Cheryl Wheeler

Cheryl Wheeler

Track Listings

1. Gimme the Right Sign

2. Invisible Lady

3. Addicted

4. Lethal Detective

5. Behind the Barn

6. Paradise in Troubled Waters

7. Your Radio's up Too Loud

8. Game of Love

9. Quarter Moon

10. Same Old Game

11. Arrow

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Thanks to this 1986 disc, her full-length debut, Maryland-born but Massachusetts-based Cheryl Wheeler burst on the singer-songwriter scene in a big way. Produced by Jonathon Edwards, for whom she once played bass, this robust offering features a full band and outright rock tunes such as "Lethal Detective" (with a screaming electric-guitar solo by John Jennings) that will scare or amuse fans of her ensuing solo-oriented work. Filled with new-wavy accents like cheesy keyboards and radio-ready multitracked vocals, this disc is rescued to a degree by first-class songs, including "Addicted" (which was a No. 1 country hit for Dan Seals), "Behind the Barn," and "Arrow." Listen for Mary Chapin Carpenter singing background vocals. --Robert Baird

Tracks:

Since You've Been Gone
Little Road
Must Be Sinking Now
Beyond The Lights
Summer's Almost Over
Defying Gravity
Clearwater, Florida
Here Come Floyd
Alice
This Is Me
It's The Phone
On The Plane
Blessed

Amazon.com

Few folk albums indulge in mood swings more severe than the ones on Defying Gravity. "A woman my age, sittin' here cryin'" are the first words Cheryl Wheeler sings on her first album of new material in six years. During the next four older-but-sadder songs, bittersweet is as chipper as it gets. Even the comparatively sunny "Summer's Almost Over" finds the veteran troubadour confiding "I'm crying but I don't know why." But then comes the Caribbean lilt of the title track--written by Jesse Winchester--and the mood lightens, as the instrumental "Clearwater, Florida," and the jazzy syncopation of "Here Come Floyd" continue to chase the clouds away. By the time the album shifts into a couple of live tracks of Wheeler regaling the audience with the cell-phone absurdities of "It's the Phone" and the travails of air travel in "On the Plane," she has her crowd on the verge of tears of laughter. As the reflective "Alice" and redemptive "Blessed" attest, Wheeler is a folksinger for all emotional seasons. --Don McLeese

Album Description

With six years having past since Wheeler's last full-length studio collection (1999's Sylvia Hotel), the much-anticipated Defying Gravity overflows with a wealth of exquisitely crafted, powerfully resonant original songs. While her compositions have been recorded by artists as diverse as Suzy Bogguss, Garth Brooks, Bette Midler, and Linda Thompson, Wheeler's burnished alto, nimble guitar playing, and sly sense of humor insure that she will always be her own best interpreter. Standout tracks on Defying Gravity, like the bittersweet "Summer's Almost Over," the aching opener "Since You've Been Gone," and the careful character study "Alice," are defined equally by Wheeler's gifts as a writer and performer. "On the Plane" and "It's the Phone," both recorded live in concert at the now-defunct Bottom Line in New York City, are priceless examples of Wheeler the satirist. Taken as a whole, Defying Gravity paints a portrait of a performer and composer continuing to discover rewarding new avenues in her finely-developed craft.

Customer Reviews:

Can it get any better?.......2007-04-05

After months of being unable to remove Cheryl Wheeler's Driving Home CD from my CD player years ago, I never really expected any of her newer albums, while excellent, to be able to hit the mark set by that album's sheer lyricism and poignancy. I was wrong. Defying Gravity pretty much matches it stride for stride. There are at least five "genius level" songs on it, in my view ("Alice", "Summer's Almost Over", "Here Come Floyd", "Little Road", and "Blessed"). I noticed how much I'd fallen in love with this album when my children asked me why I kept playing the same song over and over (in that case, it was "Summer's Almost Over", but "Alice" has evoked the same behavior in me). You honestly can't go wrong buying this album. Highly recommended.

A treasure.......2006-11-23

I met her in the Medford, Oregon airport-what a delight. I looked her up on Amazon and fell in love with her music. She is absolutely wonderful...what a talent.

Defying Gravity by Cheryl Wheeler.......2006-03-10

I found Cheryl during the "heyday" of Napster, bought all of her albums, she never fails to please!!!

Tears And Laughter.......2005-10-03

Cheryl Wheeler possesses one of the most beautiful and distinctive voices in the music business, and has (especially for these times) that rarest of talents: she writes memorable, TUNEFUL songs. Compelling lyrics are fairly common among the many accomplished "contemporary folk" artists working today. I would even venture to say that "poetry," as opposed to mere jingle-writing, is pretty much expected of anyone looking to rise above the crowd (and it is an ever-expanding crowd). But few have the ability to compose melodies that match or exceed lyrical content. A handful of artists are distinguishing themselves these days in this respect (Dar Williams, John Gorka, Lucinda Williams and Eliza Gilkyson come most immediately to mind), and many of them, like Cheryl Wheeler, have been toiling at the fringes of commercial success for quite a few years. Thankfully, Wheeler and Co. do not seem to care much about the mainstream, and those of us who value music that rises above the usual type of dopey love song that tends to make it into the Top 40, are all the richer for it. Not that Ms. Wheeler does not write about love. It is one of her main subjects, and among her loveliest songs are compositions about every kind of love; they are thoughtful and personal and deep, and have the ability to draw tears from a grown man. This grown man, anyway. On DEFYING GRAVITY, which contains a collection of the most gorgeous melodies she has ever written, Cheryl Wheeler is found at the top of her game. "Little Road," in which Wheeler wonders "how can there be trouble in this world," while marveling at the blissful flow of nature, is heartbreaking, and more potent than any political rant could ever be. "Alice" is equally moving, about a middle-aged woman who becomes nomadic after the death of her husband. "Summer's Almost Over" is of a type of song that Cheryl Wheeler has made her own particular specialty: careful yet emotional observation of the changing seasons, and of nature in general. This one is among her most quietly powerful, and I can't imagine anyone with a heart in their chest not being moved by it.

