Beth Hart

Beth Hart has a great voice for soul , blues and country but for every 3 or 4 great songs per album there are 7 0r 8 slow, melancholy stinkers. I like an occasional ballad but Beth needs to get with a producer who won't allow her to record songs which bring down and detract from her up tempo numbers. The record company should issue a collection of all her faster, blusier and rockier songs on one cd and I guarantee sales will triple. It would bring some much needed attention to her career and really showcase her strength as an heir to Janis Joplin.

Fans of rock have an incomplete collection if it doesn't include Beth Hart. Her edgy voice compliments her lyrical tales of addiction and pain. A favorite is LA Song which is about changing your scenery and finding out you have the same old problems.

This is Beth's "break-out" album. Pretty much anyone who didn't already know Beth, found out from the widely-circulated "L.A. Song" featured on this album. From start to finish, this CD is amazing. Love songs, sad songs, songs about friends, this album has everything. It's like have a compilation of 20 different artists on one CD. Beth can give you any kind of feel from country, to hard rock, to folk. She has a voice like Janis Joplin and Celine Dion combined; beauty, power, and raw grit. This CD is for everyone! She's brilliant.

WHY THIS WOMAN IS NOT SEEN MORE IS BEYOND ME. LIKE CAROL LAWRENCE OF BLUE BY NATURE, SHE IS UNKNOWN BUT A DIAMOND. BEYONCE? I DON'T THINK SO! JESSICA? I DON'T THINK SO! IF THIS GAL AND AMY WINEHOUSE GOT TOGETHER, THE REST OF THE FEMALE SO CALLED SINGERS OF THE POP ROCK WORLD WOULD GO FIND A REAL JOB.

BETH, YOU MAKE MY DAY, EVERY FREAKIN TIME I PUT YOU IN MY PLAYER.

GONNA BUY SOME MORE!

This was one of those impromptu buys. Hadn't ever heard of her before, just liked the clips and said, "why not?" There isn't a single bad song on here, so how often does that happen? She's a screamer for sure, but it's still melodic and not too downtrodden. Her range of styles is impressive, too. Not too many screamers can do the ballads so well :-)

I think Beth Hart has the most beautiful voice on the planet. I think she
is the most amazing songwriter and musician too. This is my favorite of all of her albums. This is a must have.

www.myspace.com/tonyaanddawn

Words seem trivial to try to describe just how wonderful this artist is. Since her first album, Immortal, I was hooked...still am hooked on the passion that just flows so gracefully out of her. I hate that there are only five stars up there...she is so much more than that.

She is pure poetry man...she rocks my socks off!

She just gets better and better. Her lyrics are amazing and her voice is incredible. You can feel that she puts her soul into every note she plays and every sound she utters. She rocks, and this CD is a must buy for any Beth Hart fan.

There was a reason why I wore my black framed glasses today.

The reason is the latest Beth Hart CD, 37 Days -which I FINALLY ordered from Amazon.com to get an import since it hasn't been released here in the States.

Beth Hart always out does herself with her music each time. Her voice is gut wrenching, passionate and sometimes weary. I was turned on to her music a few years back when a friend sent me "Screamin' For My Supper" CD. So, when the next CD came out, "Leave the Light On", I thought how could she top herself, well she did. I sat on the floor when I heard those songs, I cried all the time in the car while listening to it and that CD never left my car for at least 2 years!

37 Days begins with "Good As It Gets", a groove that is so infectious by yelling at the world to make everyday count, make everyone count and live it up! The first time I heard it was on her myspace site I thought what a song about life, liberty and pursuit of buying cool shoes...well maybe not that...

There are many great songs on this, "One Eyed Chicken"-is a great blues stomper-"Heavan Look Down"- "Easy" - which I thought was about her struggles in her life-but in her notes, on her site, it's about suicide. Maybe her struggles in her life left her feeling like it was a slow suicide. "Over You" is gorgeous and ugly and sad and yet a naked look at having your heartbreak. That is doesn't matter if it's the first time or the last time-it still hurts.

"Soul Shine" and "Forever Young" (I was crying during the previous song while driving now I am gushing) are both reminders that the human spirit can only take so much but yet withstand anything. I love Beth's "Soul Shine" much better than the version I have-what a powerful song that Beth delivers and serves-that is a song that was written for he if there ever was one.

Last but not least, the song that I have been waiting for to hear for I have been listening to a performance of this on You Tube-"At the Bottom". On the video for this, shot by a fan, it's a little hard to hear but since it's just Beth and piano, it really comes across well. So, before she sings this song, she's telling the audience, about quitting smoking, drugs and how it's given her a lot to deal with. The crowd is silent.

On the album there is a long pause, as if she is telling you to sit down, and listen. This is not only tearjerker it's a gut punching, hard tale of how she's been at the bottom for so long now she doesn't know how she will get out. Pleading with Mary-"you're the only good part left of my trash."

Many people who are going through trying times, either addiction, or relationships or just life in general all hit "rock bottom" in order to realize what they are doing and where they are. Some bottoms are lower than others. This is one of those songs that should be out there, knocking these people's doors saying hey man it's okay it will get better.


The rest of the album is really great she talks about society, country, hatred within us and of course the search of being redeem. Her voice is in fine form and her band is powerful and doesn't overplay. You can hear how tight they are with her. Jon Nichols, Todd Wolf and Tom Lily provide such a backbone for Beth for it's seamless. Kudos to the production - what a way to record at Center Staging-wow!

I have turned many folks over to her and they always say "how raw of a writer she is!" or "she's telling my story." or "why haven't I heard of her?" She speaking for all of us, the standing tall, the running scared and the walking wounded.

I've been a Beth Hart fan since her debut CD; "Immortal". Over the past twelve years she has put out three more cd's and an incredible live DVD that may be the most overlooked concert DVD on the market; most likely because she has moved and tours exclusively in Europe. This current CD is her best music ever and is well worth the inflated price (it's an import and not yet released here). I burned "37 Days" for a very dear friend of mine and she cannot get enough of it. Beth played Janis Joplin in the play Janis, in LA a number of years ago, and listening to her voice, there's no doubting why she was casted for the part (listen to "Mama" on her live DVD and you will know why!). If you want to "get hooked", spend $60 and buy this "37 Days" cd, and the live DVD, and you won't regret it; you won't be able to put it down!
Scott Parkinson-Coon Valley, Wisconsin

Beth Hart has an undeniably amazing voice. She is the, I know she's been called this so many times, but she is the Janis Joplin of our generation. She has an awesome,powerful emotive voice, and why she hasn't been 'discovered' yet, I'll never know.

1. Run 3/5 Not a bad start...
2. Spiders in My Bed 3.5/5 Getting better now...
3. Isolation 4.5/5 This is an awesome some. I love it, it has this crazy feel to it, and I suppose it is supposed to sound like that (if you read the lyrics well enough).
4.Hold Me Through The Night 5/5 Amazing song, this is what really made me do a double take. I can't believe the amazon reviewer called it 'overwrought'. This is what Beth really is good at. The ballads.
5. State Of Mind 4/5 Good, if a little short.
6. Burn Chile 5/5 AWESOME! This song really has some awesome lyrics.
7. Immortal 5/5 Again, just an awesome track.
8. Summer Is Gone 5/5 MY SECOND FAVORITE SONG OFF OF THIS CD! Right after Hold Me Through The Night.
9. Ringing 4/5 Nice little rock song.
10. God Bless You 3/5 the song I like the least (too poppy).
11. Am I The One 5/5 I LOVE THIS SONG! She has a very Janis Joplin sound on this track.
12. Blame The Moon 5/5 I LOVE THIS SONG! It is beautiful, just her voice and a piano for the most part. Just beautiful :)

I really would suggest you getting this CD, but I haven't heard her others so I can't say what is better, but I will be getting more CDs by this artist.

Beth Hart Rules!

