Sunshower [Import]

1. Sunshower (From "His Own Dark City")

2. Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon

3. To Make It Easier on You

4. Didn't We

5. Mixed-Up Girl

6. Someone Is Standing Outside

7. Jumpin' Jack Flash

8. This Is Where I Came In

9. Pocketful of Keys

10. This Is Your Life

11. Cheap Lovin'

12. If This Was the Last Song

13. If This Was the Last Song

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Originally released in 1969, Jimmy Webb arranged, produced and wrote the songs except 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'. 12 tracks.

Tracks:

Sunshower (From "His Own Dark City")
Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon
To Make It Easier on You
Didn't We
Mixed-Up Girl
Someone Is Standing Outside
Jumpin' Jack Flash
This Is Where I Came In
Pocketful of Keys
This Is Your Life
Cheap Lovin'
If This Was the Last Song
If This Was the Last Song

Album Description

Originally released in 1969, Jimmy Webb arranged, produced and wrote the songs except 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'. 12 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Sunshower, Thelma Houston.......2005-08-05

I'll be brief and general since prior reviews are detailed by song. I married in 1969 and my late husband and I searched the
web and phoned music stores across the country for more than
two decades for the cd to no avail...the record being old and scratched. I saw Thelma on tv recently and decided to check for Sunshower again. Who thought to check Japan? :-)

Music being all important to me for 58 years, it's difficult to
say it's my favorite album, but I did think to say it which proves how great it is and how very much it means to me. I see
each cut as a joyous vignette from Jimmy Webb and Thelma.

I pray my husband, Louie, who has been in heaven for seven years on Tuesday, August 9th, is listening with me.

Sunshower is a brilliant work of art!.......2004-04-18

"Sunshower" is one of those works that is complete and satisfying. Like a fine art painting, every song fits together into this album.

Thelma Houston was the perfect choice for the vocalist. She breathes life and vision into every number.

Jimmy Webb is best known for his work with Glen Campbell and Richard Harris. Arranged and produced by Jimmy Webb, this is his finest work. Likewise for Thelma Houston who holds nothing back. She is in her finest form on every song.

The only dim spot in this album is that it never received the legitimate recognition that it deserved. Recorded as an lp in 1969, it is now available in limited quantities as an import from Japan. The sound of the CD is done immaculately well, resulting better than the original album.

Well worth waiting for, highly recommended for those who love an accomplished R&B female vocalist accompanied by rich arrangements.

STUNNING MASTERPIECE!!! BRAVO THELMA!!!!!.......2004-03-22

"Sunshower" is the most incredible album that legendary composer Jimmy Webb has ever written, arranged, and produced in his long and brilliant career! As Jimmy stated on the original album sleeve "I hurry to present Thelma... the most prodigious talent I have ever encountered" and Miss Houston more than lives up to this proclamation. Never have I heard a more brilliant marriage of artist and material and this work for many collector's has been an example of singing at it's finest since it's original release. Upon original release radio didn't know what to do with this classic but word of mouth spread like wildfire that Thelma Houston's voice was one of the all-time greats and not to be missed! Immediately I ran out and purchased what quickly became one of my all-time favorite female vocal albums ...I purchased numerous copies so that I would never be without a fresh copy. ... Stirring and soulful is "Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon" and hauntingly beautiful is "To Make It Easier on You" with a vocal that is magnificent. Many have done "Didn't We" but this is the definitive version with an ever so fine vocal that is unforgettable. "Mixed-Up Girl" is sung with such heartbreaking passionate longing that it is totally stunning. By the time you get to the gorgeous "Someone is Standing Outside" you know that this is a solid collection with no throw aways! Thelma really lets it rip on "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and this version is a notch up from the original and really cooks and is a gas!!. Another glorious heartbreaking vocal goes deep inside "This is Where I Came In" and deep anguish through the haunting "Poketful of Keys". "This is Your Life" is an epic ballad with a beautiful passionate vocal that pleads to a wayward lover and is breathtaking in its beauty. Another cooker in this magical collection is the hard rocking "Cheap Lovin'" and the closer is the spiritual "If This Was the Last Song" which ends on a passionate high that soulfully breaks into "Somebody is Standing Outside". Get this fast while its available because they don't get finer than this!! ...