No losers here, but there is an awkward juxtaposition, as in most of Cheryl's albums, of gorgeous songs with very funny ones. She has a bit of a split personality, and her humor is by turns hilarious and scathing. This "other" Cheryl is best seen and heard live, and, indeed, the satyrical songs on her albums are often from concert performances, as are "It's The Phone" and "On The Plane," included on DEFYING GRAVITY. Thank you, Cheryl, for so perfectly articulating the outrage so many of us feel at the many rude, loud cell phone users that we all encounter on the train, on the bus, in crowds.

There is no such thing as a bad Cheryl Wheeler album, but if you've never explored the worlds of Cheryl Wheeler, this is as good a place as any to start. Simply brilliant.

I'm a fan, but a disappointed one.......2005-03-17

Having been known to go without groceries to attend one of her concerts, and owning most everything she's ever recorded on CD, on tape or on VHS, I would describe myself as a Cheryl Wheeler fan. And I have never failed to find on each of her productions three or four "stop what you are doing and listen to this" songs--until now. Listening to "Defying Gravity" over and over again, I find the accompaniement over-produced, at times amateurish, and often irritating. While the songs are "nice", there are none that grab you by the collar and swing your attention around to them. But, it's still Cheryl--the images are as clear and sharp as ever, her playing is clean and pleasing, and her voice is still as smooth and as sweet as honey-wine--and for this alone could I recommend this CD to another of her fans. Yet there's a big something missing that I cannot quite find the words to describe--I'm listening to her CD, "and I'm crying but I don't know why..."

Average customer rating:

A great performer, a super CD
A wonderful discovery
An excellent album
unsung hero of song
Not that funny, but a beautiful voice

Different Stripe
Cheryl Wheeler
Manufacturer: Philo / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Defying Gravity
Driving Home
Mrs. Pinocci's Guitar
Sylvia Hotel
Cheryl Wheeler

ASIN: B00007LV7C
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

Northern Girl
Arrow
Walk Around Downtown
Moonlight And Roses
Gandhi/Buddha
When Fall Comes To New England
Quarter Moon
Aces
Hard Line To Draw
Almost
Addicted
So Far To Fall
Don't Wanna
Miss You More Than I'm Mad
Sylvia Hotel
Who Am I Foolin'?
75 Septembers
Further And Further Away
One Love

Amazon.com

Different Stripe, a welcome best-of collection from Wheeler, offers 19 tracks that span the entirety of her 16-year recording career, including two songs from her 1986 eponymous debut released on the small folk label North Star Records. Wheeler is considered by many to be one of the finest songwriters of the "New Folk" era that developed in the 1980s, and, listening to Different Stripe, it's easy to hear why. She writes haunting and beautiful ballads that, when matched to her smoky, smooth vocals, are deeply affecting. Fans should note that there are two new tracks, "Walk Around Downtown" and "Gandhi/Buddha," among the "hits" here, which include "Addicted," a No. 1 country hit for Dan Seals, and "Aces," a country Top 10 for Suzy Bogguss. --Jim Caligiuri

Customer Reviews:

A great performer, a super CD.......2007-05-08

I'm late learning about Cheryl Wheeler and her gifts as a singer, songwriter, and best of all performer (including sit-down comedy!). She is the consummate storyteller with a wonderful voice and sense of humor. This CD, my first, seemed like the best place to start ... a nice mix. I listen often and very much enjoy it.

A wonderful discovery.......2006-11-05

I was impressed with Cheryl when I recently met her waiting for a plane and came home and ordered this album. I love,love,love it. She has voice that travels to the middle of one's soul and the lyrics are incredible. I am so happy to have learned about this talented singer-songwriter...better late than never.

An excellent album.......2006-09-14

This album is well worth purchasing. There are a number of songs on it that are moving and pull at you like nothing else can. I love "Arrow" and "Ghandi/Buddha", "75 Septembers" of course and there are others. I did not particularly note "Sylvia Hotel" as anything special on the Sylvia Hotel album but for some reason when I heard it in the context of other songs here, it became another stand out. Cheryl Wheeler can just get to the heart of the matter in a few choice phrases that catch your soul forever.

unsung hero of song.......2006-01-29

I love this CD. In fact this is the third copy of it I've purchased because I keep buying it for everyone else! It's great travel music for listening in the car, great sing-a-long music for when you're tooling around the house and no one is looking PLUS it's the only CD that will calm down my 11-month-old when she wakes up cranky!! But all these great things aside, Cheryl Wheeler is a master story-teller in song - and that makes this a real pleasure to listen to over and over. I can't believe I went without her for so long.

Not that funny, but a beautiful voice.......2005-10-22

I first got to know Cheryl Wheeler from her funny songs on the Sylvia Hotel CD. I also saw her in concert where I was taken with her folksy loving insightful songs. I also thought she was very bright and had an unbelievable way with words. But still the songs that got me most were the ones that were kind of funny. I have to say in a collection album with 19 songs, they are all very somber, and not the funny ones I was looking for. Her voice is beautiful, and the lyrics are still compelling, but don't plan to laugh.

