Barb Jungr — Love Me Tender — Linn SACD

by | Aug 29, 2005 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews | 0 comments

 Barb Jungr — Love Me Tender — Linn AKD 255 Multichannel SACD,   ****1/2:

If you hate it when you go to a concert and all your favorite band
plays is cover songs, then don’t go see Barb Jungr’s fall tour. She is
tearing up Europe and West following the recent release of Love Me
Tender; which includes 11 songs performed by Elvis and two by Bob
Dylan. Her exotic voice drives me to fantasize about her sitting atop a
piano in a smoky pub, holding a cigarello in one hand and a tall glass
of Boddingtons in the other. Heartbreak Hotel blows me away every time
I listen to it. The fresh rendition with Barb‘s signature jazzy
overtone touch is so breath-taking, you really can’t believe the rock
roots behind it. To compare Barb with other singers wouldn’t do her
talents justice, but if I had to, I would say the closest audible
comparison would be Johnette Napolitano from Concrete Blonde. I have
never been a fan of Elvis’ music, but get me to Graceland baby, I have
been reborn!!!!
Barb, a cabaret singer by trade, has herein followed up her 2002
release, Every Grain of Sand, a superb album chock full of Bob Dylan’s
songs. Her raspy, Marlboro-perfected voice out performs any
impersonator I have ever heard. Barb’s soulful voice does wonders for
all 13 tracks on the album. In the Ghetto is perfectly crooned. I can
only imagine how lucky the band members felt at the end of that
session. One of my favorites, Are You Lonely Tonight, is done with such
raw emotion, that I can’t visualize it being sung by Elvis.
Barb’s classical rendition of the rebellious song I Shall Be Released
(one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs snuck into this album) could start
riots in the prisons with her, “Come on boys follow me!” attitude.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the album. I have never been a fan of
Elvis’ music when performed by him, but these covers are amazing. I
just wish Barb was gigging over here, maybe at the Green Mill in
Chicago… I dream big!
 
Tracks include: Love Letters; Heartbreak
Hotel; Long Black Limousine; Wooden Heart; Are You Lonesome Tonight?;
Kentucky Rain; In the Ghetto; Love Me Tender; Always On My Mind; I
Shall Be Released; Tomorrow is a Long Time; Looking for Elvis; and
Peace in the Valley.

— Paul Pelon IV

Related Reviews
Logo Pure Pleasure
Logo Crystal Records Sidebar 300 ms
Logo Jazz Detective Deep Digs Animated 01