How do you get the music buying public to buy an album again that has already topped the U.K. charts?
Well you give them more of what they have already parted with cash for; this seems to the thinking behind the release of this “Deluxe” edition of the second album from Norah Jones.
Don’t get me wrong as an admirer of the vocals and songs of this artist I was more than happy when a friend gave me this version as a late birthday gift last year.
The album has now got a card slip-cover sleeve with a different picture to the original release of the album, the sleeve is a 3 part digi-pack with the same C.D. cover as the first version but with this version the C.D. cover is in the middle pocket of the digi-pack, the credits now list all the information to cover the added extra elements of this version, there is also now a D.V.D.
The D.V.D has 4 live tracks, 3 of the tracks appear on the album and the other is a song written by Gram Parsons they are performed in front of a non-responsive Spanish crowd. Along with the promotional videos for “Sunrise” and “What Am I to You?” The last part of the D.V.D. is an interview by Ned Hanlon with the artist in a hotel in London on April 23rd 2004.
The
first track of the extended version of the C.D. is the same as before, it was the first song to be lifted off the album as a single, as the song “Sunrise” begins the same cool jazz sound as before meets the listeners ears but this time there is a little hint of Americana; the acoustic guitar playing of Kevin Breit conveys this to you.
I began reading the revised sleeve notes I noticed that all the elements that made the first album so good were here, Arif Mardin was in the producer’s chair again (legendary producer of Aretha Franklin in the 70’s) and most of the musicians from the first album were on the album as well. “Sunrise” was also co-written by Norah and the bass player for this album and her previous release “Come Away With me”, Alexander’s bass playing adds a great deal of presence and depth that is the perfect counter-point to the vocals of Ms Jones.
The song that follows that track is a self-penned composition, “What Am I to You?” this has a great deal of things going for it such as the Hammond organ playing of Garth Hudson who is from the 60’s group “The Band”, this is inter-mingled with the Wurlitzer piano playing of Norah which underlines her lead vocals along with the back-up singing of Daru Oda.
Then in the running order comes a song that has a slight blues feel for me in it, as the track “Those sweet Words” (which again was co-written by the superb bass player Lee Alexander along with Richard Julian) the blues feel is compounded by the sound of 2 acoustic guitars the first of which is played by Jesse Harris and the other is played by Kevin Breit along side the sound of a pump organ played by Rob Burger at the same time this gives the track a retro feel.
As the song “Carnival Town” starts the string arrangement of Arif Mardin gives the track a lush big sound, the strings and acoustic guitar meld together giving the track an underlining feeling of melancholy, the sound of a cello (played by Jane Scarpantoni) and viola (played by David Gold) are played together it always reminds of sadness, longing and heartbreak.
The most country sounding track is the duet with Dolly Parton, this was again written by the bass player Lee Alexander and is an up tempo number that now stands out from the other songs on the album as the other tracks are more laid back than this, as “Creepin’ In” with Ms Parton fades out one of the stand-out songs for me on the collection begins “Toes” just makes you feel warm inside, this comes across with the use of resonator guitar, that old 50’s sound which is ably played by Kevin Breit.
The next track has the same effect but this time there is no rhythm section only Norah playing pump organ with Lee Alexander playing bass and Kevin Breit on resonator guitar the track “Humble Me” was also written by Kevin.
The song “Above ground” for me sounds like a track that wouldn’t have been out of place in old road house with everyone round the fire drinking moonshine and playing music.
The bravest song on the album was the last track on the first incarnation of this album, “Don’t Miss You at All” was an old instrumental track called “Melanchoila” by the duke of jazz Duke Ellington, Norah has added lyrics and an old piece of jazz is now something else.
Now the added songs begin the first being a song called “Sleepless Nights” this track sounds like an out-take from the recording sessions, along with the other 2 songs, 1 of which has already appeared as the B-side too the “Sunrise” single. The song “Moon Song” also appears on the D.V.D called “Norah Jones and the Handsome Band Live 2004”.
This album now finishes with a cover song called “I Turned Your Picture to the Wall” by George Wyle, which has Norah singing and playing piano and Adam Levy playing acoustic guitar, a lovely laid back track to close the proceedings.
For me this is an album that shows a lot of growth, with its various styles ranging from blues to jazz and with a little country all done with great gusto and panache, and with the now added extras this for me is the version of this album to have, if you haven’t bought this before go for the “Deluxe” edition, the added elements are so worth it…
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I did, really love this album, but felt it lacked some of the purpose and skill of the original, but I liked that Norah feels confident enough in her ability to switch genres a little and play about with different sounds
helencbradshaw 19.02.2004 19:07
I loved this from the very first play, its absolutely fantastic! Have you tried it in the PC, with the bandlink extras? First time I have seen that on a CD too, I dont always play them in the PC but I thought the extras were quite good!
With Feels Like Home, the follow-up to her eight times Grammy winning debut, Come Away ... more
With Me, easy listening's 24 year-old poster girl Norah Jones has a staggering weight of expectation to live up to. However, anyone expecting to be wowed from the s...
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Feb 19th, 2004
(Feb 17th, 2005)
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