Average customer rating:

A True Comic And Poet
A pleasant experience
Another masterpiece
Turn Up the Volume and Turn Off the Lights
This is a wonderful CD

Driving Home
Cheryl Wheeler
Manufacturer: Philo / UMGD
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Different Stripe
Defying Gravity
Mrs. Pinocci's Guitar
Sylvia Hotel
Circles & Arrows

ASIN: B0000003U8
Release Date: 1993-10-04

Tracks:

Driving Home
Silver Lining
Music In My Room
Frequently Wrong But Never In Doubt
Don't Forget The Guns
Act Of Nature
75 Septembers
Spring
Bad Connection
When Fall Comes To New England
Orbiting Jupiter
Almost

Amazon.com essential recording

With Rounder Records, Cheryl Wheeler found a home. With her first recording for the label, Wheeler steps to the plate and swings with confidence. Don't let the hilarious cover art fool you: from the atmospheric title tune to the gliding hooks in "Silver Lining" to the anti-gun hillbilly honk "Don't Forget the Guns" (with Alison Krauss on harmony vocals), this is a singer/songwriter tour de force. "75 Septembers" has a powerful sweep. An accordion adds a nice touch to a pair of tunes, including the bayou-flavored "Spring." And her paean to her adopted homeland, "When Fall Comes to New England," has become a performance staple. Jonathan Edwards, who produced her first two albums, wisely opts for a spare setting this time out, allowing her songs to shine through. Yet another sterling collection from one of the most sage and sly singer/songwriters on the circuit. --Robert Baird

Customer Reviews:

A True Comic And Poet.......2005-10-24

DRIVING HOME - Cheryl Wheeler

This album first introduced me to the music of Cheryl Wheeler way back in 1994. It didn't take much prompting to search it out after hearing "Don't Forget The Guns" on a local radio station. After playing it, the host declared, "what a sweet little song ..." which appropriately reflected the sardonic humour it conveyed. How can "we don't look for trouble, but by golly, if we're in it/it's nice to know we're free to blow nine hundred rounds a minute" not do that. This is the comic side of Cheryl Wheeler. The poet is something else again, and "Driving Home" reflects that side in a quite breathless fashion.

"75 Septembers" resonates with me, because my late father was born in September. I well remember his 75th, because I couldn't be there for it, as I was travelling in Turkey at the time. The lines that really speak to me are "now the fields are all four lanes and the moon's not just a name/are you more amazed at how things change or how they stay the same/and do you sit here on this porch and wonder how the time flies by/or does it seem to barely creep along/with 75 Septembers come and gone." There's nothing much else I want to say after that.

There's hardly a song I wouldn't recommend on this album. Right now I feel somewhat lost to find the words that would adequately describe the emotional pull and insight of these songs. I'll just single out in particular "Act of Nature", "Bad Connection", "Frequently Wrong But Never In Doubt", "Almost", and, of course, "75 Septembers."

There are light and airy, good feeling moments on this album too. "Silver Lining", "When Fall Comes To New England", "Music In My Room" and "Spring", both musically and lyrically, flow effortlessly and leave me with a sense of real affection for Cheryl's songwriting ability.

Cheryl's collaboration with Janis Ian on "Orbiting Jupiter" is literally in a galaxy of its own. I have recently rediscovered Janis Ian too through a not totally convincing local cover of "At Seventeen." There's another incredible, durable talent. Janis, that is, not the local.

"Driving Home" is one of my favourite albums of all time. It's right up there in the top 3 along with Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Stones In The Road" and "Between Here And Gone". I am rather torn across all three and I keep changing my mind on which one might be the best. I like to think I can just appreciate them all because they all offer something different. Perhaps it is no co-incidence that Mary Chapin sings background vocal on "75 Septembers".

Do yourself a favour. Listen to this album. Take the advice of respected music critic Robert Oermann, who, in the album's liner notes suggests that by the time you've finished listening to these songs, Cheryl will be as deep in your heart as someone you smile at every day.

A pleasant experience.......2004-06-10

While I do enjoy listening to many songs on this CD--it is not my favorite collection of Cheryl's material by any means. I love the title song, "Driving Home" as well as "Silver Lining," "Frequently Wrong.....," "75 Septembers" and "When Fall Comes to New England." But I do have problems with "Orbiting Jupiter" and "Almost." But it is still very much worth listening to and owning.

Another masterpiece.......2004-06-06

Following up the brilliant Circles and arrows (the album that first brought Cheryl to my attention) might have seemed a hard task but Cheryl maintained the standard set by that wonderful album. Musically, her style could be described as folk or country but it's actually a mix of the two.

Cheryl's sense of humor is evident in Don't forget the guns, a sarcastic song in which Cheryl ridicules the American obsession with guns.

The title track opens the album in cheerful style, with Cheryl singing about an enjoyable drive through Pennsylvania countryside, listening to the music of Richard Thompson. A different drive home, this time by night, was the inspiration for Orbiting Jupiter. Cheryl sings about the pleasures of listening to music as a teenager in Music in my room. Two other cheerful songs (Spring, When fall comes to New England) extol the joys of those seasons. Cheryl describes the start of a new relationship in Silver lining.

On the reflective side, Cheryl sings of relationships going wrong (Act of nature, Bad connection) and the march of time (75 Septembers - a song in which she asks about how things used to be). There is also a song (Frequently wrong but never in doubt) about somebody who always thinks he's right but rarely is.

This is one of Cheryl's best albums. If you enjoy singer-songwriters with a sense of humor, you will surely enjoy Cheryl's music.

Turn Up the Volume and Turn Off the Lights.......2002-06-20

I have owned this album for about ten years now and I can honestly say I never get tired of listening to it from beginning to end. Cheryl Wheeler is an awesome storyteller as well as musician. My favorite track off the album is "Act of Nature". The song chronicles the development of a storm on the literal level but also deals with the break-up of a relationship if you listen more closely. There is a little something for everyone: toe tappers like Spring, Music In My Room, Don't Forget the Guns; sentimental slow songs like: Driving Home, 75 Septembers, and Almost. I have seen Cheryl live on a couple of occasions, a treat not to be missed.

This is a wonderful CD.......2002-04-04

Well worth purchasing. I keep it permanently in my car and go back to it time and time again. "When Fall Comes to New England" is beautiful. When I die I hope my husband figures out that I really liked this CD and plays a few songs from it at my funeral...well, one can dream I suppose!