I only give this album 4 stars because her later albums are even more incredibly stellar. Here the songwriting is a bit less mature, but this album displays her in all her raw, ferocious glory. One listen to the intense vocal acrobatics she performs on "Am I The One", and you will understand why her fans are so devoted to her. She is a vocalist of absolutely unparalleled power and emotion. This album is the first step of an artist on a journey to a legendary place among the greatest rock artists of all time.

It's a measure of how talented Beth Hart is that this album falls far below the other two, yet would still be a highlight of many singers' careers. Get the other two first -- they are brilliant -- and then pick this one up too. As long as you don't expect quite the same level of songwriting, you'll be very pleased with it.

This is a good CD, but not as well-rounded or interesting as "Leave the Light On". Still, it's definitely worth buying and her voice sounds great.

I purchased this cd at the same time as her Live At Paradiso, and love both. If I was to be given a gifted singing voice, man, oh man, I would pick a voice like Beth's. Though this is one of her earlier cds, it stands up there with the others -it's as great as them.Well crafted songs, all of them.'Summer Is Gone' and "Am I The One' are just two examples on the cd.As I have written in other reviews I have done for other BH cds, it utterly staggers me that Beth Hart is so overlooked as a musician in her own country.Here is a gifted song writer, musician and voice rolled into a person who is a survivor of life...And did I mention her amazing voice?Believe me, her voice can reduce you to tears, lots of them.Try any of Beth Hart's cds and learn what real music is.

Beth Hart is THE most underrated singer/song writer of all time. She should be a super star. She rocks on this cd and her talent shines. I only wish I could get the DVD of this concert. If you even think you might like her music you should get this cd. You will not be dissappointed.

What a voice live! I'm sure allot of people would compare Beth to Janis, which IMHO is very unfair. I actually like Beth as a songwriter, vocalist, musician allot more than Janis! (Sorry Janis fans)
This CD shows off Beth & the band!
Great addition to any CD collection!

This is the best live CD ever made (also available on DVD, which I absolutely recommend). From the first note to the last, it's a non-stop music fest. Most artists are incapable of mesmerizing and captivating their audiences during a live performance the way Beth Hart does so effortlessly. Her energy and honesty enrapture you while you enjoy her greatest hits like "L.A. Song" in which she gives a little commentary on the origins of the song, and the greatest cover of "Whole Lotta Love" (Led Zeppelin) ever recorded.
This is a definite "must have" for any Beth Hart fan (rotten friends!) and anyone who truly enjoys an amazing talent!

I can really see why people say Beth is a modern day Janis Joplin. She is underrated.
Connoisseurs of the human voice will adore Beth. Her voice is made for belting out the blues. Her voice has plenty of power for some of the songs she sings on this cd.
Like Janis her performance is in your face and electrifying and it puts you in the moment. There you are living your ordinary life and you put on the cd and it's like a car wreck. You can't help but look or in this case listen. Beth and her band they give you an awesome performance. Nothing held back.
If you don't have this cd in your music library you're really missing out.
Thanks Beth you're awesome.
"I don't wanna be alone
In this world without you" From World Without You

This CD is phenomenal. As much as I hate Britney Spears and her like (and I hate them passionately), I love this woman/singer/musician.

She writes. She plays instruments. She has a talent that very few have. I don't understand how her vocal chords remain intact.

People buy Paris Hilton's CD. That just shows me how the American music scene is going to hell in a hand basket and has been for years.

Beth Hart is an incredible performer.

I hope that someday she is given recognition as a rock/blues great.

There are only nine posted reviews at this time. That's sad.

Beth Hart is a true rocker. Her music is a must for all rock collections. This album has a great mix of in-your-face "take me as I am" and true sensitivity.

Four outstanding tracks are:

Lifts You Up
Bottle of Jesus
Monkey Back
If God Only Knew

If you haven't heard of Beth Hart, you are missing one of the best.

Beth is quite simply the finest vocalist on the planet and this is her crowning achievement thus far. She moves effortlessly from beautiful ballads (Leave the Light On), to southern rock (Broken & Ugly), to motown (Bottle of Jesus), gospel (Sky Full of Clover), and plain ole' roots rock (Monkey Back). No matter what she is singing, though, her voice is like raw emotion, distilled and poured out into every line of her poetic lyrics. She has more power and talent in her little finger than the entire Top 40 combined. I can guarantee that you have never heard anything like it; just let go of your notion of what you think music is, and listen to this album.


