Search - Various Artists, Fiona Apple, Patty Griffin :: The Best Is Yet To Come: The Songs Of Cy Coleman

The best offer the best of the best

Glen C. Creason | Los Angeles, Ca. United States | 09/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let's hope this is a trend, this all-star cast of fantastic female singers celebrating the great songs left by one of the genuine royalty of the American songbook. Cy Coleman's better known works are standards that have passed over many sets of tonsils but this album takes some lesser known gems and allows them to shimmer next to the big blockbusters. With the inspired direction of producer/arranger/musical director/pianist Dave Palmer, Coleman's songs give off a lovely light here covered by some of the best singers in the world. The arrangements are fresh and the approaches are tailored to the vocalists, making for some astonishing results. The big songs and the big names are in the fold including the incomparable Patty Griffin singing "the Best Is Yet to Come," Madeline Peyroux pouring honey all over "I Live My Love" Fiona Apple doing some of her best singing ever on "Why Try to Change Me Now" and the amazing Australian Missy Higgins putting some velvety touches on the sultry "In Love Again." Still I have to say my favorites are from some ladies who have paid their dues and are now getting the proper recognition amongst the best. Julianna Raye's "I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life" is sung in a deceptively sweet bossa nova considering the rough edges on the lyrics that send her lover packing with a derisive laugh, albeit to hide her tears. Young Sara Watkins really makes the most out of "Too Many Tomorrows," with a story of insecurity and heartbreak made palpable by her rich vocal and fiddle accompaniment.

Perla Batalla, who just keeps getting better and better really transforms "Hey Look Me Over" from a chestnut into an anthem of hope and confidence that makes you forget everything but the long forgotten message in the lyric. Palmer's arrangements seem to lead all of these ladies and the material into new places that still stay absolutely true to Coleman's original creations. Many of the performances are quite contemplative which only highlights the complexity of the melodies and makes clear the smart lyrics.

Jill Sobule tackles the quintessential show tune "I've Got Your Number" and sort of gives Barbra lessons on how it is done now. Ambrosia Parsley takes what was formerly the personal property of Tony Bennett in "Then Was Then and Now Is Now" making it a dreamy message of forgiveness and hope. Sam Philips gets the deliciously two sided love song "You Fascinate Me So" that sort of worships a lover along with stating "danger TNT!" The beauty of these compositions is that Coleman's music is often paired with lady lyricists whose work seems to trip easily from these female interpreters including the truly existential "Where Am I Going" by Sarabeth Tucek and the playful but longing "I Walk a Little Faster" by Fiona Apple that certainly expresses the vulnerability on both sides of the war between the sexes. One of my very favorite Coleman songs is the hard-edged "the Rules of the Road" sung with bluesy authority by the perfectly chosen Nikki Costa.

While the music celebrated here belongs to the great Cy Coleman it most certainly is appropriate that all selections are sung by these strong and talented women who make this compilation one that you really have to have in your collection for a couple of reasons. This is a superb tribute to the music of Cy Coleman but it is also a CD that is literally a succulent sampler of some of America's great singers, doing the very best kind of material.

"

Interesting, if imperfect, tribute album

Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 11/09/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Broadway composer and songwriter Cy Coleman's musical genius is already well-preserved with his many hits (including Sweet Charity and The Will Rogers Follies, among others). Now comes this tribute album, masterminded by produces Dave Palmer.



"The Best Is Yet To Come: The Songs of Cy Coleman" (13 tracks; 54 min.) brings a wide array of Coleman tunes. First thing that you'll notice is that all the singers on this album are female. Not sure why Palmer felt it necessary to go that route. Second thing you'll notice is that some well-known Coleman songs are conspicuous in their absence, in particular "Witchcraft " (the Frank Sinatra hit). Once you get past those issues and you start listening to the music, there is a lot of great stuff on here. My favorite tracks are the two covers by Fiona Apple, "Why Try To Change Me Now" (with Fiona's huskiest voice yet, just superb) and also "I Walk a Little Faster". Other highlights on here include "I Live My Love" (by a certain Madeleine Peyroux, whom I've not heard before), and Patty Griffin's cover of the title track. Not so good, unfortunately, is "The Rules of the Road", as covered by Nikka Costa (and I'm a HUGE fan of her), as is simple pales in comparison to other (better-known) versions. But it's not a major quibble, and in all I've been really enjoying this album.



I will admit that, but for the fact that Fiona Apple appears on this compilation, I don't know that I would've picked this up. That said, I really hope that this will find a broader audience as this is a fine tribute to Cy Coleman."