Jimmy Webb/Rumer's New Duet

[Bruce Bernard Williams]

Just viewed a segment from CBS's Saturday Morning Show's "Second Cup Café" which featured Jimmy Webb and Rumer performing the title track ""Still Within The Reach Of My Voice". This soon-to-be-released CD is a duets project that if this morning's performance is any indication of the depth of this project, then all of us fans are in for a real treat. He also performed a solo entitled "So Easy For You To Say" which has Jimmy's guitarist shining on bottleneck just like he was on the previous duet but on steel guitar. There was no mention of who the other performers are but I am certainly going to pick this one up when it's released (they said Wednesday). There are several new releases that I'm just crazy about: B.J. Thomas (which features two ((2)) Bacharach re-works), Glen Campbell (re-works of his hits), and Petula Clark, who at age 80 sounds better than ever, especially on her slowed-down version of her hit "Downtown". So glad to hear these artists continuing to record great sounds and give us some REAL music instead of this noise that they're passing off as music that's really hard for me to stomach! Long live the CD!

[Blair N. Cummings]

Sorry. I couldn`t disagree more about the new JW album and I`m a life-long fan. This is a lame, tepid collection of pointless re-makes the likes of which he has been grinding out for years in lieu of new material. There is not a single track on this thing that improves upon or otherwise illuminates the original or some other version.
Neither Rumer nor the writer sound like they even know what they`re singing about on the title track. I hoped Carly Simon might belt some life into "Easy for You to Say" but she either can`t sing any more or was criminally subdued by Jimmy. I could go on but hear this for yourselves: http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2013/ ... eam-duets/
Now, go listen to Webb albums like Letters, Land`s End, Suspending Disbelief et. al. and tell me I`m just being an a--h---.

[blueonblue]

I make no apologies for posting this song again, IMHO the "definitive" version sung by the
wonderful Miss Linda Ronstadt......it blows the latest version right out of the water !


"blue"

[Blair N. Cummings]

It`s good, Blue, but not as good as this:
And you can find better versions of each song on this sad new release with very little effort.
In case you think I`m just being mean-spirited, go listen to JW`s last album of new songs: Twilight of the Renegades.

[Blair N. Cummings]

Oh, and here`s the definitive version of "Easy For You to Say:

[blueonblue]

Blair,
Thank you for those two absolutely superb "clips" and thanks also for downloading Jimmy's
latest album, there's some good stuff on it, but I have to agree you, you can't beat jimmy's
original albums like "Land's End" and "Letters" I listen to them all the time...Genius songwriter !

An interview with Jimmy Webb....


"blue"

[Nicko]

You can hear the whole album streaming on this website


http://www.americansongwriter.com/2013/ ... -my-voice/

[Blair N. Cummings]

Here`s what JW sounds like when he really gives a f....
...and the studio version is even better.

[blueonblue]

Magnificent !!!

"blue"

[pljms]

Thanks Nicko for the link.

Judging by by this thread and one or two from the dim and distant past, the rule still seems to apply that if you're a Bacharach fan you have to be a fan of Jimmy Webb as well, although I know from the days I used to visit Webb's Official website that there are quite a few Webb-heads who don't really 'get' Burt. On first hearing I enjoyed the new album a lot and there are a number of songs on there I personally haven't heard done better, namely 'Elvis and Me', 'Where's the Playground Susie', 'Another Lullaby', 'You Can't Treat the Wrong Man Right' and 'Rider From Nowhere'. That said, good as these are, do any of them really benefit from being a duet? I for one would have preferred Webb to have sung every song on the album alone, especially as he seems to be in such splendid voice these days. A little less pedal-steel guitar would have helped too.

[Nicko]

Thanks Nicko for the link.

Judging by by this thread and one or two from the dim and distant past, the rule still seems to apply that if you're a Bacharach fan you have to be a fan of Jimmy Webb as well, although I know from the days I used to visit Webb's Official website that there are quite a few Webb-heads who don't really 'get' Burt. On first hearing I enjoyed the new album a lot and there are a number of songs on there I personally haven't heard done better, namely 'Elvis and Me', 'Where's the Playground Susie', 'Another Lullaby', 'You Can't Treat the Wrong Man Right' and 'Rider From Nowhere'. That said, good as these are, do any of them really benefit from being a duet? I for one would have preferred Webb to have sung every song on the album alone, especially as he seems to be in such splendid voice these days. A little less pedal-steel guitar would have helped too.

Ive read that the album is meant to be in a Nashville context and indeed utilises some of Nashvilles top session musicians on it, which maybe explains one or two of points you raised above.

[blueonblue]

Miss Judy Collins........


"blue"

[Sara D]

I've never been a fan of Webb the performer nor a particular admirer of his songwriting since the end of the 60s, but listening to the new album and the one that preceded it, 'Just Across the River', I have to say that his vocal skills have come on in leaps and bounds and he's now a very convincing interpreter of his own material. However, it's still the 60s songs that stand out for me on this album, particularly 'Where's the Playground Suzie'.

[blueonblue]

Jimmy Webb with IMHO the greatest performer of his songs.....


"blue"

[Martin Johnson]

The extraordinary thing about Jimmy Webb in the late 60s, Blue, was that he had three acts, four if you include Thelma Houston, who he wrote very different material for, all of the same standard, all very rich melodically and harmonically and yet so specific to a particular singer's or singers' style that you couldn't imagine the 5th Dimension ever tackling the likes of 'Wichita Lineman and 'Galveston' as you couldn't Glen Campbell 'Up, Up and Away' or 'Carpet Man'. The material he wrote, arranged and produced for Richard Harris was so unique and inspired such remarkable performances from the Irish actor that it's difficult to pick a favourite while avoiding the two obvious tracks, but I think the little known 'Lucky Me' will suffice: