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STUNNING VOICE & PERFORMANCES~BRAVO KATHY KIRBY!!!

Bradly Briggs | TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA | 06/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This extraordinary British singer was introduced to American audiences with the hit single "The Way Of Love" in the mid-sixties which is featured on this great collection of brilliant performances that anyone who loves great vocal artists will find a completely thrilling vocal festival here...opening with a stunning "Secret Love" that is a complete vocal tour-de-force, it is amazing that this great singer didn't find greater success in the United States. "Dance On" is an exhuberant up tempo winner and "I Wish You Love" is a gorgeous heartfelt version of this classic that is the very finest showing that Kathy Kirby can master any type of song and make it her very own. "Havah Nagilah" is given a masterful powerful treatment while a delicate "I Want To Be Happy" show the tender side of this gifted singer who can sing anything...even the Billie Holiday standard "Body And Soul" is hauntingly beautiful and has never sounded finer..."Ol' Man Mose" is another fascinating tour-de-force performance and even "The Sweetest Sounds" sounds fresh and exciting as it is uniquely original! A spoken introduction highlight a gorgeous take on "Make Someone Happy" which is sung with tremendous depth of feeling and great vocal beauty..."Slowly" is a fun sensual romp that shows another of the many sides of Kathy Kirby while the closing "Where In The World" is simply a magnificient vocal that is timeless in its beauty as is this complete collection of brilliant performances! Thank you Kathy Kirby!!!"

Where Kathy Kirby fits in to the female vocalist "puzzle"

uthungus | San Francisco, CA | 10/05/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Kathy Kirby's music is so hard to find out about that I finally just had to buy a resold copy and give it a listen! No one selling the CD seems to have sound bytes available to preview and no one seems to carry it (to hear in a store's listening station)! I do love her reserved, but powerful style in this very ecclectic collection of songs. She fits in to the female vocal puzzle somewhere between Connie Francis and Teresa Brewer in my opinion. Not quite as "crying" as Connie but soulful. The arrangements that accompany her vocals are top-notch and she often does very amusing, delightful takes on standards. Examples: "Sweetest Sounds" with its zesty "Bobby Vinton" - like polka beat; "Love me Baby" (very Teresa Brewer delivery); also how peppy her version of the classic "Havah Nagilah" is so full of joy!"

Sixties singer with powerful voice

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 01/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kathy was a regular performer on British television during the sixties (and to a lesser extent subsequently) but her achievements on record were modest, with just five hit singles. Kathy's powerful voice is not to everybody's liking, especially on the up-tempo songs, but I enjoy her music.



Kathy's biggest hit was Secret love, with which she had her only UK top five hit. Kathy's version is more dramatic than Doris Day's original. I prefer the original but Kathy demonstrated that there is more than one way to sing this song. There is a line in the song about shouting from the highest heights and it seems that this inspired Kathy's interpretation of the song, which some people may find overpowering.



Kathy's other UK hits were Dance on (which just missed the top ten), Let me go lover (which just made the top ten), You're the one (a top twenty hit) and I belong (only a minor hit despite being the British entry in the 1965 Eurovision song contest).



While Kathy's powerful voice is given full rein on the up-tempo songs, she shows that she can sing ballads too (those that she doesn't change into up-tempo songs).



Despite her once high public profile, Kathy's music is limited to occasional compilation releases these days, usually on budget labels. This is a pity as Kathy had one of the most distinctive voices in the sixties. I'd love to see some record company release a double CD or a boxed set. Kathy's music deserves such treatment. But if you haven't heard Kathy before, listen to her sing before buying - just to be sure you enjoy her powerful voice."