Joan Osborne - How Sweet It Is
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Joan OsborneBrand: Baker & Taylor
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2002-09-17
Music Label: Compendia
Soundtracks:
- I'll Be Around
- Think
- How Sweet It Is
- Smiling Faces Sometimes
- Love's In Need Of Love Today
- These Arms Of Mine
- Only You Know And I Know
- War
- Why Can't We Live Together
- Axis: Bold As Love
- The Weight
- Everybody Is A Star
Free Music Notes for How Sweet It Is
Free Music Review: Loved it on the first listen, and still do. A classic.
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm surprised to see such negative reviews here. I got this when it first came out, and I was stunned by the first listen of the CD (a rare occurrence for me). I go by the expression "expectations die hard"--I don't have expectations in life anymore. I think the people that panned this do, and they're expecting a "Relish 3". So of course they're going to be disappointed; even if it were a "Relish 3", they'd probably still complain because they're stuck on a single success in the past that obviously cannot be duplicated. It's too bad people limit themselves like that. But back to the album...I think these are all excellent readings of songs we mostly already know.
* "I'll Be Around" is mellow, like the original. She carefully executes the vocals throughout.
* "Think" of course cannot be improved from Aretha's original, but it is nonetheless so well done here. She doesn't soar on it Aretha style--but would you want her to? And the backup singers add great effect as well. Backup singers can sound too forced or too calculated; here they do not.
* "How Sweet It Is" is also mellow, yet still subtly smoldering.
* The infectious "Smiling Faces" features a smooth Isaac Hayes harmony vocal, and it's irresistable.
* "Love's In Need Of Love Today" isn't particularly distinguished, but that doesn't mean it's bad by any means.
* "These Arms Of Mine" is one of the standouts. Again, no one could ever touch Otis' original, but you'll definitely enjoy this one without even thinking of his. It's gorgeous!
* "Only You Know And I Know" is probably the kind of track the naysayers of this album were looking for. It's a great rocker.
* "War" is another standout. It is nothing at all like the original--but that's a big part of its success. I think it's a brilliant, incredibly soulful interpretation. She brings to light lines that are probably becoming relevant once again today--"war has laid waste to a whole generation, induction and destruction, who wants to die?". It's a knockout.
* "Why Can't We Live Together" is stunning and is pure soul, no doubt about that.
* "Axis: Bold As Love" is a surprising choice, but it's beautiful with wonderful harmonies throughout.
* "The Weight" is a smart (and a little sassy) retelling, again with great usage of backup vocalists.
* "Everybody Is A Star" isn't a standout, but it's still a good listen.
So all in all, as far as cover albums are concerned, I think this is a great album. I think the best cover album ever is Laura Nyro & Labelle's 1971 classic "Gonna Take A Miracle", so for me that can never be outdone. But this is up there!
Forget your expectations of Joan, and you will love it.
How Sweet It Is Poster
Ori Release '02. An album of stylish covers of R&B classics. Includes versions of Stevie Wonder's Love's In Need Of Love Today Aretha Franklin's Think And Marvin Gaye's How Sweet It Is 12 trax.With the proliferation of earthy rock chicks such as Vanessa Carlton and Michelle Branch, it might seem like an opportune time for Joan Osborne, who gathered Grammy nominations for her triple-platinum 1995 debut Relish and its breakthrough single "One of Us," to revive her flowing blues-and-folk roots. Rather than take the anticipated path, however, he New York singer offers a twist. Taking a page from Ally McBeal's resident torch singer Vonda Shepard, Osborne turns in an album of stylish covers of contemporary R&B classics. She wraps her husky voice around a supper-club version of Otis Redding's "These Arms of Mine," underscores the message behind Edwin Starr's "War" at a funeral pace, and gives James Taylor a shudder with her lush, Eastern-tinged take on Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is." Most unexpected. --Aidin Vaziri
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