Album Title: Downtown
Why I Bought It: When I was a kid, we had one of her LPs. It wasn't this one; I remember that it included the song "Two Rivers", which isn't on this one (and which I'd like to find). Still, this one has most of her best work.
What I Like (Colorful): "Downtown". I've spoken of my love for this song before, of its rich instrumentation and voicing. Her greatest hit, bar none. Honorable Mention: "I Know A Place" - basically the same song, but not quite as good.
What I Like (Pensive): "Who Am I". Urban anomie, finally countered by the memory of a good man's love; a song, ultimately, of contentment with one's lot. Honorable Mention: "The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener".
What I Like (Joyous): "This Is My Song". There are several songs like this on this album - "My Love", "A Sign of the Times", "Colour My World"; I judge this one the best.
What I Like (Come Home): "Don't Sleep in the Subway". A plea to a missing lover, but a serious one - "To reason is not what you care for" aren't exactly the words of someone giving in....
Overall: An excellent album. "Colour My World" is a little discordant to my ears, but with that exception I like everything here. The somber "You'd Better Come Home", the mournful "Kiss Me Goodbye", and the exuberant "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love" round out the collection.
Why I Bought It: When I was a kid, we had one of her LPs. It wasn't this one; I remember that it included the song "Two Rivers", which isn't on this one (and which I'd like to find). Still, this one has most of her best work.
What I Like (Colorful): "Downtown". I've spoken of my love for this song before, of its rich instrumentation and voicing. Her greatest hit, bar none. Honorable Mention: "I Know A Place" - basically the same song, but not quite as good.
What I Like (Pensive): "Who Am I". Urban anomie, finally countered by the memory of a good man's love; a song, ultimately, of contentment with one's lot. Honorable Mention: "The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener".
What I Like (Joyous): "This Is My Song". There are several songs like this on this album - "My Love", "A Sign of the Times", "Colour My World"; I judge this one the best.
What I Like (Come Home): "Don't Sleep in the Subway". A plea to a missing lover, but a serious one - "To reason is not what you care for" aren't exactly the words of someone giving in....
Overall: An excellent album. "Colour My World" is a little discordant to my ears, but with that exception I like everything here. The somber "You'd Better Come Home", the mournful "Kiss Me Goodbye", and the exuberant "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love" round out the collection.