Julia Fordham

Amazon.com
Julia Fordham is one of those rare singers whose work crosses the lines between jazz, folk, and pop, and whose career has unquestionably suffered because of, not in spite of, her versatility. Radio simply doesn't know what to make of her, though she did enjoy some play on VH1 around the time of her sophomore set, Porcelain. Some find Fordham a bit of a cold fish, thanks to her debut's studied production, yet the album finds Fordham coming nicely into her own in a variety of lush settings on songs such as "Happy Ever After," "Invisible War," "Where Does the Time Go?" and "Woman of the '80s." --Daniel Durchholz

Julia Fordham,Julia Fordham,Virgin Records,Pop,Pop Vocals,Popular Music,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter

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Julia Fordham

Average customer rating: Wonderful voice Fab Great Album Give me a break, please lush, textured, pop album with deeper voiced singer

Concrete Love Julia Fordham Manufacturer: Vanguard Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music Traditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: That's Life Porcelain Collection Julia Fordham That's Live ASIN: B000066ARX Release Date: 2002-06-18

Tracks:

1. Love
2. Italy
3. Wake Up With You (The I Wanna Song)
4. Concrete Love (featuring India.Arie)
5. Missing Man
6. Foolish Thing
7. Butterfly
8. It's Another You Day
9. Something Right
10. Roadside Angel
11. Alleluia (featuring Joe Henry)

Amazon.com

Fourteen years and six albums into her recording career, British thrush Julia Fordham hasn't quite earned the following one might have forecast for her when she arrived with a bit of fanfare in the late '80s. That said, she's persevered long enough to have garnered the admiration of a core of devotees and more than a few notable musicians, including this collection's guests, India Arie and Joe Henry. That Fordham has become something of a singer's singer is not surprising given the cool intelligence of her phrasing and the versatility of her husky-to-piercing range, which recalls trilling '70s singer-songwriters Minnie Riperton (a cover of Riperton's signature song, "Loving You," is hidden at the end of the album and the late singer provides the inspiration for the album's penultimate song, "Roadside Angel"), Phoebe Snow, and the towering Joni Mitchell. Mitchell's former husband Larry Klein, who worked the board on Fordham's 1994 effort, Falling Forward, returns to the producer's roll, cushioning Fordham's expositions on desire ("I'd take a bullet for you") and destitution ("Your friends warned me about you"). Concrete Love is the work of a stalwart singer who's perseverance has paid off. "I have not gone the distance but I am on my way," she sings on the album closer. That's quite apparent. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful voice.......2006-11-04

Julia's vocals are excellent. It's a great CD to own. Very soothing.

Fab.......2005-09-15

As female singer songwriters go I just can't understand why Julia Fordham has never reach the heights that she deserved. Live - you will struggle to see as good a show; recorded this album captures this English songwriter's strengths.

Good tunes, catchy hooks great voice. Buy this!

Great Album.......2005-07-02

I bought this CD because I really like the song Butterfly when I heard it online one day. I never really buy a full album without hearing a few more songs than one, but I really liked the track so I went a head and bought it. Let me tell you, Butterfly ended up being just one of many stand out songs. I love Missing Man. This song is arranged so perfectly. I also like "Wake up with You (The I Wanna Song)", "Foolish Thing", and "It's Another You Day." This CD has made me become a huge Julia Fordham fan!

Give me a break, please.......2005-03-01

"Butterfly" is absolutely the worst song I have heard in my entire life. No kidding. I first heard it in a Crate & Barrel store in Michigan and I broke out laughing.

lush, textured, pop album with deeper voiced singer.......2004-09-24

Her voice is deeper than I'm used to, but the music is just too smooth and sexy to disaggree with. I know that people will be hung up on her voice, get over it, it's solid. Sure, it adult contemporary at its most unapologetic, but that's not always a bad thing.

Average customer rating: Julia Fordham is a star for the sophisticated listener with a soft spot for pop. Her Broken Heart... So British... Tell your girlfriend about her What a Treat! Julia Fordham's enchanting second work

Porcelain Julia Fordham Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Julia Fordham Concrete Love Collection That's Life That's Live ASIN: B000000WH4 Release Date: 1992-06-29

Tracks:

1. Lock And Key
2. Porclain
3. Girlfriend
4. For You Only For You
5. Genius
6. Manhattan Skyline
7. Did I Happen To Mention
8. Towerblock
9. Island
10. Your Lovely Face

Customer Reviews:

Julia Fordham is a star for the sophisticated listener with a soft spot for pop........2006-07-06

So, what does it mean when your music is musak? I was walking through a midwest grocery store two weeks ago and suddenly realized I was hearing Lock and Key from Porcelain. I went home and dug out the cd and quickly recalled why Julia Fordham was a favorite of mine in the late 80's. You'll read many comparisons in the many reviews of this and other JF recordings but the most accurate across the recordings I've heard is to Joni Mitchell. BUT, where Joni's individuality and jazziness seem most influenced by folk and early rock, Julia's seems most influenced by R&B divas like Angela Bofill and Anita Baker. There is a soulfulness in her voice, style and lyrics that help explain the comparisons to Sade.

