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 As a child I remember my parents putting on albums by singers like Judy Garland, Eydie Gorme, Vicki Carr and other belters of standard popular music of the time. For me this CD was like a welcome trip back to those glorious days. Linda Eder is a commanding vocalist who has captured the sounds of the past, and with the genius of her composer/husband, Frank Wildhorn, has given those sounds a new lease on life. This is a brilliant showcase for a brilliant singer. The self affirming "This Time Around"(from the new musical "Havana") makes a bid for the standards catagory with unmistakably Sinatraesque orchestrations that place it up there with "My Way", "For Once In My Life" and Liza Minnelli's "Maybe This Time". This tune is destined to become a showstopper for vocalists around the world. One of the better features of this CD is the welcome diversity of its musical styles. The ballads are rich and give Eder the chance to show off her amazing vocal range and power. All in all this is a great collection of music sung by a lady who deserves her place along side the great Pop Divas of our time. It would be a disservice not to give equal credit for the CD's success to Wildhorn. After all it is his music that Miss Eder performes and it is his music that has made this CD a winner. Enjoy!
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I am quite familiar with Eder and her work, hearing her first on the Jekyl and Hyde concept albums. Aftering hearing her previous, CD, "It's Time," this one seems less enjoyable. Maybe I am just getting to used to Wildhorn's material and there was less of it on "It's Time," but it feels like he recycled some of the songs from that album and put them on this album. There's one song where I swear the chords, notes she sings, and the horn lick in the backround are all almost exactly the same as on "Don't Ask me Why." I think that Eder has a tremendous talent, but this CD was a little disappointing, although the Havanna songs are scorchin'!
