Search - Juice Newton :: Juice Newton & Silver Spur

The Sweetest Beginning

Bradley Jacobson | 08/18/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Juice Newton started as the lead of the Silver Spur Band but it wouldn't be until a few year laters that she really became well known. My guess is that has to do more with timing than anything as here on her debut album she is already in control of that big voice and doing the poppy country that would make her famous.



The band has a bigger hand on the album than in later years even with male led vocals on a few songs, perhaps for big Juice fans it's a disappointment but it really makes it stand out as a group effort.



Her song choices will get much better after this but there are some real gems on here particularly "Love Is A Word" and "Just Remember Who Your Friends Are". The most notable (in trivia at least) is the first version of "The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)" which would hit huge in a re-recorded version in 1981. All in all a pretty great debut and one to have just to see how she continues to grow through the years.

"

Finally on CD: Juice Newton's debut album from 1975!

Invisiboy2001 | Chicago, IL United States | 03/18/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Before hitting it big on the pop charts in 1981, country-pop artist Juice Newton released five albums, three of which she recorded with the band Silver Spur. This 1975 debut features Newton on lead vocals for eight of the ten tracks, with the other two tracks fronted by Silver Spur's Otha Young and Tom Keeley, respectively. Newton's vocals are the real treat here, of course.



I won't tell you this is Newton's best album, because it's not. It's not even close, but it's still very good and a worthy addition to a country-music collection. This record was made back when Newton (and her co-writers) composed most of her songs, and before she'd had any significant vocal training. The result is a talented but raw vocalist singing from the gut, and quite well.



Three singles were released from this outing, but only "Love is a Word" charted, and not highly. The other singles -- "The Shelter of Your Love" and "It's High Time" -- made even less of an impact, and this album bombed (just like all Newton's "Silver Spur" albums). But there are some real gems here.



Trivia buffs will enjoy the original version of "The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)" -- a song that became a #1 hit for Newton in 1981 when it was re-recorded for her big-time breakthrough album, "Juice". Also of interest is "Stand By Me, Jesus," the only Christian song Newton has recorded (excluding her 2007 Christmas album). Also, a few really great songs show up on this album, including the rollicking, thoughtful "Just Remember Who Your Friends Are" ("Same old sun came up this morning/I guess things never really change")and the playful "Won't You Stay (Just a Litle Bit Longer)?"



Overall, this CD is a fun romp for Newton fans and country fans alike.



Recommended.



(A big thank-you goes out to Wounded Bird Records for releasing not one, but four Juice Newton CDs this year! You rock!)"