| Great concept album (review from amazon.co.uk) |
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| Doing an Elvis song basically means you can't win becuase the man was such agreat iconic figure who created ultimate versions of most of what he did. Therefore Jungr doesn't try to copy him but uses the songs as raw material for her very own interpretation. The result is unusual but very enjoyable because you never even think of comparing her version to The King's. It's avery intelligent CD that plays with songs and creates something completely new. Great concept album.
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| A real treat (review from amazon.co.uk) |
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| No doubt Elvis is the greatest rock'n roll icon of the 20th century. He sang a number of very good songs and more than just a few bad ones as well. However, when he was really doing his job, and not just mockering around, his singing could be outstanding. Through the years, since Elvis passed away, lots of tributes and hundreds of covers came out. Few were excellent, some good, the majority... well, why did they have to do that? With Barb Jungr's Love me Tender there's something new. In my opinion her record is only but the very best ever done on Elvis Presley's music. Barb is a superb, inventive and sophisticated singer and in her hands every song become her own. She did it with Dylan, Brel and a few others and most of the times things worked it out brilliantly. Now she cooled down Elvis with minimal arrangements and spoken, almost introspective voice - that may eventually shock die hard fans looking for clichés - but that brought a new light to gems such as Heartbreak Hotel, Love me Tender or Are you Lonesome Tonight. And by the way, Looking for Elvis is a real treat. Thanks for the music, Barb, thanks for the memory.
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| A refreshing change (review from amazon.co.uk) |
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| It's so wrong that someone like Barb Jungr is almost unknown to radio listeners, especially when you consider the same old nonsense played day in, day out. We went to see her out of curiosity in a small jazz club in Chelmsford last year, and have started collecting her CDs as a result. This is a wonderful album, different to anything you will hear elsewhere, and worth buying just for "Are You Lonesome Tonight." Elvis wouldn't be upset at his songs being changed so much, as he probably wouldn't recognise them by the time Barb Jungr has finished with them anyway. This CD would make a great "What on earth is this?" type Christmas or birthday present for anyone who enjoys music. If you already know her work, then you won't be disappointed when you hear this. A beautiful album.
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| Elvis never sounded so good! (review from amazon.co.uk) |
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This new album from Barb Jungr is an unusual concept - take the songs of Elvis and turn them inside out!
It works beautifully.
Barb's ability as a singer is undoubted, as anyone who has heard her could testify, but with each new album she shows a great skill in choosing her material. Elvis is an icon, an idol of rock and roll, but here the songs that were so very definitely his are heard in a new light, and it really does make them shine brightly.
Heartbreak Hotel, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Love Me Tender, In The Ghetto, songs inextricably linked with Elvis but Barb claims her right to them here, without a white suit or karaoke machine in sight!
The arrangements by Jonathon Cooper and Adrian York are spot on; they make you hear the song and the singer in equal measure giving a twist on an old story.
Barb is never one to take the easy way; she could so easily make an album of crowd pleasers with by the book arrangements and probably be holding hands with one of the would be 'new generation' of jazz people on awards night, but that's not her style, and I'm incredibly grateful for it!! She makes you listen to music, to a voice, to a well crafted song, and she should be applauded for it.
This is a wonderful album, not just for fans of Barb, or fans of Elvis ( who may of course find it sacreligious to mess with the King's material!), but for anyone who likes good music that will still challenge their perceptions.
Buy it, listen well, and make your own mind up!!
ps. Go and see Barb live of you can, she excells in live performance!!
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