I have purchased Concrete Love since digging out Porcelain and have listened to newer recordings on Julia's web site. All of which reveal her sustained mastery of voice and lyric. Yet, Porcelain remains my favorite. Perhaps it is nostalgia, but if I were to recommend a starting point for new listeners this would be it. Despite some clearly 80's techno elements, this cd shows us Julia's wonderful strength of voice, insightful and often humorous take on life -- even at her then tender age of tweny-something -- and deep appreciation of musical styles beyond simple pop.

Ultimately, that appreciation may explain the lack of top forty success, but to still be delivering great voice and great lyrics after twenty years and making a living at it suggests there are other ways to measure star quality.

Her Broken Heart... So British..........2006-02-14

I'm a huge Julia fan. My roommate turned me onto her in college and I went to see her live. She sounded better in person than on her records. She was brilliant. I try and expose as many people as I can to her wonderful music.

Porcelain, I feel, is her best album with every song being top-notch. It's full of emotional tales anyone who has experienced heartbreak can relate to, and her sultry voice lends itself well. The music is timeless, poetic, and passionate. I won't go into detail about each song because each song is strong in its own regard.

While all her records have something to offer, I would also recommend her 4th album "Falling Forward" and her 6th "Concrete Love." These two also seem to shine a bit brighter than her others. But I think you'll find that this album, "Porcelain" is truly a masterpiece.

Tell your girlfriend about her.......2004-06-17

Julia Fordham's second album stepped ahead of her smoky, intriguing debut. She reached for some universal themes in her songwriting and came up with ten great songs that spanned the range from lonely desire ("Did I Happen to Mention") to the humorous (the Brazilian inflections of "Genius"). All these are tied together by the strength of her voice, which mirrors both Sade and Annie Lennox.

The problem then becomes that, in a world where subtle intimacy is often passed by for brash and obvious, an album like "Porcelain" will frequently slide through the cracks. Julia was fortunate enough to be a VH1 artist of the month back when the channels actually believed in music, and as such, remained something of a cult figure for fans of female singer songwriters. One of her best known songs can be found here, the coast-to-coast romance of "Manhattan Skyline."

"How could I resist, your American arms and your French kiss?
From New York to London, London to New York,
With this broken heart, so British?"

This is music for a rainy day, when you can sit with the windows open and listen to the sound of the rain and the stereo at the same time. I can't recommend "Porcelain" enough for fans of current Dido and Norah Jones' Cds.

What a Treat!.......2003-11-19

Dieters perk up. This is the perfect substitute for cheese cake and chocolate eclairs. Julia's voice is sweet and rich and very satisfying. On Porcelain you will find a huge helping served up on a collection of songs that will fill you up and leave you craving more. Go ahead and listen again! Listening contains zero calories!

I've introduced several people to Julia Fordham's music and this is almost universally called her best collection. At times it's jazz, at times it's ethnic (a Brazilian flare to Genius), it's sweet, it's bitter sweet, it's simple, it's lush. If for no other reason, get this CD for Manhattan Skyline! From the gentle opening notes to climactic end, this song is worth many spins (consecutively!) Indulge yourself!

Julia Fordham's enchanting second work.......2003-05-15

It must have been a daunting task to follow up her popular and critically-acclaimed eponymous first work, but she does a beautiful job with this CD. Her voice sounds velvety and understated, and she proves herself a more than capable songwriter (she wrote all ten pieces). "Lock and Key" is a lovely blend of acoustic and electronic layers, the melodic successor to the previous CD's "Happy Ever After." "Porcelain" and "Girlfriend" are soft, gentle ballads in which Julia explores her vocal range. "For You Only for You" is a torch song with a tinkling piano accompaniment (like the previous CD's wonderful "Coccooned") in which physical geography is compared with the speaker's emotional journey, a theme picked up with a more light-hearted effect in "Manhattan Skyline." "Genius" is a bouncy, Brasilian meditation on rain-forest destruction, and includes a lyric of (heavily accented) Portuguese. "Did I Happen to Mention?" is a lamentation on a potential lover who becomes just another friend. "Towerblock" is an amazingly poignant work, full of wisdom and sadness. "Island" is rife with intimations of the speaker's lesbian desires, which Julia Fordham has said were unconscious. The CD ends on a more upbeat song, with "Your Lovely Face." The mood of the entire CD is soft, gentle, and meditative, and the production is more spare, less intrusive than on her otherwise brilliant debut work. There's not a false note, nor a wasted word, on this CD. It's all wonderful.

