FINALLY ON CD!
E. Schiffer | San Francisco CA | 11/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Although Waldman has had an interesting and successful career as performer and songwriter, she never had the career that this, her first album, promised. Unlike some of her singer-songwriter contemporaries, she never had that "pop" hit that would have spelled mainstream success. Instead, she produced a string of distinguished folk-rock albums, none better than this one. Up til now, only a few of these cuts were available on CD (on the "Love is the Only Goal" compilation). "Thinking of You" is a great love song, which demonstrates exactly how the whole introspective-singer-songwriter "thing" was in fact related to the period's more socially-conscious music. "Pirate Ships" is a beautiful lullaby for all ages (no wonder Judy Collins quickly covered it), "Gringo en Mexico" was a smart and funny expression of the impulse toward (what we would later call) "world music.' (no wonder Maria Muldaur quickly covered it). Think of her as California's best answer to Laura Nyro."
She Should Have Been A HUGE Star!
Mark D. Prouse | Riverdale (Bronx), NY | 06/22/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Maybe her songwriting was too sophisticated, or maybe her voice wasn't commercial enough (although I'm not the only one who has noted vocal similarities to both Laura Nyro and Carole King), but Wendy Waldman should have been a much bigger star than she was. It must have been deeply frustrating for such a hugely talented writer and performer to craft five nearly perfect albums and to see none of them chart. She did have a few modestly successful singles, but that was about it. Yet this woman has it all (she's still around; I got all five of her Collectors Choice reissues from her own website, autographed, no less, plus other items, including her long out-of-print vinyl album, WHICH WAY TO MAIN STREET): a distinctive, flexible voice, songwriting, arranging and production chops equal to any of her greatest contemporaries, advanced technique on several instruments, and impeccable taste in musicians. This debut is a great place to start, but all five of her Warner Brothers albums are worthy of repeated listening, with GYPSY SYMPHONY and the self-titled third album the best, in my opinion, followed by THE MAIN REFRAIN; STRANGE COMPANY is the weakest but has some bright spots that make it worth buying, if you like the others. This record contains some songs that were covered in short order by Judy Collins and Maria Muldaur, so why didn't the general public sit up and take notice? Today's younger female vocalists all sound alike to me, save the more independent-minded, who don't get radio play, and several old-timers who are still struggling to be heard. If you want a singer/songwriter whose voice is unique and full of character, whose songs have both beautiful melodies and interesting lyrics, listen to any of Wendy Waldman's first records. If you're anything like me, you will be hooked! I've reviewed the other CD's, and they do all suffer from one irritating flaw: while the sound is both clean and warm, the record level is somewhat lower than normal, which makes it hard to mix the songs in with others on "shuffle" mode. Don't let that stop you! Just crank up the volume and enjoy..."
