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By Charles - Music Lover (Phoenix, AZ, USA)
Holly Near's singing voice has a unique timbre; it's quite beautiful and perfectly matched to this type of material. I looked forward to the CD, remembering well the standards medley from her "Lifeline" album. Near doesn't disappoint in this great set, where she is matched with longtime musical collaborator John Bucchino on piano. (I remember seeing the two of them in concert in 1986.) From Near's liner notes, it looks like the recording process took place in three days. If they had a little more time together, I think this would have been a five-star set, but who cares? Perfection is in the eye of the beholder, and Holly Near singing standards is close to perfection.
By David Bruce (Long Beach, California United States)
It's nice to hear a kinder, gentler Holly Near. Over the past few years, she's conquered live theatre and and cabaret, as well as contributed to S.T.A.G.E. in addition to her prior political work. This disc is a natural progression for Holly, based on her evolution as an artist. And, to record this with her long-time accompanist, John Bucchino, is perfect. Holly & John work well together, and Holly sounds as if she wants these songs to be a gift. But, she doesn't always sound comfortable with the song choices. Yet, it is the true measure of an artist to be able to perform with limited instrumentation, as she does here with simply piano -- at that Holly excels. One would wonder why she doesn't wrap her vocal chops around the songwriting of her friend and accompanist, John Bucchino -- now that would be an excellent match of vocalist and lyricist.
By Mark Chancey (Saugatuck, MI USA)
The collection of songs is wonderful...the simple accompaniment perfect...but the voice is way too thin and occasonally grating to do the work justice. As much as I admire and respect John Bucchino as a songwriter and musician, I'm surprised that he wouldn't choose a performer that better matches the music...or choose music that better suits this mediocre performer.
By Adam Samuel (adamsamuel@aol.com) (London, England)
Holly Near hinted in her medley of love songs, Stormy Weather on Lifeline that she could be a major singer of show tunes. With a Song in my Heart triumphantly proves this to be the case.
Described as songs the singer's parents used to listen to, this CD is so much more than that. Slinky, jazz like, powerful and yet sometimes quite gentle, Holly Near's singing catches all the emotions needed to take on some great but not hackneyed old songs.
There are spectacular versions here of "I'm beginning to see the Light", "When Somebody thnks you're wonderful" and "You'd be so nice to come home to". I defy anyone with a sense of humour not to be humming "I've got the World on a String" after a couple of playings.
The only criticism is that some of the best songs are cut a little short. Oh, and why hasn't Holly Near done a concert in London, England with this type of material? It could get her some much needed recognition in these parts. She is so much more than just another folksinger.
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An excellent collection of songs about life and love sung with Holly Near's distinctive clear and soothing voice and passion. Anyone with a romantic streak and a liking for good female vocalists should really enjoy this. It contains nothing to offend conservative sensibilities.
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