Average customer rating: Another solid effort from Julia ... Skip the disc, catch a show Close, but... You Gotta Have it! Jazzy, elegant, sexy, folkie & funky...

That's Life Julia Fordham Manufacturer: Vanguard Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Concrete Love That's Live Porcelain Collection East West ASIN: B0002J4YLU Release Date: 2004-08-10

Tracks:

1. Sugar
2. Jacon's Ladder
3. Perfect Me
4. Jump
5. Downhill Sunday
6. Walking On The Water
7. Connecting
8. That's Life
9. I'm Sorry But...
10. Guilty

Amazon.com

If you judged a CD by its cover you might believe that Julia Fordham's latest release "That's Life" would find the cool blonde a little edgier and a little more playful than her earlier efforts, but despite the more luminous hair, and the punk rock tank top, Fordham is the same well-mannered, careful singer on her eighth disc as she was on her very first. She smoothly steers her four-octave voice on a journey of graceful self-discovery while maintaining a rather chilly emotional distance as she attempts to make sense of herself, and her uncertain and eventually unraveling relationships. This British chanteuse--whose voice is a perfect balance of Christine McVie and Joni Mitchell--uses her throaty vibrato as a seductive weapon on "Walking On Water," as she ensnares a love with her poetry and promises, only to turn that purring lower register against him, on the rather cruel but stunningly beautiful "I'm Sorry," as she explains, "My mouth still says I love you, but I don't," while former Beatles compadre Billy Preston plays a sparse, anxious piano to echo the singer's elegant regret. It's all a little too civilized, yet there is an injured ambiguity that underpins the entire record, making one believe that perhaps Fordham was the injured party and this CD is really sweet revenge against a faithless lover. But whatever it is, this record works on a number of levels--every single one of them singularly satisfying. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

Another solid effort from Julia ..........2005-02-10

This CD from Julia Fordham is another solid effort. Though many fans will always be searching for the next "Porcelain", this effort is not quite equal to that one. But the soulful, funky feeling established on "Concrete Love" dominates, making tunes such as "Jacob's Ladder" and "That's Life" winners. "Downhill Sunday" is classic Julia, with great lyric twists and irony. The band on this is again fantastic - how could you go wrong with these session (and live) pros? I continue to wish Julia would be more well known to a broader audience, but take pleasure in the fact that I've loved her stuff for years (thanks Eileen!).

Skip the disc, catch a show.......2004-10-10

I would have loved to give That's Life a glowing review as I've adored Julia for years. Her output has been inconsistent, and unfortunately That's Life is somewhere in the middle to the bottom of the barrel. But always there's that voice. That gorgeous, seductive voice. That voice that's carried me through lyrics that made me cringe and not-particularly-interesting band arrangements in her less-than-stellar moments.

Her voice is as good as ever, but unfortunately the music is so sub-par, that her voice is not compelling enough to overcome it. I don't mind the songs being generally down-tempo; I mind the bland 70s style fake smooth jazz feel that most of them seem to have (partly due to too much Hammond organ). The few that don't, the few that are in her folk-pop vein (Perfect Me, Jump, Downhill Sunday) are much better and shine here among the general dullness. But even they are really only better-than-average songs. The only really good song here is Guilty, which was smartly placed last so as to salvage the album a bit.

I saw Julia in concert recently (August 2004) where she performed mostly songs from this album, and it was wonderful. She had a guitarist with her and sang and played guitar herself on a few songs. The songs were much, much better in concert than the versions on the album. So I'd recommend catching her live if you can; she also tells lots of stories and is very funny.

If you're new to Julia's music, you shouldn't start here. Porcelain and Concrete Love are far better albums. If you're a fan of Julia's, you may still want to buy this album as there are a few good songs, enough to make a decent ep. That's what I'm going to do.

Close, but..........2004-09-21

Julia Fordham can do no wrong in my book. I've rushed out and bought every CD on the day it came out since her debut. But she can do better than this. I wish she'd continued to mine the warm, R&B-influenced sound she and Larry Klein developed on " Concrete Love." "Jacob's Ladder" does exactly that--and it's one her best tracks ever. It has an excellent bassline that really propels the song. "Perfect Me," though not especially funky, is classic Julia--delicate, thoughtful, and absolutely beautiful. But tracks like "Downhill Sunday" and "That's Life" just meander around and waste the considerable talents of everyone involved. And "Sugar" is flat-out snooze-inducing. The Amazon.com reviewer definitely got one thing right--if only the sound matched the T-shirt!

