Title: Stealing from others
Product review: This is a poor barbra album for a few reasons: She doesn't seem comfortable with the material and others have recorded much better versions of these songs. She basically steals Laura Nyro's arrangement for "Stoney End," and she attempts to steal "Just a Little Lovin'" and "No Easy Way Down" from Dusty Springfield. Laura and Dusty's performances are much, much better. Compare the two versions of "No Easy Way Down" (Dusty's is on "Dusty in Memphis) and you'll see that Dusty internalizes the lyrics beautifully to evoke the sadness of the song, while Barbra struggles to evoke anything. Barbra sounds stiff and uncomfortable with many of the songs. I read in an interview that she said she had a hard time learning to sing on the beat while making this record. It definitely shows too. Now, before I get lots of hate mail, I am a fan of Barbra, she definitely has a voice. But this is one record in which the elements do not come together. Not everything that she puts out is like butter.
Would you say this review depicts the product in a flattering or unflattering light?