Average customer rating:

Not quintessential Wheeler
It's a good one

Cheryl Wheeler
Cheryl Wheeler
Manufacturer: North Star
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

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Similar Items:

Mrs. Pinocci's Guitar
Driving Home
Sylvia Hotel
Defying Gravity
Different Stripe

ASIN: B000006M0T
Release Date: 1992-09-24

Tracks:

Gimme The Right Sign
Invisible Lady
Addicted
Lethal Detective
Behind The Barn
Paradise In Troubled Waters
Your Radio's Up Too Loud
Game Of Love
Quarter Moon
Same Old Game
Arrow

Amazon.com

Thanks to this 1986 disc, her full-length debut, Maryland-born but Massachusetts-based Cheryl Wheeler burst on the singer-songwriter scene in a big way. Produced by Jonathon Edwards, for whom she once played bass, this robust offering features a full band and outright rock tunes such as "Lethal Detective" (with a screaming electric-guitar solo by John Jennings) that will scare or amuse fans of her ensuing solo-oriented work. Filled with new-wavy accents like cheesy keyboards and radio-ready multitracked vocals, this disc is rescued to a degree by first-class songs, including "Addicted" (which was a No. 1 country hit for Dan Seals), "Behind the Barn," and "Arrow." Listen for Mary Chapin Carpenter singing background vocals. --Robert Baird

Customer Reviews:

Not quintessential Wheeler.......2001-06-15

If you love Cheryl Wheeler music, you'll likely be disappointed with this album. This is her first album to get relatively wide distribution, and it doesn't contain the style and songs or wonderful lyrics she is known for. There are a few good songs, such as Behind the Barn, Quarter Moon and Paradise in troubled Waters,but the rest disappoint. If you are a major fan you'll want it for your collection, but this is not quintessential Wheeler by a wide margin.

It's a good one.......2000-02-12

This was my first introduction to Cheryl Wheeler. I heard Tom Rush do "Quarter Moon" in concert and found this album in a music catalog from a small music company called "Hear" Music. You'll recognize "Addicted" if you're a country music fan. I enjoyed her music so much, I've purchased all of her CD's. She's an amazing writer with a great sense of humor and a hauntingly beautiful voice.

Average customer rating:

A Terrific CD of Charming, Thought-Provoking Songs
Subservient to a cat
You won't believe your ears when you hear this...
Disappointed by this one
One of the best female singer songwriters

Sylvia Hotel
Cheryl Wheeler
Manufacturer: Philo / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Singer Songwriters | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Mrs. Pinocci's Guitar
Defying Gravity
Driving Home
Different Stripe
Cheryl Wheeler

ASIN: B00000HXE0
Release Date: 1999-01-26

Tracks:

His Hometown
But The Days And Nights Are Long
If It Were Up To Me
Right Way To Do The Wrong Thing
All The Live Long Day
Sylvia Hotel
Unworthy
Rainy Road Into Atlanta
Lighting Up The Mighty Mississippi
Potato
Meow
Who Am I Foolin'?

Amazon.com

Since her first independent EP appeared in 1983, Cheryl Wheeler has been keeping her fans content and more than confounding critics who might prefer to pigeonhole her. This gifted singer/songwriter can shift from deep irony to deeper emotion in the space of a single measure. On Sylvia Hotel, Wheeler's comic brio is particularly abundant. Witness her tongue-twisting, starchy paean to the potato (to the tune of the "Mexican Hat Dance"!)--this is most definitely roots music with a difference. Then there's "Meow," an ode to her master-slave relationship with a saucy, self-loving feline: "I see you in Memphis on the Nile in the spring / Swinging through some palace doing your Egyptian king thing," Wheeler growls. But there are also several beautifully serious songs--such as "His Hometown," a keen tribute to some stronger roots, and "Lighting Up the Mighty Mississippi"--that wreak emotional havoc on listeners' hearts. Leavened with essential humor, abiding images, and sublime harmonies (courtesy of Lucy Kaplansky), Sylvia Hotel should break Wheeler out once and for all. --Kerry Fried

Customer Reviews:

A Terrific CD of Charming, Thought-Provoking Songs.......2006-04-19

One of the most insightful, eloquent, and fun songwriters working today, Cheryl Wheeler is a treasure to listen to on Sylvia Hotel, whether she's singing a thoughtful ballad like "If It Were Up to Me," a touching tribute like "His Hometown," or a fun bit of wordplay like "Potato." Her serious songs don't evoke sadness as much as consideration, and her more light-hearted tunes are always well-crafted reminders that we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously. It's only life, after all.

I can't tell you if Sylvia Hotel is her best, worst, or what-have-you -- I like pretty much everything she writes and sings. What I CAN tell you is that if you enjoy singer/songwriters with a brain who can write smart lyrics that sound deceivingly simple and clear, you'll like this album. And, in fact, you'll probably end up buying more of her CDs once this one has infused itself into your brain.

Lastly, I will say that listening to the "Samples" on the product page may help you decide IF you already know you like Cheryl. If you're not really familiar with her style yet, though, those Samples don't really do her justice because a lot of her charm comes through in the storytelling, which takes a little longer than the Samples allow.

Subservient to a cat.......2005-07-09

Women may think they can control of their lives these days, but it seems that this is not the case when it comes to their pet cats, if Cheryl's tribute to her own cat (Meow) is to be believed. In this song, Cheryl acknowledges that her purpose is to do whatever her cat wants. Another great song (If it were up to me) is about people finding all sorts of things to blame for the problems in American society but Cheryl would remove guns.

Two live cuts show Cheryl's sense of humor at its best. The first (I'm unworthy) takes a satirical look at all the expectations heaped on people in the modern world - of course, there's no way that she will ever be able to do them all. The other (Potato) is an ode to the plant that grows so that may eat it in various forms.

The other songs here demonstrate Cheryl's softer, poetic side. She describes a man who is happy with his life in one place (His hometown) but also sings about life on the road (Lighting up the mighty Mississippi). The other songs are sad ballads of depression and loneliness, all of which Cheryl sings superbly. However, it is the lighter songs that really stand out from this album.

This may not be Cheryl's strongest album but it is still a great album that should please Cheryl's fans.

