Andy Williams - Alone Again Solitaire (21 tracks) +Album Reviews

Solitaire alone would be a 5-star!

Kenneth S. Fujii | 01/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Solitaire is Andy's best album of the 70's, with producer Richard Perry turning the same magical trick for him as he did for Streisand: to shred their traditional pop sensibilities and usher in tons of contemporary attitudes.As the recorded earlier Alone Again indicated, Andy had harbored such ambitions for quite a while now, but he always went about it by covering indiscriminantly from the Top 40's, from Dawn to David Cassidy. In fact, if the NOW series had been around, it would look exactly like an Andy Williams album. And the story would stop there: unfashionable MOR singer trying to catch up with the hit of the week.Yet for every awkward moment that the song was far beneath the singer - and there had been alot around back then - there was always another absolutely divine moment waiting just a couple of songs later. In Alone Again, Pieces Of April and If I Could Go Back were such moments.Solitaire has three equally gorgeous gems: the title track (Andy's hit BEFORE the Carpenters), Last Tango In Paris, and Harry Nilsson's Remember Christmas. But for once the rest of the album holds up well before these three highlights. Even the more familiar covers (of Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney & Andy's old labelmates the Everlys) work in the context of the whole album. Unlike Barbra Streisand, Andy Williams didn't go on to become full fledged charttopper again, mainly because he had been there before and got other plans in life. But Solitaire proves he well could have."

Andy & Perry

Kenneth S. Fujii | Fresno, CA | 09/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Andy Williams' original LP (and modified CD), Solitaire, has much in common with Perry Como's original LP (and also modified CD), And I Love You So, inasmuch as the high quality of these two respective albums is not dependent on the songs that either established or typify the two MOR, popular music superstars. Instead, the recordings reflect maturity and self assurance - the very contemporary song selections, and arrangements thereof, depend less on youthful vocal range and volume, and more on mature confidence and style - together with skilled production values (by Steve Perry and Chet Atkins, respectively) and superb sound engineering.

I personally would not select these recordings for their inclusion of popular, individual songs - more instead, for the whole album reflecting their best artistry. The 1970s and early 1980s was a period of some exceptional pop, rock, and transitional music trends (a baroque flourish atop a short pop renaissance) - many of my all time favorite LPs (and CDs) belong to this music period. This is Andy's best stuff - not his most popular, but simply his best!

"

Andy at his very best!

cduk2001 | London England | 05/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Two great albums from "The Emperor of Easy" as he is known in the UK. "Solitaire" is truly an all-time classic album and sounds quite unlike other Andy Williams albums. It sounds as fresh and new as it did back in 1973 when it peaked at number three in the UK pop charts and stayed in the chart for an amazing twenty-six weeks. Songs by the likes of George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder sound like they were written especially for Andy. "Alone Again" finds Andy covering the hits of the day. Mostly love songs, this album sits well next to "Solitaire". Buy this cd with confidence."

Rare Gems from the Master

Kelly R. Mix | salem, oregon USA | 05/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Those of us in our late 30's and early 40's have too long brushed Andy Williams aside as an "old time singer", failing to recognize the genious of the man. While I have been a fan since early childhood, I had no idea what a really good singer he is, until listening to this, and other recent re-releases on CD for the first time. This double albums worth reminds me, and all lovers of great music, of the real, raw talent of the man. Recorded at what is now known to be the apex of his recording career, these were not huge commercial successes. In fact Williams left the US charts in 1972 (God Father Theme), not to return until 1998's We Need a Little Christmas.Why Andy chose to record covers of others' music and not pound these, or other similar songs out in his own right, has long been a mystery. His name, closely associated with any song on this album (with the exception of Solitare which was a UK hit and earned Andy a 1976 Gold ALbum in the US--three years after release), Would have launched him onto the charts again at full speed. That said, this album reminds all of us what a really good singer Andy Williams is. His audiences in Branson and during his summer 2002 UK tour are in for a real treat in deed. Thanks Andy."

Solitude, Again...

MarkeN | Portland, Oregon United States | 07/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Not even my mother was a fan of Andy Williams. Why did I think that this would interest me? Because Williams chose my (then) favorite producer, the autocratic Richard Perry (Carly Simon, Harry Nilsson, Ringo Starr, Fanny!) to helm this 1973 release Solitaire. Unlike his usual releases, that relied heavily on material others had already made famous or otherwise put their indelible stamp on, this time he/they relied on lesser known songs.

The Nilsson songbook had been frequently tapped, but not for an album track such as the glorious "Remember," which is perfectly suited for Williams. Similarly, George Harrison's "That is All" is a treat. Just a short time before Karen & Richard took a stab at "Solitaire" Andy/Richard laid claim to one of Sedaka's "real" classics. Dipping into pleasant pop-ditty material, "Make it Easy for Me," "Getting Over You" & "Walk Right Back" work wonderfully.

The marvelous "The Dreamer," written (and performed) by London session pianist Nicky Hopkins, is simply perfect! The real treat beyond all others is/was Williams' powerfully subtle reading of the Dory Previn/Gato Barbieri "Last Tango in Paris." I only wish Ms. Previn had recorded it herself, but no such luck (regrettably, she never did record any of her film songs).

Of course, there were the weaker, done-to-death songs, such as Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," McCartney's "My Love," but they were forgivable in the larger scheme of things. Nearly every song on the album is perfectly arranged & (seemingly) lovingly performed.

As for Alone Again (Naturally), I never heard it until released in this 2-fer on CD. It is a step back as nearly every song is/was known before, but situated as it is here, before Solitaire, is feels like a nearly perfect companion, or "lead-in." Plus, there are at least a couple of remarkable covers. Dave Loggins' "Pieces of April" is perfectly lovely. Bacharach/David's "If I Could Go Back" is only marred by (now) dated guitars as well as spoken narrative, but the lovely lyrics & melody hold up. Gerry Beckley's (America) "I Need You," like the aforementioned "Remember," is a glove-fit for Williams.

On the lesser end, "Day by Day," from "Godspell" is abysmal. Flack/Hathaway own "Where is the Love," as Flack owns "The First Time Ever." Did anyone need another version of "Alone Again (Naturally)" or "The Long & Winding Road"? I never cared for Neil Diamond, so "Song Sung Blue" is just a waste of 3 minutes. Would have loved for "Amazing Grace" to have been more simply powerful (ala Judy Collins' acapella rendition), but no such luck. Still, like the Solitaire album, this is an Andy Williams recording I am glad too own.

And what better two albums to join together. Both titles allude to being alone. If half points were an option I'd have given this 3+1/2, so I rounded up."

Search - Andy Williams :: Alone Again / Solitaire

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