Search - John Berry :: I Give My Heart

Light the candles and pour the wine

C. Kempton | Hilliard,, Oh United States | 03/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is well titled as John sings great love songs (and some of his own) with a sultry delivery. Only John Berry can take someone else's hit and make you forget the original artist. This is definitely a "dim the lights and pour the wine" kind of CD to spend the evening slow dancing and feeling the love John Berry so elequently conveys. Absolute perfection!"

A great singer being himself

Patricia L. Grove | Rothschild, WI United States | 02/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Berry has played the music industry game, listening to the "experts" at various record companies. But not this time around with his love song collection, "I Give My Heart." Berry is, as he says, president and janitor of his own label, Clear Sky Records, and you can certainly tell that he enjoys the freedom of not being contained to one style or genre. The standout track is an update of Al Green's "Let Stay Together." Berry's voice oozes with soul, gliding effortlessly between stratospheres. Just don't try singing along. "Time in Bottle" moves at a slower pace, but sounds just as melancholy and reflective as the original. "Lady" may be a few octaves higher than the Kenny Rogers version, but Berry makes it his own. "I Just Wanna Stop" as a song may not be as classic as some of the others, but Berry faithfully brings it to life. "Faithfully" is one of several new renditions of Berry's own songs (this gem originally appeared on 1996's Faces CD.) It will be ten years ago in April that "Your Love Amazes Me" topped the country charts (on the very day Berry had brain surgery.) This version proves that some things really do get better with time.Perhaps the most romantic of the bunch are the two new songs Berry wrote himself. "Since the Day That I Met You" is obviously biographical, and straight from his heart. And "Will You Marry Me?" is already being used in marriage proposals, just a few weeks after its release.This CD appeals to a very wide range of people: country fans, pop fans, soul fans, romantics, and anyone who appreciates fine music performed by a world-class vocalist."

A Hearty Portion of Love Ballads

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 03/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Faithfully, Will You Marry Me, Since the Day I Met YouJohn Berry's in the league of his own. While country music boasts a generous dollop of Haggards, Jones and Straits, vocally Berry could never be convicted of cloning. With a distinctive, almost operatic voice, Berry belongs more in the class of crooner Michael Buble or even Michael Bolton than any of today's Stetsons wearing country wannabes. Other than Gary Morris and to a lesser extent Ronnie Milsap, in country music, Berry is without peer. Musically, to say Berry is gallous is an understatement. During his tenure with Capitol Records, Berry has blasted the country charts with his own signature full-bodied power ballads such as "Change My Mind," "You and Only You," "Your Love Amazes Me" amongst many others. "I Give You My Heart" is Berry's first independent studio album since 2001's All the Way to There." Without the reins of a major label, Berry is at liberty to let his true colors as a balladeer shine. This collection of love songs certainly leans more in the adult contemporary direction than rustic earthy country. With that said, the songs here fall into three categories: there are a couple of new songs, some evergreen standards and the re-recordings of some of Berry's formerly released songs. To my ears, the cream of the crop is the new material, so let us start from there. "Will You Marry Me," the current single, is not the Alabama and Jan Arden hit of the same title. Though similar in theme and tempo, "Will You Marry Me" is a brand new romantic ballad from the pens of co-producer John Hall, Berry himself and fellow artist David Lee Murphy. Frankly I was astounded to see Murphy credited as one of the co-writers. Repudiated for his rowdy brand of country a la "Party Crowd," it is a pleasant surprise to see an outlaw like Murphy being so emotionally articulate. Equally superior is Berry's own "Since the Day I Met You," a pensive love song that is poignant and sweet. "Since the Day I Met You" is postcard perfect for being the follow-up single not only to country radio, but, with the right promotion, it could also be an adult contemporary hit. Amongst the standards, my favorite has to be the seminal Jim Croce's 70s ballad "Time in A Bottle." With a melody that is beautifully constructed and lyrics poetically pieced together, such love songs rarely exist today. Backed by a complementary plaintive string arrangement, Berry has never sounded more sincere. The tempo picks up a little, though not much, with the R&B infused Al Green standard "Let's Stay Together." With his robust vocals, Berry grooves along nicely putting a little soul in this masterpiece. However, not everything works here. I was not enthused with Berry's straightforward rendition of Lionel Richie's "Lady." I felt that with Berry's vocal caliber, he should have given this over-familiar paean a face lift. The same goes with the Bread's or David Gates' "If." They are by no means bad, just a tad too close to the originals to re-generate excitement. Four of Berry's previous recordings are re-recorded here, though with little variations. Most noteworthy is "I Give My Heart"-listening to how Berry hits and holds those high notes is itself a treat. "Faithfully," which was formerly available only on a European compilation album is Berry in classic proportions. A tribute to endearing love, Berry's heartfelt performance certainly silences critics who thought that romance was nothing but a fleeting moment. In the light of these two momentous performances, Berry's reprise of his big hit "Your Love Amazes Me" and his lesser known title cut "I Give My Heart" become perhaps an exercise of tedium. Overall, if you are into love songs sung by a classy singer without being fussy over musical genres, this is a must. My other quibble, though minor, is with the album cover-it just doesn't match up with the superior song quality. Granted this is self-financed album, the pictures and type set appear amateurish and perhaps even shoddy. But, as I said this is just minor, don't let the cover deter you from this otherwise excellent CD."