Search - Anne Murray :: This Way Is My Way/Honey Wheat & Laughter

A TRUE ORIGINAL LEGEND IS BORN

Claude Bourggeois | Moncton, Canada | 06/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anne Murray catapulted to superstardom with her debut Gold album and million selling crossover megahit "Snowbird" which has since been played over 4 million times and is one of the most popular songs of all time. Being Elvis Presley's favorite female singer, Elvis cut his own version of the song many years later. The beauty of this 2 disc set (Anne's first two major label albums) is its cheery originality and beautiful simplicity, and yes, that unmistakable voice. The songs are dreamy, poetic and the arrangements brilliant, especially the strings. Anne has fun with the catchy, uptempo "Sitting back Lovin'You" . "Sunspots" is a dreamy and haunting song. "Nice to be With You" makes you wish today's songs could be that way-unpretentious straight up, no gimmicks, just musical expression in its purest, most innocent form. This is an impressive debut from a small-town Canadian who has now become an international household name. The two albums are probably Anne's most creative and original. These are two classic albums that never should be forgotten. Give them a spin, you'll be glad you did."

Two brilliant early folk-pop albums

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 02/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anne's critics claim that all her music sounds the same and to en extent that is true. Yet there have been changes down the years, as listening to this album shows, especially if you play it soon after listening to some of her later music. The two albums here were the second and third of Anne's long and distinguished career.In Canada, the first was originally released in 1969 under the title This way is my way, but was re-issued in 1970 with the title Snowbird following the success of that song. Like many of Anne's albums, it contains a number of covers. Here you can find Anne's lovely versions of Sitting back loving you (a Loving Spoonful song that I originally came across on Dolly Parton's Here you come again album), I wonder how the old folks are at home (Mac Wiseman), Thirsty boots (an Eric Anderson song which has also been covered by Judy Collins and John Denver) and I'll be your baby tonight (Bob Dylan).The second album, Honey wheat and laughter, was released in Canada in 1970. I should add that outside countries, these two albums were not usually released separately. Instead, a compilation of the two albums was released with about half the tracks including (of course) Snowbird. This was because Snowbird was slow to catch on internationally and by the time it did, the album from which it came was no longer current. There wasn't enough interest to justify releasing both albums, hence the compilation.Anyway, both albums are included here in full and are very similar in style. The covers on Honey wheat and laughter include Fire and rain (James Taylor), Rain (Jose Feliciano), Break my mind (an often-covered country song written by John D Loudermilk) and Night owl (James Taylor). Of the originals, by far the famous is Put your hand in the hand, a song which spawned a lot of covers in the next year or two after Anne's version appeared. Incredibly, Anne's version was not released as a single because the record company didn't think it was an Anne Murray type of song. Oh ye of little faith. Still, that missed opportunity didn't harm Anne's career.Anne Murray has recorded so many great albums, but these two are fascinating, though perhaps they will appeal as much to those who like Linda Ronstadt's early albums like Silk purse as they will to fans of Anne's later music."

This way

Peter Durward Harris | 02/13/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"anne murray is one of the finest female entertainters of all
time. i have collected all 31 albums and have started on her
signature series. her persona and talent take you to places
that she can only take you to through her intense voice and
style. her long and successful career will long be cherished
i can't imagine the musical world without her. she is the geatest."