Search - Yvonne Elliman :: Best of

A Varied, Underrated Voice

Martin A Hogan | San Francisco, CA. (Hercules) | 06/20/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yvonne Elliman is one of those singers that you recognize on the radio, but can't place. This Hawaiian born singer first achieved status with "Jesus Christ Superstar" as Mary singing, "I Don't Know How To Love Him" and "Everythings Alright". She later ventured into other areas of pop with a cover of "I Can't Explain" and a nice rendition of "Moment By Moment" from a forgettable film (John Travolta and Lily Tomlin as lovers? Gay on Gay?) Anyway, Ms. Elliman got her biggest hits from the Gibb Brothers with her covers of "If I Can't Have You" (#1) and "Love Me". "Hello Stranger" was also a big hit with a trendy beat and since everyone was 'doing disco' at the time, Ms. Elliman did a great job on "Love Pains", one of the more popular 'listenable' dance songs of the era. This is a great collection and a sad one, knowing that this may be her swan song, but, oh, what a great one it is."

Yvonne Elliman-The Most Overlooked Singer Of All Time

Rudy Palma | NJ | 01/03/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yvonne Elliman is one of the best singers of all time, and no one knows this, and that is a big shame! This compilation includes "Everything's Alright" and "I Don't Know How To Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar, "Can't Find My Way Home" from the album "Yvonne Elliman", "I Can't Explain" from Food of Love, "From the Inside", "Best of My Love", and "Somewhere In the Night" from "The Rising Sun", "Love Me", "Hello Stranger", and "I Can't Get You Outa My Mind" from her album "Love Me", "Baby, Don't Let It Mess Your Mind" and "If I Can't Have You" from 'Night Flight", as well as "Love Pains" and "Savannah" from her album "Yvonne", as well as "Can't Find My Way Home 2", previously unreleased. after "Yvonne" was released, Yvonne Elliman phased out. Even though this CD is entitled "The Best of", there are some wonderful songs not included that truly belong in this album, such as "More Than One, Less Than Five", "Love's Bringing Me Down", "Without You", "I Keep Hanging On", "In a Stranger's Arms" and, her best song not included, "I'll Be Around". some of these songs and more are available on other compilations. Yvonne Elliman's voice was greatly taken for granted, and due to that there is hardly a person who has heard of her. Please, if you are reading this review, please purchase this album, or one of her other compilations (her "YVONNE ELLIMAN COLLECTION" is also very good). This is a singer who just cannot afford to be missed! You will not regret purchasing one of her compilations, I guarantee you!"

Worthwhile CD by good '70's singer

Jeff Pearlman | Lakeland, FL USA | 10/27/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Enough carping over the disco cuts here. Can't you people dance? Just think: without the draw of "If I Can't Have You," a non-Bee-Gee-performed #1 hit from "Saturday Night Fever," this compilation might never have been made. But that doesn't diminish the impressive range of material Yvonne Elliman sings so well here. She's powerful and intelligent on "I Don't Know How To Love Him" and yearning and seductive on "Love Me." Love the mellow wah-wah guitar bubbling away on the latter, by the way--great soft-disco hit written by Barry and Robin Gibb.My favorite surprise on this disc is Pete Townshend himself powerchording away on Yvonne's version of his "I Can't Explain." Second favorite is that she belts it out rather than go mellow like Judy Collins covering Dylan. I also liked "Savannah," a rock-oriented album track from 1979. Most people won't be able to follow this from Jesus Christ Superstar, the Who, and Blind Faith to the Eagles and Bee Gees pop-disco without disliking something. I like this era and enjoyed pretty much the whole record. I've read that Ms. Elliman still performs as a session musician; I'm pretty sure her name has graced the credits of lots of yours and my records from the years since she stopped recording as a soloist. This is a fine "Chronicle" of her time in the pop spotlight, not bad to remain a chart playa from roughly '71 to '79."