Love Songs: The Very Best Of Randy Crawford

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Blessed with a smooth, creamy voice, Randy Crawford has enjoyed international success and acclaim since age 15. On Love Songs: The Very Best of, a three-decade overview of the R&B chanteuse's work, it's that voice that comes through time and time again: always natural, it never sounds like she's working hard, even when she's hitting and holding notes that lesser singers wouldn't dream of--not that vocal acrobatics are the point here. Crawford's adult mixture of jazz and R&B emphasises sweet melody over theatrics; it's a low-key approach that has brought her fame and fortune, but maybe not as much as some of her more forceful contemporaries. Over 20 lush tracks, Crawford demonstrates why she deserves a longer linger than any of those that might overshadow her in the short term. --Mitch Miner

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Customer reviews

review by: itie date: 2007-08-13 rating:
Randy Crawford excellent
Brillant excellent condition when received all the tracks were brillant will be buying the other album that features the track endelessley.

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review by: Pete the music fan date: 2005-03-16 rating:
Under-rated American soul singer
Randy (born Veronica Crawford) is a brilliant American soul singer who had a UK top five hit (Street life) as un-credited vocalist with the Crusaders in 1973, then had two UK top five hits (One day I'll fly away, Almaz) in the eighties as a solo singer. Randy never achieved this level of success in her homeland.

Apart from those three major hits, Randy had two other UK top twenty hits (You might need somebody, Rainy night in Georgia) and several minor hits, three of which (Imagine, Secret combination, One hello) are included here. Most of the songs here are originals but, with her outstanding voice, Randy is a great interpreter of other people's songs, as this collection shows.

This collection truly is the very best of Randy Crawford, one of the finest soul singers there has ever been.

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review by: andropod date: 2003-09-17 rating:
Excellent.
Even as a fan of Randy Crawford's work I am always astounded at the number of hits she's had and the sheer quality. This is all the more surprising in that she is not always listed as a top soul diva in the ranks of say Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross or Aretha Franklin in the general public conciousness.

She certainly has one of the most distincive and 'pure' vocal sounds. Her musical range stretches from Jazz to an almost Country sound yet always retains that silky smooth soul feeling.

Listening to this CD highlights the rather weak and some how lacking vocal talent that is on display in current chart music.

This album is the perfect start for somebody wanting to delve into Randy's back catalogue. Or anyone who has heard recent covers of her records by Shola Ama and wants to hear the (admitteldy better) 'real' thing.

I bought this CD because I wanted to save my vinyl originals from further usage. Unfortunately because its a 'best of' and by definition is subjective there are some ommisions. However, as this is a relatively cost effective way of gaining a collection her biggest selling and most important work it can't be beaten.

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review by: date: 2003-08-11 rating:
Disappointing as a 'Very Best Of...'
I went looking for Streetlife thinking that there had only been one recording. Sadly for me, the version here seems to be Randy's own, not that of the Crusaders, so what we're offered here is an over-produced, over-arranged recording with none of the wonderful strutting bass and jazzy organ of the original. The horns here are shrill, there's an irritating guitar lick running throughout that's distractingly high in the mix and the vocal timing's a bit off. The credits list it as appearing on the OST to Jackie Brown, where it should have stayed. Then again... Streetlife on a compilation entitled Love Songs... I should have heeded that warning, but with no preview feature here... Oh well.

As for the rest, Randy's voice is a treat and there's little to complain about with the track selection, apart from her version of George Benson's 'Give Me The Night' (Chill Night Remix) which is very flat, lacking both charm and delivery and badly needing backing vocals over the chorus.

A minor point, but the track listing as shown on the site is in the wrong order for the first six tracks. It actually runs thus: One Day I'll Fly Away; You Might Need Somebody; Streetlife; Rainy Night in Georgia; Almaz; You Bring The Sun Out.

The CD is packaged in the standard jewel case and the insert includes a perfunctory anonymous bio of the artist.


review by: zforce3 date: 2001-12-01 rating:
Stunning
Randy Crawford has one of the most beautiful soul voices of her generation, this collection represents many of her most moving and immediate songs. She is a combination of breathless technical perfection and amazing style and grace that lights up every song and why even more successful performers will always be in her shade. If your bored of the many half talents of the pop world, this is a great introduction to one of its greatest and most inspirational voices.

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