You won't believe your ears when you hear this..........2002-04-05

I live in Colorado and was just down the street from Columbine High School when the shootings occurred. It was an overwhelming time for many of us, in Colorado and elsewhere, and it was hard to find ways to deal with the confusion and anger and frustration. Shortly after the shootings several radio stations started to play a song called "If It Were Up To Me". I'd never heard it before, but I rushed out and bought a copy of Sylvia Hotel. It is a powerful song with an even more powerful message and for me, it was perfect for that whole horrible incident. It expressed my confusion and frustration. I don't know the answer to these horrible things happening in our world, but I have some thoughts on how we can at least try to fix it! (I won't ruin the power of the song by giving it away...)

While I bought the album for just one song, the rest of the album has hooked me and I can hardly pick out a favorite song over the rest. "But the Days and Night Are Long", "Sylvia Hotel", "Rainy Road Into Atlanta" and "Lighting Up the Mighty Mississippi" are some of my favorite ballads ever--and I LOVE ballads! Meanwhile, Cheryl shows some wonderful versatility with fun songs like "Potato" and "Unworthy". If you've ever attended a Lilith Fair, if you own an Indigo Girls, Natalie Merchant, or Joan Armatrading CD, or if you just want to hear some really great music by a really talented musician, buy this CD!

Disappointed by this one.......2002-04-04

I love Cheryl Wheeler but this is the first CD of hers I have not played over and over again. I suppose maybe if I did it would grow on me, but I have not as nothing really caught my attention, other than the title as I like the Sylvia Hotel. Nothing much to say about this one, I'm afraid.

One of the best female singer songwriters.......2001-10-24

Wheeler has such a beautiful and expressive that even if she wasn't a singer-songwriter she would have a career in Music. She is also a great performer, and a funny woman, making all this together, an artist you can't resist.

This is Wheeler 5th release and not much different than her previous releases. Her songs are mostly personal, about being an everyday woman, an average person living in a crazy word. In But The Days And Nights Are Long, she sings:

Life is short, but the days and nights are long
Time will heal all the wounds
Someday soon I'll be rising, I'll be strong..."

In an anti-gun song, which is, as it should be the most rocking song, If It Were Up To
Me, she makes a list of the reasons that make people kill, but accuses the guns:

Maybe it's the movies, maybe it's the books
Maybe it's the bullets, maybe it's the real crooks
Maybe it's the drugs....
...
Maybe It's the fertilizer, maybe it's the nose rings
Maybe it's the end, but I know one thing
If it were up to me, I'd Take away the guns.

A very effective song, that could convince some people (am I still too optimistic, at my
age?) and may save a few life. A must listen for every congressman, tired of
impeachments and other apples.

Tracks:

Mrs. Pinocci's Guitar
Does The Future Look Black
School Girls
T.V.
The Rivers
Further And Further Away
Is It Peace Or Is It Prozac?
Howl At The Moon
The Storm
So Far To Fall
Makes Good Sense To Me
Piper
Time Taketh Away
One Love

Amazon.com essential recording

After five albums, Cheryl Wheeler is not only a musician's musician, she's also a hugely talented performer, comedian, and expert in tying bittersweet lyrics to her increasingly intense melodies. On her second Rounder album, Wheeler spreads her creative wings further than before. Here, the humorous side to her songwriting comes to the fore with knockouts like the genuinely hilarious, rink-organ-accented "TV"--whose chorus, sung in an impatient, offhand way, ends, "Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah / Sky's real nice / Moon's real big / Stars real bright / Cable calls and it don't seem right / That I can't watch TV." The organ returns in the preface of another wry romp--"Is It Peace or Is It Prozac?" Not surprisingly, Wheeler leavens the silliness, effortlessly switching over to sadness and hard-earned heart knowledge in several numbers, including the plaintive "Further and Further Away." Mostly guitar and voice with stark and tasteful backing, this is the kind of album that gives singer/songwriters a good name. --Robert Baird

Customer Reviews:

More great tunes from Cheryl.......2007-07-16

As always, Cheryl Wheeler, delivers a variety of songs which will make you laugh and cry. She is a very gifted songwriter and singer. These tunes will stick in your head for days.

A Thoughtful, Humorous, and Sometimes Somber Album.......2004-05-10

My daughter bought me this album after hearing Cheryl Wheeler in concert. I listened to it hesitantly, fearing self-indulgent nonsense. What I heard, however, both surprised and delighted me. Wheeler has become one of my favorite musicians, and I eagerly await each new release. This album has a range of material that should please all but those seeking hip hop or heavy metal music.

The title cut recalls a late night folk sing, and conjures up visions of a campfire and beer. There are also humorous, but biting satire that everyone should appreciate. "T.V." is about camping without the joys of commercial television with its infomercials, shopping channels, and fishing shows. "Is it Peace or is it Prozac?" questions our modern reality of drug induced bliss, in this case legal drugs.

All of Cheryl Wheeler's albums contain songs about love lost, a staple in many music genres and among many musicians. Sometimes she wallows in this problem, but not here. This one has two songs on the subject that I especially like. First, "Does the Future Look Black" is a sustained conversation over whether or not a couple will remain a couple. "So Far to Fall" is a lament on the loss of energy resulting from a breakup. Its chorus is especially eloquent:
"Well this ain't the love you swore to me.
And this ain't the life it's supposed to be.
And I don't know just how to hold on now,
and it's so far to fall.
From the warm light in your eyes,
to nothing at all."

Finally, there is a wonderful song about preserving the environment, "The Rivers," which asks how we might stop water pollution.

Cheryl Wheeler is a talented songwriter with a witty turn of phrase. Her voice is elegant and sometimes sultry. The material in this album is certainly worth the time and cost. Enjoy!

Singer-songwriter with humor.......2004-01-10

This is a typical Cheryl Wheeler album, often very thoughtful but with some humor too. Cheryl wrote all the songs here as she normally does. I can understand why some people might find Cheryl's humor offensive but I know when she's being serious and when she's joking. I also don't care whether her political stance is in agreement with mine or opposed to it - we are all entitled to our opinions.

