Audio CD review:
Boz Scaggs - But Beautiful, Standards: Volume 1

Boz Scaggs - But Beautiful, Standards: Volume 1

Band: Boz Scaggs Title: But Beautiful, Standards: Volume 1 Rating: Release Date: 06 May, 2003 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: What's New 2: Never Let Me Go 3: How Long Has This Been Going On? 4: Sophisticated Lady 5: But Beautiful 6: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered 7: Easy Living 8: I Should Care 9: You Don't Know What Love Is 10: For All We Know

Customer Reviews Simply Superb Mr. This is simply a superb collection. Scaggs has the depth, confidence, and soul to sing these standards with a pure, truth-scarred ease. . . as if he has lived these lyrics. . . He doesn't muck around with these classic melodies or adorn them with shallow "jazzy" embellishments. . . he doesn't try to "wear" them or "reinvent" them - he simply, deeply IS them! And the cool, sweet, beat, and breezy quartet supporting him in accoustic brilliance through exquisitely calibrated arrangements of heartfelt intelligence. My only, only criticism is: it's been four years, man! Where's volume II ??? . Boz takes a risk, and comes out ahead But (and maybe this is part of the problem for some other listeners), I wasn't instantly convinced. I'm certainly in the camp of those reviewers who were favorably pleased with this collection of terrific old standards, handled in Scaggs' unique style. Scagg's voice is soft, somewhat delicate, and rather unique in timbre. He can't (and doesn't try to) put a muscular, swinging spin to the tunes, but, instead, consistent with his vocal equipment, sings them relatively straight, quiet, and easy, in ballad format. For those of us who a) listen to more traditional jazz singers and/or b) know Scaggs' voice from his pop material, one's first impression may well be jarring. I first listened to the CD a couple of times, and then put is aside for almost a year before I picked it back up again. This second time around, it all came together, and now it is on my regular play list. He's found one really good way to approach these tunes, that fully fits his voice, and is expressive and effective. It's also unique, and, as we know, sometimes uniqueness doesn't work for the listener right away. I think the band is great. I don't know what to say about comments about the drummer; I like his work. He plays quite a bit on the bell of his cymbal, which gives it a, well, bell-like ringing sound, which I rather like, but it's somewhat different. My system is all tubes and a bit soft at the edges; maybe that's why it doesn't bother me. Is it too much to wish for a follow-up, or even two?. "Handydandy" doesn't get it. Listen to "I Should Care", the man is sad and he is probably looking out the window as he sings thinking of what was, could have been, but alas, wasn't meant to be. Tom B "handydandy" missed the point entirely when he wrote his review in 2003. By the way Boz is not one of my favorites and I must commend him for this track at least. . You can see a complete list of all Boz Scaggs discography, or go back to the Boz Scaggs tabs