Cabaret Scenes CD Review - Maureen McGovern

As she opens with a gentle, “I am on a lonely road, looking for something...what can it be?”—the opening teaser to Joni Mitchell’s languid lament, “All I Want,” which quickly fuses into Paul Simon’s “America,” one is acutely aware that, unlike many pop-jazz sopranos, Maureen McGovern is unafraid to pigeon-hole herself in one genre of music. For that matter, she’s not afraid to take chances in any milieu. This is particularly in evidence with her latest CD release, A Long And Winding Road on PS Classics which is worthy of a Grammy award. It’s that good.

The album says a lot about history. It says more about vision. It also says a lot about this songbird with the flawless vocal technique who, after three decades of singing on recordings, Broadway, soundtracks and in cabaret, classical, folk, jazz and concert venues, remains at the top of her game, in demand, and with few peers. She was deservedly honored this year by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) with their Lifetime Achievement Award to be added to her list of staggering career accolades.

Singing songs that had a life between 1960 and 1971, McGovern reinvents instantly recognizable, vaguely familiar and newly unearthed gems from a variety of composers eclipsed from that volatile Vietnam-Aquarius age that was filled with anti-war protest anthems, cries for help and wrenching love ditties. She breathes new life into the works of iconic composers like Bob Dylan (“The Times They Are A Changing”), Carol King (“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”), John Lennon (“Imagine”—also teamed with Paul McCartney), Joni Mitchell (who is represented on a trilogy here), Laura Nyro (“And When I Die”), Paul Simon (“America), Billy Edd Wheeler (“The Coming of the Roads”) and Jimmy Webb (also on three stunning cuts.)

Under the deft musical direction of Jeff Harris, other musicians include Jay Leonhart on bass and a skilled band supporting her every nuance. Each song reveals a new layer of McGovern’s legendary artistry with her trademark clarion tones and incomparable enunciation. Each cut is a winner that is moving and alive with revelatory layers of beauty. This is her first studio release in awhile and the wait was worth it. And, aren’t we all glad there really was a morning after that landmark hit recording from a forgettable camp flick from 1972? Just savor “The Moon’s A Harsh Mistress” and “Cowboy.” It doesn't get much better.

John Hoglund
Cabaret Scenes
July/August 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Maureen McGovern A Long and Winding Road PS Classics
As she opens with a gentle, “I am on a lonely road, looking for something...what can it be?”—the opening teaser to Joni Mitchell’s languid lament, “All I Want,” which quickly fuses into Paul Simon’s “America,” one is acutely aware that, unlike many pop-jazz sopranos, Maureen McGovern is unafraid to pigeon-hole herself in one genre of music. For that matter, she’s not afraid to take chances in any milieu. This is particularly in evidence with her latest CD release, A Long And Winding Road on PS Classics which is worthy of a Grammy award. It’s that good. The album says a lot about history. It says more about vision. It also says a lot about this songbird with the flawless vocal technique who, after three decades of singing on recordings, Broadway, soundtracks and in cabaret, classical, folk, jazz and concert venues, remains at the top of her game, in demand, and with few peers. She was deservedly honored this year by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) with their Lifetime Achievement Award to be added to her list of staggering career accolades. Singing songs that had a life between 1960 and 1971, McGovern reinvents instantly recognizable, vaguely familiar and newly unearthed gems from a variety of composers eclipsed from that volatile Vietnam-Aquarius age that was filled with anti-war protest anthems, cries for help and wrenching love ditties. She breathes new life into the works of iconic composers like Bob Dylan (“The Times They Are A Changing”), Carol King (“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”), John Lennon (“Imagine”—also teamed with Paul McCartney), Joni Mitchell (who is represented on a trilogy here), Laura Nyro (“And When I Die”), Paul Simon (“America), Billy Edd Wheeler (“The Coming of the Roads”) and Jimmy Webb (also on three stunning cuts.) Under the deft musical direction of Jeff Harris, other musicians include Jay Leonhart on bass and a skilled band supporting her every nuance. Each song reveals a new layer of McGovern’s legendary artistry with her trademark clarion tones and incomparable enunciation. Each cut is a winner that is moving and alive with revelatory layers of beauty. This is her first studio release in awhile and the wait was worth it. And, aren’t we all glad there really was a morning after that landmark hit recording from a forgettable camp flick from 1972? Just savor “The Moon’s A Harsh Mistress” and “Cowboy.” It doesn't get much better. John Hoglund Cabaret Scenes July/August 2008 www.cabaretscenes.org

Maureen McGovern

A Long and Winding Road

PS Classics