Cheryl pokes fun at politically correct liberals in Makes good sense to me. She also makes light of a time when she thought she'd lost her mind in Peace or Prozac. Another fun song is TV, in which Cheryl sings about all the things she can't watch when there is no electricity due to power supply problems.

Elsewhere, the album is mellow and reflective, with Cheryl singing about the weather (The storm), pollution (The rivers), an Italian reunion (Mrs Pinocci's guitar) or various aspects of love.

If you are unfamiliar with Cheryl's music, I recommend Circles and arrows (which I've already reviewed) as a starting point, but this is a wonderful album too. I've listened to a lot of great music but I've never come across anybody quite like Cheryl.

"Happy New Year".......2004-01-02

When I went for my morning walk on this the first day of 2004, I randomly picked this CD to keep me company. I had not listened to it in quite some time and so, in some ways, I was hearing it for the first time. I have no idea why I had let it sit so long without going back to it. But I did return and I feel much the better for it. The title song, "Further and Further Away," and "Time Taketh Away" were so appropriate for the day. I have just ordered two newer releases of hers today and I look forward to a continued reacquaintance with her music during 2004. Great beginning to the year!!!

Unserious talk about sometimes serious matters.......2003-04-13

I first heard Cheryl Wheeler at a ski resort restaurant and the music stuck with me until I purchased this CD months later. I love every song on this album - some are serious and some are hilarious. We've also seen her in concert twice now and live she's even better. I think the greatest compliment I can give is that my husband truly enjoys her (he's not a huge folk music fan) because she doesn't take herself too seriously. Even the politically-tinged music has an element of humor.

Average customer rating:

Her Best
Half A Book: Not Half Bad

Half a Book
Cheryl Wheeler
Manufacturer: North Star
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Cheryl Wheeler
Mrs. Pinocci's Guitar
Driving Home
Different Stripe
Defying Gravity

ASIN: B000003LT7
Release Date: 1992-09-24

Tracks:

Emotional Response
I Don't Have The Time
I Don't Reach You Anymore
Tell Him Goodbye
In Your Heart
Rainin'
Half A Book
I See You Eyes
Thinkin' Of Leavin'
Summer Fly
Piper

Amazon.com

On her sophomore album, singer-songwriter Cheryl Wheeler fails to deliver the coup de grâce her debut hinted lay straight ahead. Instead she continues to learn both songwriting craft and how not to produce an album. Like her debut, most of this disc suffers from overly sweet adult-contemporary production touches such as saxophone solos and busy drumming. Songs such as "Tell Him Goodbye" and "In Your Heart" show the fledgling folkie trying hard to perfect a middle-of-the-road rock style. "Emotional Response" reached that goal, climbing to No. 24 on the AC charts. But in this album's final pair of songs, "Summer Fly" and "Piper," Wheeler's gift for melody and strong voice finally takes over and shows what she can do. --Robert Baird

Customer Reviews:

Her Best.......2003-04-01

This was my first Cheryl Wheeler CD. I was hauted by this melodic CD AND the production values. Perhaps the other reviewers here prefer guitar and stand-up bass as the basis or "pure" folk oriented music, but it is the song that shines through. Kenny White plays piano beautifully and In my opinion, the arrangements are superb. I dont understand the mediocre reviews of this CD. If you have seen Cheryl in person, her voice is beautiful, but she talks too much and is too politically bitchy. She would be better off singing and more of this type material would be welcome. Cheryl must not think much of this CD either, since she does not perform songs from it in the 6 concerts I have seen her in.

Half A Book: Not Half Bad.......2000-10-21

Most people familar with the full body of Wheeler's recorded work agree that she is at her best when her producers and studio musician take the day off and her vocal craftmanship and guitar skills are left to shine through. Unfortunately the producers and mixers had a heyday on Half a Book resulting in an overly slick production just doesn't hold up as well as her other albums.

First-time Wheeler listeners would be better served by "Circles and Arrows" and "Sylvia Hotel," both outstanding efforts.

Tracks:

Prologue
Act I: Avila; Tableau I
Act I: Tableau II
Act I: Tableau III
Act I: Tableau IV
Act I: Tableau V
Act I: Tableau VI
Act I: Tableau VII

Tracks:

Act II: Might It Be Mountains If It Were Not Barcelona
Act II: Dance Of The Angels
Act II: Love Scene
Act III: Barcelona
Act III: Vision Of The Holy Ghost
Act III: Storm In Miniature, Withou Rain
Act III: St. Ignatius Predicts The Last Judgment
Act III: Saints' Procession
Intermezzo
Prologue To Act IV
Act IV: The Sisters And Saints Reassembled And Reenacting Why They Went Away To Stay

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Music, stupid words, and at times boring.......2004-02-17

I guess I would have to be the decenting voice here. I really thought this opera was a waste. I really care less if Gertude Stein wrote the words. There is nothing in this work. The music is interesting, that I will admit. The singing is HORRIBLE, not because the notes are sung badly, but once again the English is incomprehensible (and to make things worse, the meaning of the libretto is just as incomprehensible; combine the two and what in Heaven's name is really being communicated). Virgil Thomas has never excited me as a composer. His operas are so forgettable, and this one is no exception. I wonder, though, what the great voice of Leontyne Price sounded like in the work, after all, she did sing in it. But even her English is incomprehensible much of the time when singing these sorts of operas (I have some highlights of Barber's Anthony and Cleopatra with her singing Cleopatra's death scene, and I believe that is about all we will ever find of Price in this work; of the entire scene I think you may understand what would amount to half a sentence of the words). I feel really alienated when listening to an opera and I can't figure out what they are singing about. I have no trouble with singers singing German, French, Italian, or even Russian. Most of the time their diction is super, and if you speak the languages, you are well aware of what is going on. English is my native language, and I find it so disheartening when I have more ease understanding everything sung in a foreign language than when I hear it sung in my native tongue. I would advice all librettist of the English language to not bother writing any real words, just make some groupings of sounds, and throw in a harsh consonant or two, and we would understand just as much of what you write as we do when you write real words. And I guess there is nothing wrong with being strange with the language as Stein is, for her words are as silly as those by E.E. Cummings, total nonsense. I rated it a four star because it is a great representation of the work, a million times better than the recording of "Mother of us all." It left me cold, and it bored me. In many ways, I was left feeling, "well, when she learns to actually write words that are worth listening to, and he learns to actually write music and what it is all about, then we will have something worthy listening to." Add to that, when the singers actually learn to sing their own mother tongues with meaning and with clarity. It is terrible to feel that way after listening to a work. Sadly, that is what this recording did for me.

