Various Artists - Songbirds [GRP]

Boasting on the cover that this features "the purest songs from the finest female singer/songwriters of our time," Songbirds falls very short of that claim but still manages to be a decent album. The first sign that the boast on the front is terribly wrong happens right away, on the very first track. Lene Marlin delivers a pretty pop song that remains in your head just long enough for Lisa Loeb's awesome "Stay (I Missed You)" and Sarah McLachlan's lush "Adia" to steamroll over it. Now considering the opening claim, one would think that every song would be as powerful as the other, but "Sitting Down Here" isn't exactly poetry when stacked against the next two songs. And why is Lene Marlin included when Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos, Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Merchant, Me'Shell Ndegéocello, and countless others aren't? There are a lot of worthy musicians on the two discs here, and such offbeat inclusions as Beth Orton and Rhonda Vincent are appreciated, but a ton of excellent musicians are missing from this who would have been great inclusions. On top of that, the music ranges from the early '70s until 2001, which would also open the floodgates for a hundred more excellent musicians who are more influential and important than Cara Dillon. To be fair, there isn't a bad song on this entire collection. All 31 songs are at least OK, and many of them are fantastic tracks. More importantly, every musician featured here is a talented or unique performer, including Marlin and Dillon. But the supposed "goal" of the album is ridiculous, and completely misleading to someone who might not know the rich history of women in the singer/songwriter vein. And despite whoever else is or isn't included, the absence of Carole King is absurd, considering she was the poster girl for female singer/songwriters in the '70s and helped change the idea of how women are viewed in popular music. This is a good album of acoustic songs that range from amazing to decent, but do not consider this some sort of be-all and end-all compilation of female songwriters. Consider it a document of one of the aspects of the genre, but by no means is this any more important than the Lilith Fair souvenir discs. ~ Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide

Name Credits André Fischer Producer Arthur Adams Guitar Benny Golson Sax (Tenor) Betty Carter Performer Big Sid Catlett Drums Bill Eaton Vocals (Background) Bill Green Sax (Baritone) Bill Reichenbach Jr. Trombone Bill Stegmeyer Sax (Alto) Billie Holiday Performer, Vocals Billy Rogers Guitar Brad Cole Keyboards Buddy Williams Drums Carmen McRae Performer, Vocals Dave Grusin Synthesizer, Arranger, Producer David Sanborn Sax (Alto) Diane Schuur Performer Ernie Watts Sax (Tenor) Garnett Brown Trombone (Tenor) Gary Roda Vocals (Background) Gigi Gryce Sax (Alto) Gordon Griffin Trumpet Greg Phillinganes Piano Hank Ross Sax (Tenor) Harvey Mason, Sr. Drums Herbie Mann Flute James "D-Train" Williams Vocals (Background) Jerome Richardson Sax (Alto) Jimmy Powell Sax (Alto) Jocelyn Brown Vocals (Background) Joe Guy Trumpet Joe Sample Keyboards, Piano John Simmons Bass Kenny Clarke Drums Kenny Dorham Trumpet Lani Groves Vocals (Background) Larry Rosen Producer Lee Ritenour Guitar Marcus Miller Bass Maurice Spears Trombone (Bass) Melba Liston Trombone Milt Gabler Producer Mitchel Forman Synthesizer, Piano Mundell Lowe Guitar Natalie Cole Performer Nathan East Bass Oscar Brashear Trumpet Patti Austin Performer Paulinho Da Costa Percussion Peggy Lee Performer, Vocals Phoebe Snow Vocals (Background), Performer Rachele Cappelli Vocals (Background) Randy Crawford Performer Ray Copeland Trumpet Robert Bryant Trumpet Robin Beck Vocals (Background) Roland Bautista Guitar Sahib Shihab Sax (Baritone) Sam Jones Bass Shelton Becton Vocals (Background) Specs Wright Drums Steve Gadd Drums Steve Khan Guitar (Electric) Steven Miller Arranger, Producer Stix Hooper Drums, Producer The Crusaders Performer Tiny Grimes Guitar Tom Scott Sax (Alto) Wayne Henderson Trombone Wendell Marshall Bass Will Lee Bass Wilton Felder Producer, Saxophone Wynton Kelly Piano