As a response to previous reviewer, Michael D. Williamson --
You wrote that you were disappointed with the album because:

"She should be singing "bluesy" material with her vocal talents. The material on this album is just too average. I will say the last half of the album is better than the 1st half. Maybe I just choose the wrong album??"

I'd say that, no, you didn't choose the wrong album. You are just being maybe a bit restrictive in your consideration of musical genre. Did you expect that she would be an exclusively blues singer? One style of music simply cannot contain this woman. Blues are awesome and she sings them powerfully, but she also sings ballads, roots-rock, country, hard rock, gospel, and whatever else. As a result, most of her music is a rootsy fusion, not entirely one genre or another. Try giving a listen to "Am I The One", or "Mama", both from previous albums, they both have a strong blues influence.

I agree that she used her voice very powerfully on the Les Paul album, but there are places in LTLO where she does the same thing. I mean, are you telling me that "Sky Full of Clover" is an "average" song, or that she didn't belt it out with just as much feeling and power? When have you EVER heard anything like that on the radio or anywhere else? Open your mind a little bit and maybe you'll enjoy it more. But if you consider everything besides pure blues to be "average music", then, well, your loss I suppose.

I investigated Ms. Hart after hearing her on "American Made World Played
Les Paul & Friends" where she had a cut with Neal Schon titled "I Wanna Know You". After hearing her on this cut - I had to dig deeper. Her voice is amazing. This album, however, is very disappointing. She should be singing "bluesy" material with her vocal talents. The material on this album is just too average. I will say the last half of the album is better than the 1st half. Maybe I just choose the wrong album??

Raw emotion pervades all of Beth's music. If Janis Joplin could hear Beth Hart perform, she would say, "Wow, man!" I just saw her in concert again tonight and can't wait for her new CD to come out. Ballads or kick a#& rock - she does it all and well. Personally, I like this CD better than the others but what I heard in concert tonight is possibly even better!

I had never heard of Beth Hart until last night. A friend of my boyfriend told him how good she was, that she sounded a lot like Janis.

She was playing at The Knitting Factory on Hollywood Blvd last night, so we decideed to see her. The place was sold out but some how he talked our way in. She was singing some mellow song that was really good but I thought his friend was NUTS!, this chick didn't sound a thing like Janis at all. Then she sang Monkey Back....Well I'll be damned! She did sound like Janis! I liked her so much last night I bought this CD.

As much as I like this CD, she's 100 times better live! If you ever have the opportunity to see her, don't miss it!

It was a great experience. I shopped on line at Amazon. It was easy, got shipping and ordering info via e-mails. The CD was shipped right away and it plays great. What else could you ask for. I buy all my CDs from Amazon. Lower prices even with shipping than in the stores. You get them right away.
Dave

Without getting overly analytical, this music is a MUST HAVE for any romantic vocal fan. If you've ever performed these, it is what would be called a "masterpiece". You will get something the further you dig into the music. Easily performed if mediocrity is acceptable. If true art is the aim, almost immpossible. And an artistic performance by one of the best choirs in this century. Very recommended.

By the time Johannes Brahms' chamber works for vocal quartet and pianos came out, music in the home was certainly waning somewhat, but the Liebeslieder Waltzer succeeded; their high musical quality and accessibility are their great attributes, along with some evening-themed choral works, are features on this CD.

Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzer are made up of 18 settings of texts by Georg Friederich Daumer; the texts usually speak of courtly love in various moods. Written for two pianos and voices ad libitum, Robert Shaw chooses the choral route, as opposed to solo voices. Most are SATB settings with women and men often answering each other, waltzes for just women and just men alone, as well as the occasional solo. There are many points of interest in these waltzes: the first being the great variety of settings; they never get old or repetitive. A gift of melodic writing and daring harmonic progressions, along with formulaic hemiolas; each are very descriptive of the moods they are portraying. Both the classical chamber settings and the lush Romantic sweep of the harmonies and melodies are evident in these charming works; the entirety at about 23 minutes, each waltz, none much over 2 minutes each. The popularity of the Liebeslieder Waltzer led to more: Neue Liebeslieder Waltzer. 14 of the texts are by Daumer, the final setting is by Goethe. The texts are a bit more serious, unrequited love and the dichotomy of misery and joy involved with love. The change in tone of text is apparent in the musical setting; less fluffy waltzes, and more emotionally-wrought settings. Again, there are advanced Romantic harmonies, but less chatting between men's and women's voices, but still featuring solos and gender waltzes. Again for two pianos, the quality of composition seems to rise in this new set of waltzes, less formulaic hemiolas and more singing qualities. Of particular note is the amazingly beautiful, haunting Waltz No. 13 for women's voices and the emotional final waltz, the only waltz not set in 3/4, with a cappella moments, evoking the depth of Romanticism and the clean classicism Brahms represented. At 21 minutes, each waltz continues the standard form: opening idea, contrasting idea, with an occasional return of the opening.

Also on this disk are seven part songs written by Brahms on the theme of Evening, filling out the CD with an additional 17 minutes: Waldesnacht, Der Abend, Nachtens, Abendstandchen, O Schone Nacht, Abendlied, and Rote Abendwolken. Spanning from Opus 42-112, these works represent Brahms' great choral writing in the German tradition. Each feature vivid and descriptive poetry about the night, along with sumptuous choral writing.

Robert Shaw and the Robert Shaw Festival Singers present an outstanding recording of the two sets of Liebeslieder Waltzer. Shaw does not add any over-Romanticized techniques, and rubato is nearly non-existent, for some clear choral renderings of these works. The textures and moods are brought out of the score by simply following Brahms' score markings, not by manufacturing interpretations. The addition of lieder experts John Wustman and Norman Mackenzie at the pianos, makes this a first-class performance. While the Zigeunerlieder would have been a better coupling, the seven evening songs are a welcome addition to the disk, and beautifully sung. The vocal quality is spot-on, and achieves expressiveness as well as clarity; the Festival Singers succeed here as opposed to other OK Festival Singers recordings. For solo editions of the Waltzes, look to EMI or DG, but for choral versions, this beats all. While a total of 62 minutes seems slim for a CD, these works have never sounded so fresh and committed; a must-have.

In the time before TV, Movies, and, well, records - people would make music on their own. They would even form societies to perform choral or small ensemble music. This music is written for intimate performance. I mean, all you need is a group of 20-40 singers and a good piano with two decent pianists (it is piano four-hands).

They are short, charming, and emotionally satisfying pieces. The technical demands are not severe, but require performers of some experience if not extensive training. The kind of people who would have existed in some quantity in Germany at the time these were written. Remember, Brahms actually made a living from the sales of his published music! That is very rare in the history of music. But the relative sophistication of the time created the demand for such pieces and Brahms provided them with absolute gems.

This disk contains both sets of the Liebeslieder Waltzes (love-song waltzes) and the set of seven Abendlieder (evening songs).

As you would expect the Robert Shaw Festival Singers sing beautifully and the pianists support the singing very well. The Liebeslieder sets are charming and fun and BEAUTIFUL. I was fortunate to sing the second set with the Ann Arbor Cantata Singers this past year. It is quite fun. There is nice variety in the character of the pieces and there is enough solo work for the strong voices in the group to step out (NOT ME!).

The Abendlieder are utterly gorgeous. Emotionally rich and lush in sound and texture. A nice end to the disk.

The disk also includes a nice booklet with the lyrics of the songs and provides an English translation.

My only quibble, and it is a small one - and is getting smaller upon each re-hearing is that the recording sounds a bit too wet for my tastes. I would have like to have heard the parts a tad more clearly. But you will love this disk. So, don't worry about my little squawk.

Feel free to let me know what you think of the music and the disk.