Allusively elusively and very much as it may.......2001-09-23

I've characterized this as "surealists invading a camp meeting"... but that doesn't do it justice. Much of Stein's text seems cryptic (though it sings beautifully in Thompson's hands), but moments like the chorus singing:

"St. Teresa being photographed dressed like a lady and then they taking out her head changed it to a nun and a nun a saint and a saint so."

followed by St. Teresa singing:

"Can women have wishes?"

are crystal-clear. Thompson invokes Wagner and Puccini, adds (with Stein's help) a patriotic opening and a Spanish ballet, and even tosses in a witty though perfectly appropriate parody of "The Trumpet Will Sound" from Handel's "The Messiah" while never straying too far from the two-chord base of the music. The singers and sonorities are wonderful. This is timeless music and text, wonderfully performed, and certainly worth the price of the CD.

Say what....?.......2001-03-28

What fun this opera is! Virgil Thomson likes to play with the orchestra and singers as much as Gertrude Stein likes to play with the English language. It's nonsense, but it's not. Part of the fun is trying to make some sense of the cryptic libretto....indeed, you can't help it. Your brain wants to make something of it. The music almost gives it logic, but (cleverly) stops short of filling in the blanks for you. (Regardless of the original intent, the opera has something to say about the difficulties of expressing the divine experience....I think) True, Thomson's music is not plumbing the depths of the human psyche, but it is inventive and witty. Indeed, many modern "neo-romantics" could learn a lot about being accessible without being sentimental or schmaltzy. Well worth multiple listenings.

Unimportant.......2001-03-21

I can't understand why the presentation of this item omits the relevant fact of who wrote the libretto. The text is by Gertrude Stein. Virgil Thompson asked Gertrude Stein for an opera, and she wrote the text.

Wonderful music and complete, but prefer the Thomson CD.......1998-11-14

This is wonderful music -- inventive, tunefull, distinctive. This recording is complete and digital, but the RCA re-issue of Thomson's 47 is to be preferred. I own both.

Average customer rating:

Great Music...Need I say more?
one of the best CDs I own

The Women of Kerrville
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Silverwolf
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Women of Kerrville, Vol. 2
Mrs. Pinocci's Guitar
Cheryl Wheeler
Different Stripe
The Calling

ASIN: B000003BO3
Release Date: 1996-06-18

Tracks:

Christians And Pagans
Haul Off And Kiss Me
If I Had Only Known
I Always Told You The Truth
Seventy-Five Septembers
N.Y. 10/11/91
Solitary Hero
Sugar Pit
Peaches And Cream
Much At All
Dandelion
Her Melancholy Muse
Las Mananitas
Haunt Your Heart

Customer Reviews:

Great Music...Need I say more?.......1999-09-16

It is wonderful and just very good; quality music at it's best

one of the best CDs I own.......1999-03-20

I love this CD. I can listen to it in any mood because it is the perfect mix of upbeat and soft, sad songs. "The Christians and the Pagans" offers an unusual, much-needed social message, but none of the songs are preachy; some stand out less than others, but there are no poorly sung songs on this album. "I Always Told You the Truth" and "75 Septembers" are two of the best; my favorite song is "Solitary Hero." This CD is a definite must-buy.

Strauss - Elektra / Marton · Studer · Lipovsek · Weikl · Winkler · Sawallisch

Average customer rating:

Sawallisch is the star
Not the best

Strauss - Elektra / Marton · Studer · Lipovsek · Weikl · Winkler · Sawallisch
Richard Strauss , Wolfgang Sawallisch , Eva Marton , Cheryl Studer , Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks , Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks , Marjana Lipovsek , Bernd Weikl , Hermann Winkler , Kurt Moll , Victoria Wheeler , Dorothea Geipel , Ulrich Ress , Alfred Kuhn , Carmen Anhorn , Daphne Evangelatos , Shirley Close , Birgit Calm , Julia Faulkner , and Caroline Maria Petrig
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002RRP
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

Wo Bleibt Elektra
Ich Will Vor Ihr Mich Niederwerfen
Allein! Weh, Ganz Allein
Elektra! Ah, Das Gesicht!
Ich Kann Nicht Sitzen Und Ins Dunkel Starren
Es Geht Ein Larm Los
Was Willst Du? Seht Doch, Dort!
Ich Habe Keine Guten Nachte
LaBt Du Den Bruder Nicht Nach Hause, Mutter?
Was Bluten MuB?
Alles Schweigt, Du Horst Dein Eignes Herz
Orest! Orest Ist Tot!

Tracks:

Platz Da!
Nun MuB Es Heir Von Uns Geschehn
Wie Stark Du Bist!
Von Jetzt An Will Ich Deine Schwester Sein
Sei Verflucht!
Was Willst Du, Fremder Mensch?
Die Hunde Auf Dem Hof Erkennen Mich
Es Ruhrt Sich Niemand!
Du Wirst Es Tun?
Seid Ihr Von Sinnen
Ich Habe Ihm Das Beill Nicht Geben Konnen!
Es MuB Etwas Geschehn Sein
He! Lichter! Lichter!
Helft! Morder!
Elektra! Schwester!
Ob Ich Nicht Hore?
Sie Fahren Dahin Wie Die Scharfe Des Schwerts
Schweig, Und Tanze

Customer Reviews:

Sawallisch is the star.......2007-04-15

There have not been in my opinion, many great Elektras. It is a role that demands a superhuman voice, powerful throughout the range, but with secure unrelenting top notes as well. Dramatically we have had some great singers in the role-Varnay, Behrens, Rysanek in her film, but vocally they have been short on the requirements in one way or another.

