Name: Gift of Song
Brand: Decca
SKU: 46197333
Availability: OutOfStock

Gift of Song

Rating

Performer Notes

Recorded in Hollywood with the help of about 30 session musicians, this seems to be A&M's (unsuccessful) attempt to break ex-Seeker Judith Durham into the American pop market. Not much of the Seekers' folk-pop is left on this heavily, though tastefully, orchestrated production. Durham and her handlers seem to be aiming for a Judy Collins-like Baroque-folk on many cuts, and (in other parallel with Collins) some theatrical art song-informed songs. On the less impressive tracks, she gets into a sort of upbeat gospel-rock mood. Durham's voice is not as good or expressive as Collins', and her material isn't as stellar either. For all that, this isn't a bad record, particularly when it does get into its most melancholy classical-Baroque arrangements on "Wanderlove," "There's a Baby," and similar numbers. A couple of Mason Williams songs, "Wanderlove" and "Here Am I," are among the better offerings, and there's also a relatively little-known Harry Nilsson song, "Wailing of the Willow" (from Nilsson's Aerial Ballet album). There are plenty of recognizable players among the session crew, including Hal Blaine, Larry Knechtel, Lincoln Mayorga (who played piano on several Phil Ochs albums), Joe Sample, Bud Shank, and Tommy Scott; Chad Stuart of Chad & Jeremy produced. ~ Richie Unterberger