Your collection of Robert Shaw CDs wouldn't be complete without this easily overlooked volume of Brahms, 40 tracks (62 minutes) worth of impeccably realized choruses. The entire Liebeslieder (Love-Song) Waltzes are here (the first 33 tracks). They've been known to show up in two versions, (1) for four vocal soloists, and (2) for a four-part chorus of moderate size. Both are valid; Brahms did not make his druthers known. Over the years I've come to prefer the soloist version myself, but this performance of Shaw's makes the best case yet for the choral version. (It's Shaw's obviously calculated planning-out of the many fine melodic turns of phrase that I get a little frustrated over, preferring instead to hear the impassioned spontaneity of a solo singer. With Shaw, that's a small gripe, to say the least!)

But listen, do you want to know a secret? It's the final seven tracks, which Shaw has called "Evening Songs." You can immediately hear that these are REAL choral pieces (that is to say, they wouldn't work at all with solo voices). They were selected from different eras in Brahms' life, and taken together they make a stunning impression. They have as their unifier texts about nighttime reveries and meditations. They stand with the best music Brahms ever wrote. You may find yourself cool to the frothy delights of the Waltzes (I don't; I think they're grand!), but you will not be able to deny the wonder of Brahms' - and Shaw's - achievement in these seven songs. Only 17 minutes they are, but they occupy a lifetime of taste!

I truly love this album. This is my go to album. Feeling sad-play it. Feeling happy-play it. Wanna sing real loud in the car-play it.

Beth Hart is one of the best artists ever. Her music is amazing and her lyrics truly reach into your soul. This is one of her best albums. The haunting pain in the beautifully dissonant songs like "Leave the Light On" and "Lifetime" offer you a chance to expose your own wounds, but leave you feeling remarkably comforted. The rockin', down and dirty crunch of songs like "Broken and Ugly" and "Monkey Back" are fun and loose tunes that get you right down in the dirt. This album has a special surprise of 5 live versions of some of her best work and 5 unreleased (in the U.S.) songs; all of which exemplify the beauty that is Beth Hart. I highly recommend this artist and this CD (all of her CDs) to anyone who loves music and true talent.

I have been a Beth fan since the "Immortal" days and I have followed her career ever since.

This particular item is a Netherlands only re-issue of her awesome 2003 album "Leave The Light On". It also includes 5 additional studio tracks and a second disc of 5 songs from her concert at the beautiful Paradiso concert hall in Amsterdaam.

The new studio tracks are:

Crazy Kind Of Day
Learning To Live (This song put the album at #1 in the Netherlands)
Say Something (my favorite song on the album)
I Don't Want To Be - Duet with Jesper Binzer (yes, it's the Gavin DeGraw song)
Hiding Under Water (the studio version is quite different than the version featured on the "Live At Paradiso" CD/DVD)

It's worth the money for this amazing album with the additional tracks and bonus disc.

Be on the lookout for Beth's new CD, "37 Days", already out in the Netherlands and coming to the US soon!

Beth Hart is as the title states .... PHENOMINAL!!!!!!!

Enough said!!!!!!!!!

Beth Hart is a voice to be reckoned with.Ohhh, how I'd be blest to have a voice like hers, and believe me,I haven't. Please, if you haven't owned a Beth Hart cd, buy this one and savour real music.This cd is a re-release of her 2003 one with 5 extra songs- so you are getting real value for your dosh. Buy it and listen to her singing, and you will realise what you have been missing-REAL MUSIC, real soul wrenching music. If she happens to do a concert near you-GO.She is soooooooooooo much better than anything female singer in your local top twenty.

If you are a broadway passer-by, someone who looks to getting to know just what's on broadway and not what's it like, someone who says he's seen all of the broadway shows after reading the "what's on listings" in the papers this is a CD for you. I don't own the CD but own all of the Cds from which songs were taken to make this CD. every musical has it's own style and kind of music, and this CD doesn't even take all the highlights. If you are into really experiencing something when listening to a cd, if you are a real broadway-lover and you are interested in modern musical-writing, every one of the original cast recordings (from which songs were taken to this CD-hairpsray, producers, millie, aida, b&b, boheme, moving out) will be a much bigger enjoyment for you than this one. and most preferabely- all of them! :)