Nilsson some would argue was a great Elektra. I will admit whe was formidable in the role, but it taxed even her great voice, and even she stated publicly she wasn't so sure if it was good for her voice. Her recording has some great moments, but there are times when I am not dramatically convinced.

There is only one woman who I believe could sing this role as Strauss intended, a soprano whom he admired personally in fact. I urge all of you to seek her out. She was Gertrud Grob-Prandl. Once you have heard this legenday heroic soprano sing this role, you will understand how Nilsson to me, sounds like she's falling asleep in the role!

Now for the current selection:

Marton comes under a lot of criticism in her studio recordings. Hers was not an easy voice to mike, and I believe she may have been intimidated by the studio setting. That said, this recording does exhibit SOME of the deficiencies of her singing in other studio recordings, but as a whole, this recording shows some of her best work.

Marton was once quoted as saying "I'm absolutley mad about Strauss". Indeed, her enthusiasm for this role is evident, and I believe she is more successful in this role than even Turandot. She is fully commited throughout, but especially so from the recognition scene on. Her big moments in the first half of the opera are quite good, but do display an occasional squally tone in the top register indicative of a singer trying to "reign it in". I believe that the engineer did indeed have the levels artificially boosted a bit, but I believe it was an attempt to allow the words to be clearly heard. Those who have seen Marton live in her dramatic prime know that this voice was not underpowered. If you are familiar with the dramatic soprano voice, you will recognize this "scaling back" quality she exhibits here.

From the recognition scene on however, a transformation seems to occur that shows all of the cast absolutley inspired by Sawallish's conducting. Marton finds real security in her top notes, some truly awesome in their power. The recognition scene in particular is I believe the finest on record-Marton's singing displays superb control-especially in her control of dynamics. Her singing is beautiful, powerful, even resplendent in this scene. You will not be unmoved by it.

Studer is magnificent. There are not enough adjectives to describe her performance-and unlike Marton, she does not "reign it in", letting her top notes soar over the orchestra. Lipsovek is also fine, with death screams that are absolutely terrifying. The first time you experience her murder, you will shake your head in amazement-it is not for the squeamish.

Sawallisch conducts magnificently, and build tremendous tension from the recognition scene until the finale. The two final notes stomp this fine performance permanently into my memory.

In all, a great performance-highly recommended, but look for the issuing of a complete Elektra with Grob-Prandl. THE Elektra of the century.

Not the best.......2003-09-11

Eva Marton is one of today's top dramatic sopranos but she is not the best recorded Elektra. I think that even Hildegard Behrens is better than Eva Marton. Behrens has a more radiant top register compared with Marton. Nevertheless, this is a very good Elektra performance. This is one of only two truly complete recordings of Elektra. Only the Solti Elektra with Nilsson under Decca and this Elektra is complete - every single note is there. All other recordings have been cut (yes, that includes other studio recordings). I don't like this recording as much as Solti's. Firstly, Eva Marton is no match for Birgit Nilsson. Eva Marton's top B's and C's are not as good. Also, listen to the final monologue of Elektra in the Elektra-Klytamnestra Duet - Marton sounds like she is whispering. Her performance is very tame and this is not in keeping with the text. Here Elektra is supposed to be making all kinds of threats at Klytamnestra not whispering tame words at Klytamnestra. Birgit Nilsson on the other hand is all fury and ready to strangle Klytamnestra - exactly what the text requires. Cheryl Studer on the other hand is a superb Chrysothemis. Her performance is magnificent. Sawallisch is a very good conductor but the orchestra sounds very recessed in the recording. Perhaps the engineers dim the orchestra so that Marton can be heard? But that makes the sound somewhat artificial.

At the end of the day, there are many other great performances of Elektra out there that you should sample before coming to this. Firstly, there is Birgit Nilsson's classic Elektra - absolutely stunning. Then there is Astrid Varnay's incredible Elektra in 1953 in super clear mono sound, almost like thin stereo. It was a studio recording made for broadcast - in other words it is a studio recording in superb sound. The Varnay set is available under Koch Schwann in Amazon. Priced at full-price it has the incomparable Leonie Rysanek as Chrysothemis in freshest and most thrilling voice. It is worth every cent and could match the Nilsson set in stereo!! It goes without saying that Varnay sings with more dramatic sense, more security of voice and more vocal heft than Marton. Strangely, the mono sound in 1953 is far better than this stereo digital in 1990, which makes you wonder whether at all recording technology has improved that much. Well, I suppose the technology has improved but the engineers or whoever does not seem to know how to use it to proper effect. Then you have Leonie Rysanek's Classic Elektra in the Goltz Friedich's film. It is available on DVD. Alternatively, there is an excerpt disc on Orfeo under the great singers of the century series. Just look for Orfeo great singers of century - Leonie Rysanek. Then of course, we have Inge Borkh in the Bohm set from 1960 under Deutsche Grammophon. All 4 singers I mentioned are better than Marton in my view. As for current Elektras, as good as Marton is, I think Behrens is a better Elektra. For that you can get her 1988 performance(Philips) with the incredible Christa Ludwig , ever so dramatic, or the 1995 performance (Naive) with Leonie Rysanek now as Klytamnestra !! Behrens has better top notes than Marton and the recorded sound is better on Philips and Naive. So, this makes a great 4th or 5th set, but as an only set or as a first set, it does not compare with the best. Of course, judgement is subjective. Perhaps you like Eva Marton whispering threats at her mother. Perhaps you do not like Birgit Nilsson's powerful voice. Then perhaps you can buy this as a first set of your Elektra. But I would stick to my Birgit Nilsson, Astrid Varnay and Leonie Rysanek for my primary listening.

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