Simply Her Best!.......2002-11-28

This is Thelma Houston at her best! ...the material is top-shelf! I have a vinyl copy and it's easily
one of the most treasured albums in my vast collection. It's a wonder broadway didn't come knocking. Alas, I've read numerous
accounts of why it didn't take off from Dunhill not knowing how
to promote a black female singer to their reluctance to let Jimmy Webb cover his own work with the label and lost interest. Whatever the case there's not a loser in the bunch and sooo many big recording artists covered these tunes shortly after it's release. None came close to the magic that Thelma created. She belted, she growled, she carressed, these lyrics. And with Jimmy's great arrangements it just clicked! What kills me is how this album is mostly always forgotten when Jimmy's career is talked about in favor of his more bigger hits like Galveston with Glen Campbell or MacArthur Park with Richard Harris. Even with something as weird as "Pocketful of Keys" you can't find a better version. Easily i'd put this up there
with Dusty IN Memphis and Aretha's I Never Loved A Man (The Way
I Love You) albums. Peace

Thelma Houston tackles Jimmy Webb.......2002-07-10

Thelma Houston tries out her vocal prowess with some Jimmy Webb tunes. Not only is every song (except for one, a spirited cover of The Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash") written by Jimmy Webb, he is also the main producer on the LP.

As to be expected from a Jimmy Webb product, it's strange in places and somewhat out of left field, but that's what makes it intriguing. Houston wraps her voice around several Webb classics, and seems to have the most success with "Mixed Up Girl", "Everybody Gets To Go To The Moon" and the title track, "Sunshower".

On other tracks, especially "Didn't We" and "Someone Is Standing Outside" and "Cheap Lovin'", she seems lost as to what Webb wants her to deliver. While the vocals are always top notch musically, emotionally Houston sometimes seems too detached from her material.

This hard to find album was first brought to my attention because Dusty Springfield supposedly discovered both "Mixed Up Girl" and "Everybody Gets To Go To The Moon" by listening to this record. Dusty's covers seem to capture Webb's bizarre/other-worldy style better than Houston's versions here.

Somehow, it seems Webb's music requires a more skillful singer with a larger emotional range. Houston tries her best, but she is no Dusty Springfield.

Tracks:

Reunion
Sunshower
Embers
Bandit
Porkchops
I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
Subway Six
Sierra Madre
Feelin' Alright
Space Cadet

Customer Reviews:

I love this CD.......2000-01-07

This is a really wonderful collection of tunes which showcase Valentin's beautiful tone on the flute. I particularly like the duets with Dave Samuels on the vibes. One of Valentin's best to date.

Average customer rating:

Sunshower
Larry Willis
Manufacturer: Mapleshade Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005NT37
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

Summer Serenade
Soul Eyes
Sunshower
Little Melanie
Horizon
Poor Eric
Wah-no-nahme

Average customer rating:

Sunny Australian pop

Sunshower
Santhi
Manufacturer: Santhi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA9356
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

Sunshower
Anymore
If Only I Knew
Maternal Song
Meant
Just
Less Than Lovers
Dear Father
Garden of Eden
War Song
Meant (Acoustic)

Customer Reviews:

Sunny Australian pop.......2007-05-25

Santhi is an Australian lady of Indian descent whose album, Sunflower, is a mostly very gentle journey of pop songs, some uplifting, some plaintive and others - well they just harmless pop songs. At the time it's release this gernered a little attention in Australia due to Santhis' Indian heritage and the fact that she collared some locally well known session musos to play on what is a very indie feeling album and due to her stated intent of putting some meat on the bone of her tunes via guitar.

All up though her Indian heritage makes no impact, except in some of the booklet photos. And as for the musicians, yes it's all nicely played but outside of Sydney, Australia, nobody much will care who the musos are. What is more likely to capture the listener is the excellence of some of the tunes here. The title track Sunshower is wonderful pop, nothing more and nothing less. Track two, Anymore, is also lovely. Both tunes ride a gently brisk tempo to keep the listener engaged in what are deceptively simple melodies. And that's coming from a guy who normally hates this kind of stuff.

As the album scoots along Santhi find it impossible to maintain such high standards but numbers like Meant and Less than Lovers work their gentle charms. The War Song also has an emotive feel to it and sets the listener up for the gentle acoustic reprise of meant to round out the album.

Personally a few more guitars further up in the mix would of been preferred - but that probably has more to do with the limitations of my personal musical tastes (I'm a headbanger) as opposed to any real flaws in the albums music. As for things to compare this to I'm at a loss. It's not power pop like Avril Lavigne or the excellent Damone. What it is however is independant flavoured singer-songwriter stuff that should be encouraged as unlike most young women her age, Santhi doesn't endlessly sing about sex or shove silicone enhanced features at her audience. Instead her palette is far more mature and encompassing than that.

Not revolution inducing, but darn glad I picked this up on a whim.