ATTN ALL: P & C - This album didn t grab me on the first play, but it did on the second. Richard Page, a truly beautiful and talented person as far as I m concerned, has written or co-written all but one of these songs (the final song is by Stevie Wonder), and he reveals personal thoughts and feelings in a gentle, straightforward manner. Some of the songs have the familiar theme of how much he loves someone: The Best Thing, My Oxygen and Just To Love You. But he also delves into the experience of coping with pain and loss in Even The Pain and Let Me Down Easy, and in Shelter Me he has the balls to admit that, despite his upbringing, he CAN be afraid and admit his need for someone to be there for him. I like that. More on this theme is expressed in Dependence. If All Else Fails is about people chasing their fantasies, it seems that they have to do it, but also that it usually doesn t work out. The Stevie Wonder song Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away fits into the program musically and thematically, with a little gospel fervor helping to form a hopeful finale. Richard s voice is practically flawless: it is emotional but restrained, versatile, strong and clear. The musical arrangements are pretty standard for adult contemporary music, but they do show enough creativity and variety to make the CD interesting. They are all pretty mellow, there s no rock, but the songs don t all sound alike. Several contain just a tinge of country, but it s not overpowering. If I were comparing him to another artist, it would be Bryan Adams as far as the type of music is concerned - I guess really a little more mellow - but his voice is much better than Bryan s (Sorry Bryan, still love ya!). The CD as a whole washes over me with real feeling that will help keep me warm this winter!I have to mention this. The first track, The Best Thing, is a good love song, but I could do without the background singers (Doo doo doo, doo doo doo...) and the harmonica. To me, they make an otherwise good track a little too busy, and this is one of the things that I disliked on the first listen. But don t let that throw you, because that s about the worst that you hear.As other reviewers have said, it s a shame that music like this goes unnoticed, while garbage rules the charts for the most part. As proof, consider that recent albums by Linda Ronstadt and Diana Ross, two big well-known solo artists, did not even enter the Top 100. What can I say? It seems that for the young, just plain old music is not enough. But I can t even come up with a polite name for what has replaced it.
Not enough soul. - If you were a fan of Mr. Mister, then you ain t gonna find that type of music on this album.The opening track is okay, thereafter, the compositions go downhill into syrupland. A great pity as Richard Page has a pleasant voice, but oh dear - how awful those LA session players are. Starched underpants (shorts) and received concepts of music.Within the Mr. Mister ensemble, the players had an edge, especially, the very underrated Steve Farris - guitar player. There is none of his haunting background licks found on this album, though he does appear on the final track - a kind of washed out version of a Stevie Wonder composition celebrating how wonderful life could be as we all drive off in Masseratis.If you loved Mr. Mister - as I did, then give this album a miss. Stay with the wonderful memories of their three/four? Albums. In preference to purchasing this CD - Buy their last album - Go On, a truly terrific album full of soulful metaphysical ditties. The Richard Page voice/whine lent itself better to that type of musical action.There is no doubting that Richard Page has considerable talent and many reviewers share his vision on life. But this album does not connect with me. I cannot find any truth in repetitive cliché love songs about sweet FA. Richard Page is much, much better than this.Over produced pap such as Shelter Me places Richard Page into the Donald Fagen navel-contemplating genre.
Best Album Of The Year? - Simply put, this recording was the best acoustic pop album of 1996. Highly acclaimed, but completely under the radar of the general public, this recording very well could be the finest collection in Richard Page s career (Pages, Mr. Mister, Third Matinee) and features some of the best written songs in anyone s catalogue. Filled with great acoustic grooves, great songwriting and superb musical performances, this recording fulfills every acoustic pop lover s dream. The highlights are far too numerous to mention, but make sure you sample Just To Love You, The Best Thing and Page s fantastic cover of Stevie Wonder s Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away - they will give you a great taste of this collection. The saddest thing to consider in listening and falling in love with this CD, however, is that Page has since abandoned his solo career after his label so poorly supported this superior work. You will long for more, but will only be able to go backward in time to have your need met...and that will serve only somewhat satisfactory (try Third Matinee before succumbing to the Mr. Mister CD s). By the way...if you can locate the limited acoustic EP version of this CD, you will not regret it and will be regarded in many circles as a blessed soul.
Wonderful voice, wonderful talent - The emotion, the soaring, comforting music, it s the whole package. Now I just wich he d do some more.
Everybody else is an also-ran... - ... in the singer-songwriter universe. I have a long listener history with Page, as Pages (both the band and the eponymous 1981 album) are among my all-time favorites. This album is a natural flow from the last Pages disc (and a blessed skip over the Mr. Mister and Third Matinee era), with signature grooves and aching lyrics. Listen to The Best Thing and try to hold back the tear. Now, consider the authoritative rumor that he wrote it about his dying mother, to whom the album is dedicated, and see if you don t burst into sobs.What the heck is wrong with the American music-listening public that Richard Page wallows in obscurity while Ashlee Simpson lipsyncs her way to fame and fortune? A question for another day, perhaps, but one that will pester you while you listen to this flawless, evocative lost gem. Get a copy while you still can. And get a copy of Pages, too, while you are at it.