Earlier today I was looking through my CD collection trying to find something suitable for Sunday morning and I came across the late Eva Cassidys album “Time after Time”.
This is a wonderful album and her cover of Cyndi Laupers “Time after Time” is absolutely superb,another awe inspiring track on the album is a rarely heard traditonal song called “I sat beside a Brookside”. Now of all the songs that Eva recorded this one really shows the incredible purity of her voice.
I got to wondering then if her work is as popular in America and Canada as it is over here and in Ireland,and if not,why not?
She never gained a lot of popularity, some say because she was too eclectic and never could be identified with any style/genre in particular. she’d go fom jazz to pop to gospel and people don’t seem to like that. Except me. I loved her (stll do) Her voice is one of the most beautiful, instruments ever created. I think God couldn’t stand to not have that voice in heaven and called her home.
Her rendition of Sting’s “Fields of Gold” is ten times more evocative than his own. Her version of “Over the Rainbow” is the best ever. “Wade in the Water” makes me want to go to church. She was one of a kind.
And damn, this reminds me, my ‘Songbird’ CD is scratched and I haven’t gotten a new one yet.
I’m not familiar with Eva’s work (but will seach a bit for it, sounds like something I’d enjoy).
If you want to hear a great cover of “Time After Time” however, David Schnaufer does a beautiful version on the “Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer - I” CD. David has worked with Cyndi a lot, and he recorded the song as she first wrote it, not how she popularized it. Cyndi writes a lot of her music on mountain dulcimer, then goes over to other instruments with it.
Well it looks like Eva is far better known on this side of the Pond than on her own side which is a shame.
John nails it when he says that her voice is one of the most beautiful instruments ever created.
I guess the problem is ,again as stated by John,that her inspired eclectism was to much for the marketing people to cope with.I cannot imagine anyone ever improving on her “Fields of Gold” and “Over the Rainbow” just defies description.
Another great favourite of mine suffered from the same problems with marketing and that is Jose Feliciano.He has always had a policy of recording whatever took his fancy which could be anything from a Bee Gees cover to a blistering version of "Mule Skinner Blues"with a bit of Elton John or maybe the Beatles thrown in as well.A true master of the Guitar and a voice to die for.
Like Evas recordings ,I have seen Jose filed under every classification in the shop.
Next time you’re buying some CDs,check out both of these great talents - you will not regret it.
Believe it or not, my library had a few of her CD’s on the interlibrary exchange, so I put one on reserve. I should have it by the end of the week I actually had heard of her, but never heard her. So now I’m getting my chance.
Got my library copy today of Songbird( you gotta love inter library loan!). Fantastic! It seems that I’m the only one in the house who thinks so, though…I live amidst the uncultured
Well Dubh, you talked me into it. I’ve liked the few Eva songs I’ve heard on the radio and I thought “Mr D. seems to know what’s good” so I went out to buy an Eva Cassidy CD. I bought five. (Well, they all had tracks I fancied hearing on them) I couldn’t find Time After Time though but I’ll keep looking.
Most of the tracks are the best versions I’ve heard of those songs and How Can I Keep From Singing? was absolutely gobsmacking.
Thanks Dubh, you’ve done me a real favour there mate.
I was going to send you a test sample of “Time after Time” (strictly for research purposes of course) but your E-Mail addy looked a bit suspect to a foreign national like myself.
Keep looking for it though,it’s one of her very best.
I saw a TV show a few years ago that highlighted her work. They showed a live clip of her singing “Over the Rainbow”, and I just had to buy her “Songbird” CD. Her voice really moves me. Such a shame her life and career were so short.
I actually had heard of her, but never heard her. So now I’m getting my chance.
