, but they didn't do much for me. This was the one that held the key to Carmen for me; from then on, I could appreciate her earlier (and later) recordings. There are probably several reasons for this...

First: rather than straight-ahead jazz, this recording is more in the style of the CTI recordings of Patti Austin or Esther Phillips of roughly the same time period, with a light groove and lovely full orchestrations.

Second, jazz purists probably scoff at the heavy reliance on then-contemporary songwriters: four by Carole Bayer Sager (the title track, "Come In From The Rain", "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love", "Sweet Alibis"), Billy Joel ("New York State Of Mind"), Paul Williams ("I Won't Last A Day Without You"), Al Jarreau ("Burst In With The Dawn"), and Bernard Ighner ("Everything Must Change"). However if it my contention that these songs qualify as modern-day standards, and Carmen's performance if incredible. Her trademark depth of feeling and jazz phrasing are evident throughout.

This double-CD import is quite expensive, and as ricardozaragoza points out, except for one song, these tracks are available on other cheaper compilations out there. If you want to hear the album as originally released, this is the place to go. But... no matter how you get these performances, get them!

Great Recording! However, Be Aware..............2001-03-22

Carmen McRae is one of the greatest jazz vocalists that ever lived. She is a legend among her fellow legends: Billie, Ella, Sarah and Dinah. And, not unlike these other legends, she rarely disappoints vocally.

As expected, she is in absolutely great voice in this album, and she exudes an enveloping warmth and an intense enjoyment of her repertoire. Especially exquisite in this album are her subtle readings of the pop classics: "Come In From the Rain" and "Everything Must Change." She charges these songs with genuine, earnest emotion and transforms them into subtle jazz ballads. She is such a gifted performer that she can make anyone forget any triteness inherent in the lyrics of the aforementioned two songs.

After all is said and done however, what I would like potential buyers of this album to be aware is that not only is this album a re-issue, it has been locally pressed under the title of "New York State of Mind." The only difference between these two pressings, other than that this Japanese import is incredibly expensive, is that this import has "Mr. Magic" presented in two separate tracks labelled Part 1 and Part 2. This is how this recording was originally released. On the other hand, "New York State of Mind," only has one rendition of "Mr. Magic." Additionally, "New York State of Mind" has the songs in a different order. Other than these two matters, these two albums are essentially identical.

In my opinion, "I'm Coming Home Again" is a must for the collector and completist, but an unnecessary luxury for everyone else.

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