Soulful Divas, Vol. 3: Softly With A Song

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This volume of soul expert David Nathan's series of soul-woman minihits and obscurities covers love ballads of the late '70s and '80s, which means the potential ick factor is pretty high. But, though plenty of the lyrics rhyme "right" and "tonight" and there are a few too many tasteful strings and chiming synth fills, Nathan's dug up some swell vocal performances: Minnie Riperton keeps her legendary multioctave range in check on "Memory Lane" until she can't hold it in any more, Merry Clayton gently torches "When the World Turns Blue," and Dianne Reeves brings a touch of quiet-storm smooth jazz to a cover of Rickie Lee Jones's "Company." Extra points for bringing Dionne Warwick's "So Amazing" to American CD for the first time. --Douglas Wolk

Tracks:

Memory Lane - Minnie Riperton
So Good, So Right - Brenda Russell
So Amazing - Dionne Warwick
I Am His Lady - Melba Moore
Love Comes Easy - Eloise Laws
In My Life - Patti Austin
This Time I'll Be Sweeter - Angela Bofill
When The World Turns Blue (Melodies Of Love) - Merry Clayton
I've Never Been To Me - Nancy Wilson
The Best Thing We Can Do Is Say Goodbye - Gladys Knight
Company - Dianne Reeves
Old Friend - Phyllis Hyman
Confide In Me - Diana Ross
It All Begins With You - Jody Watley

Amazon.com

This volume of soul expert David Nathan's series of soul-woman minihits and obscurities covers love ballads of the late '70s and '80s, which means the potential ick factor is pretty high. But, though plenty of the lyrics rhyme "right" and "tonight" and there are a few too many tasteful strings and chiming synth fills, Nathan's dug up some swell vocal performances: Minnie Riperton keeps her legendary multioctave range in check on "Memory Lane" until she can't hold it in any more, Merry Clayton gently torches "When the World Turns Blue," and Dianne Reeves brings a touch of quiet-storm smooth jazz to a cover of Rickie Lee Jones's "Company." Extra points for bringing Dionne Warwick's "So Amazing" to American CD for the first time. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

Inspired, majestic compilation..best of it's kind!.......1998-10-06

I didn't think it was possible, but this 3rd Volume of a wonderful collection entitled SOULFUL DIVAS, actually does not have a single bad track on it! Unlike most compilation CD's, this one makes sure that every single track is filled with magic and something "extra" that makes it special. No filler here.

It would take too long to enumerate all the wonders of this CD, with it's showcase of some of the most beautiful ballads of recent years, so I'll settle for the basics.

The opening track "Memory Lane", sung by that fantastic songbird, Minnie Riperton, is an amazing feat indeed. She sings in every possible note imaginable, and reminds us that Mariah Carey is just a child. What a phenomenal range Riperton possesed, and listening to this track reminds us what a loss we suffered with her untimely passing in 1979 at 32. By placing Riperton's track first, the producers responsible for this compilation set the standard for the quality to come.

The rise in quality begins with Dionne Warwick's "So Amazing" a, deceptively simple ballad upon first hearing, but the power of Luther Vandross's melody slowly takes shape, and eventually you feel completely engulfed by Warwick's soft, cooing vocals. A fantastic post 60's performance from Ms. Warwick, one of her best. It shows that when paired with adequate material, she can still deliver the goods.

Angela Bofill ups the ante a little with her "This Time Will Be Sweeter", sung with complete abandon.

Merry Clayton takes it a step further with "When The World Turns Blue"..her anguish and vulnerability are so real you better keep this track away from anyone who's recently lost a lover.

Nancy Wilson takes it to the pinnacle with her spirited "I've Never Been To Me". Aside from her fantastic swing time, she also does a phenomenal job of interpretation. Some claim that Wilson is wasting her "jazz voice" on such pop fare, but I say "Pshaw!". Wilson's range and vocal flexibility only add layers to this slightly kitsch song. Wilson coos, whispers, yells, cajoles, cries and eventually sighs. A complete performance in under 4 minutes.

Vocally, we sense the strongest work from Diane Reeves. Her sturdy version of Rickie Lee Jones' "Company" would make anyone want to run out and purchase all of the music of this much ignored jazz vocalist.

Phyllis Hyman's "Old Friend" adds a sort of dignity to the CD. Although not a flawless performance, Hyman's rendering is so heartfelt, so genuine, you can't help but buy into it. Another sad loss in the Soulful Divas echelon.

Stuck in the middle somewhere is Gladys Knight's respectable "The Best Thing We Can Do Is Say Goodbye." Material perfectly suited to singer would be an understatement. Knight works her way around the song wonderfully. Although not as powerful as her version of "I'm Coming Home Again" on Vol.1 "Pop N' Soul Sirens", this track still has plenty of spunk.

The 2 weakest tracks come at the end, although they are rather good performances for the two singers, they seem to suffer in comparison with the genius that preceeds them. The last two..Diana Ross' simple "Confide In Me" and Jody Watley's slightly off-pitch "It All Begins With You" might seem fantastic when compared to other poor quality vocals around today, but when compared to the mastery of Knight, Bofill, Reeves, Wilson, Warwick and Riperton...they just seem tepid.

Overall, Soulful Divas Vol.3 is a fantastic display of incredibly talented vocalists, some well known, some forgotten, but all special in their own way. Who says you can't have too much of a good thing? This listener is in heaven!

Music:

Music

Music