Search - Dionne Warwick :: Legends

The only comprehensive Dionne Arista collection I've ever se

Al | USA | 10/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The UK series that this title comes from features some really badly compiled collections. The Evelyn King one is horrible. When I heard they were doing one on Dionne I worried it might be another missed opportunity. I was wrong. It's fantastic. It features all of her major and minor Arista hits and more besides. The fact that all five studio cuts from Hot Live and Otherwise are here is a miracle. Sure I would have liked some of the live cuts as well as some from the Brazillian album but these are small points. This is the first in depth look at Dionne's Arista years and I love it. You'd be nuts not to with these hits!



I'll Never Love This Way Again (Pop #5/R&B #18/AC #5/UK #62)

Deja Vu (single version) (Pop #15/R&B #25/AC #1)

After You (Pop #65/R&B #33/AC #10)

No Night So Long (Pop #23/R&B #19/AC #1)

Easy Love (Pop #62/AC #12)

We Never Said Goodbye (R&B #41)

Some Changes Are For Good (Pop #65/R&B #43/AC #23)

Friends In Love - With Johnny Mathis (Pop #38/R&B #22/AC #5)

For You (AC #14)

Heartbreaker (Pop #10/R&B #14/AC #1/UK #2)

Take The Short Way Home (Pop #41/R&B #43/AC #5)

All The Love In The World (Pop #101/AC #16/UK #10)

Yours (UK #66)

How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye - With Luther Vandross (Pop #27/R&B #7/AC #4)

Got A Date (R&B #45)

Finder Of Lost Loves - With Glenn Jones (R&B #47/AC #12)

Run To Me - With Barry Manilow (AC #12)

That's What Friends Are For - With Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder (Pop #1/R&B #1/AC #1/UK #16)

Whisper In The Dark (Pop #72/R&B #49/AC #7)

Love Power - With Jeffrey Osborne (Pop #12/R&B #5/AC #1/UK #63)

Reservations For Two - With Kashif (Pop #62/R&B #20/AC #7)

Another Chance To Love - With Howard Hewett (R&B #42/AC #24)

Take Good Care Of You And Me - With Jeffrey Osborne (R&B #46/AC #25)

I Don't Need Another Love - With The Spinners (R&B #84)

Where My Lips Have Been (R&B #95)

"

A great bargain and nice package

Jetrocket | New York, NY United States | 10/02/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As others have commented this is a great no frills package for those of us who did not invest in much of Dionne's Arista material from the 80's and early 90s. To be honest, growing up in the 80's, I felt that Dionne's Arista years were kind of so -so, but now at 40, I am surprised how much I resonate with these performances. Keep in mind, the material presented here typifies the lite FM/smooth jazz/corporate music sound that "blanded" out much of the 80's and 90's, so the music is far from edgy and/or innovative. What makes this package special, in my mind, is how it covers not only the big radio hits but also focuses on the specialists cuts off her lps. Dionne is a consumate performer, really an artist -- she has a timeless and sophisticated voice that elevates all the material she sings. I do wish there were selections from off the Brazilian cd she did which is my favorite from her Arista years. Nonetheless, I love Dionne and I am really enjoying this colection. It is really such a bargain at the price. Highly recommended."

EXCELLENT OVERVIEW OF ARISTA YEARS WITH FEW FLAWS

W. Budris | Rosedale, NY | 12/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been waiting a few weeks for mine because of holiday mailings and such. This Dionne collection of the Arista Years (1979-1994) is the best out there, except for two small flaws (though still rates 5 stars).



First flaw is not including a single B-side from the Michael Masser sessions that were done for the studio side of "Hot! Live and Otherwise" in 1981. The song, "This Time Is Ours" is one of Dionne's best of the period, and should have been an A-side. It was relegated to the flip of the ballad single "Some Changes Are For Good". The saving grace with this set is that the entire Side 4 of that album is included on Disc 1 here, even if not in original LP track order. I believe with this set, the Steve Buckingham produced "Dedicate This Heart" makes its CD debut, because it was left off both the long out-of-print US and Japan issues of "Hot..." The lovely "This Time Is Ours" has never been on a Dionne album or a CD release.



Second flaw is that not one track was used from the last Arista CD "Aquarela Du Brazil". Granted, not a best seller, but still a nice package, I would have included at least one track (as was done with "Night And Day" (Jazz Version) from "Sings Cole Porter"). The third CD only clocks in at under 69 minutes, so there was room, but Disc 3 ends with tracks from the "Friends Can Be Lovers" CD, which was an oversighted gem when released in 1993. Absolutely one of Dionne's best albums.



Overall, it is very comprehensive and covers a great deal of ground. A note for the fans - DEJA VU on Disc 1 is not the single version, but the 5:08 album version.



Since this is an import, I am hoping Sony/BMG will eventually do an Essential Dionne Warwick collection here in the US, as they have done with other artists, and correct these flaws in their 2-CD set. In 2009, it will be 30 years since the beginning of the Arista Years, and this January 2006, there is a 45th Anniversary Celebration scheduled to celebrate Dionne's career. Therefore, I hope the fans do "get it all" down the road, inclusive of some guest appearances made on other CD albums of the period ("In Love Alone" from Richard Carpenter's post-Karen album, "TIME"in 1987; "Once A Time I Loved You" and the duet with Placido Domingo "Till I Loved You", from the Goya Sessions in 1991, etc).



Well worth it and reasonably priced, too!"