{"product_id":"brackett-j-simple-gifts-billy-j-shes-always-a-woman","title":"BRACKETT, J.: Simple Gifts \/ BILLY, J.: She's Always a Woman","description":"It's hard to believe that this is the King's Singers' 40th anniversary season, but this newly recorded program comes as part of the celebration. Of course, over the years the names have changed, the record labels have changed, but the group of six male singers continues to do what it's always done: perform a near-limitless range of repertoire with exceptional technical polish, assured sense of style, and captivating personality, spiced with occasional humor and always conveying the sheer joy of singing, whether in a Byrd motet, a folksong arrangement, or a Beatles tune. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e For listeners who primarily identify with the King's Singers' classical-oriented programs, you should know that this is definitely not a \"classical\" album. Rather, nearly half of the songs are pop tunes (from James Taylor to Billy Joel to Paul Simon and Sting), and the rest--spirituals, ballads, and folksongs--feature arrangements that place them squarely in that genre. Of course, those arrangements are typically first-rate, owing primarily to the expertise of current ensemble member Philip Lawson and former King's Singer Bob Chilcott, both of whom have long experience supplying the group with fresh, original musical creations. New to this CD are Lawson's settings of Sting's \"Valparaiso\", Paul Simon's \"April Come She Will\", Randy Newman's \"When She Loved Me\", and James Taylor's \"You Can Close Your Eyes\".\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Besides appreciating the impeccable vocals and clever, invariably entertaining arrangements of well-known songs (\"Deep River\", \"Steal Away\", \"She's Always a Woman\"), you can't help but notice--and possibly be distracted by--the sound, whose highly processed quality and close perspective can make the voices seem both uncomfortably near and otherworldly. It's a sonic cast--all done in a studio--that's quite different from other King's Singers recordings; some listeners will love it, others will, well, have to get used to it. And certainly, if you love this group--and who doesn't?--you've probably already reserved a place on the shelf.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e --David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Tracks:\u003cbr\u003e  She’s Always a Woman (Billy Joel, arr. Philip Lawson)\u003cbr\u003e  You Can Close Your Eyes (James Taylor, arr. Philip Lawson)\u003cbr\u003e  Greensleeves (Trad. English, arr. Bob Chilcott)\u003cbr\u003e  The Gift to be Simple (Trad. American, arr. Bob Chilcott)\u003cbr\u003e  Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Trad. Spiritual, arr. Peter Knight)\u003cbr\u003e  Helplessly Hoping (Stephen Stills, arr. Philip Lawson)\u003cbr\u003e  Deep River (Trad. Spiritual, arr. Philip Lawson)\u003cbr\u003e  Black is the Color (Trad. American\/Scottish, arr. Bob Chilcott)\u003cbr\u003e  I Love my Love (Trad. English, arr. Philip Lawson)\u003cbr\u003e  The Water is Wide (Trad. English, arr. Philip Lawson)\u003cbr\u003e  When She Loved Me (Randy Newman, arr. Philip Lawson)\u003cbr\u003e  Valparaiso (Sting, arr. Philip Lawson)\u003cbr\u003e  The Turtle Dove (Trad. English, arr. Philip Lawson)\u003cbr\u003e  April Come She Will (Paul Simon, arr. Philip Lawson)\u003cbr\u003e  Steal Away (Trad. Spiritual, arr. Bob Chilcott)\u003cbr\u003e  You are the New Day (John David, arr. Peter Knight)\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Signum Classics","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":49731238920472,"sku":"635212012123","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/4346\/3192\/files\/1362740.jpg?v=1777660112","url":"https:\/\/hbdirect.com\/products\/brackett-j-simple-gifts-billy-j-shes-always-a-woman","provider":"HBDirect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}