You Gotta Have it!.......2004-08-17

Hey if you haven't heard the new album from Julia Fordham "That's life" I just want you to know you are missing out on a great album especially if you love jazz like I do! I mean Julia's vocals are just amazing on this album. And, it reminds me of sitting in a café somewhere in an art community sipping on coffee watching the artist painting or a nice Sunday afternoon drive. Some of my favorite songs off the album are track 1 "Sugar", track 5"Downhill Sunday", track 8"That's Life", and track 4"Jump" The thing that attracted me the most to this album and I think you will agree is the lyrics blended together with the smooth melody and lyrics. I also just love the choruses in both the songs "Jump" and "Downhill Sunday". Take it from me you have to check this album out it is a guaranteed must have trust me you'll love it!

Jazzy, elegant, sexy, folkie & funky..........2004-08-12

Anytime Miss Fordham comes out with new music, I do not know what to expect. But one thing is for sure, I will always expect a quality product, and that is what she does this time with "That's Life". On my first listening, I was not sure what to think of it, but after a couple of more listenings I was started to be taken by it. She gets jazzy, funky and folkie (great band musicians by the way) through all her set of songs which again deals with her favorite subject matter: Love. Her writing continues to be solid as well as her singing. She posses one of the most haunting, expressive & seductive voices I had ever heard; a mix of Annie Lennox, Sade & Joni Mitchell all at once but all her own unique sound. That's Life is one of those CD's that keep growing on you more & more. Julia is a consumate artist and it's too bad that she remains somewhat non-mainstream, although she has her followers. I'll say, buy the CD and you'll see what I am talking about. I like ALL the songs on this CD but my favorites so far are: Walking on the water, Sugar, Jacob's Ladder, Perfect me, Connecting, That's Life , Jump & I'm sorry but; the others are as good too. At the end, I wish I would have listened to one or two more songs, since there are only 10 songs. Summing up, That's Life is a beautiful rare pop gem by an unique singer-songwriter.

Average customer rating: i love her songs A great voice you may not have heard before Undiscovered Jewel Worthy of 6 stars! Great introduction to the world of female singer/songwriters

Collection Julia Fordham Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Porcelain Concrete Love That's Life That's Live Julia Fordham ASIN: B00000GAX2 Release Date: 1999-03-23

Tracks:

1. Happy Ever After (Rain Forest Mix '98)
2. Where Does The Time Go? ('98 Version)
3. Manhattan Skyline
4. Lock & Key
5. Porcelain
6. Girlfriend
7. Falling Forward
8. I Can't Help Myself
9. I Thought It Was You ('98 Remix)
10. East West
11. Killing Me Slowly
12. Kid
13. It Was Nothing That You Said
14. Love Moves In (Mysterious Ways)
15. Happy Ever After (Original Mix)

Customer Reviews:

i love her songs.......2005-03-06

i've been listening to her music especially love moves in mysterios ways, and it is amazing to know that there's a site where i can find more of her music.

A great voice you may not have heard before.......2004-06-23

Julia Fordham's "Collection" spans her first ten years as a renowned singer, like many for whom subtlety is her greatest virtue, went all but unrecognized in America. When her first album was released in 1988, critics clamored over its honesty and purity, and many compared her voice favorably to Annie Lennox and Anita Baker. The song "Happy Ever After" became an international hit and the video established Julia in America as a singer songwriter to watch.

Her second (and best) album, "Porcelain," continued in that vein, including another near hit in "Manhattan Skyline." It was during this tour that I saw her twice, one of those a showcase at the top of the World Trade Center where the audience included such admirers as Sting. Her vocal and expressive talents on stage won over a signifigant following, but despite some heavy muscle on behalf of her record company, the album only sold a modest amount. When the third album was being prepared, Julia recorded her first outside song, "Love Moves In Mysterious Ways." A great ballad written by Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford of "Footloose" fame and produced by Peter Asher (then riding high as a producer of Joe Jackson and 10,000 Maniacs), it was attached to the movie "The Fisherman's Wife." It was supposed to be the song that would lift Julia's "Swept" off the launch pad and make her an American Star. But when "Fisherman's Wife" failed to lure in movie goers and the song disappeared, it also seemed like Julia's record company lost interest.

That left the very good "Falling Forward" and introspective "East West" albums to fend for themselves. As the songs here from those two discs suggest, both are worthy albums. Producer and bassist Larry Klien's work on "Falling Forward" in particular is noteworthy; listen to how he showcases Julia on "I Can't Help Myself." Of the two songs recorded expressly for this CD, "It Was Nothing That You Said" ("it was everything you didn't say") continued to show that Julia was an expert in capturing emotions to music.

I heartily recommend this CD to fans of both Norah Jones and Dido.

Undiscovered Jewel.......2002-07-23

Julia Fordham is a true undiscovered treasure. Blessed with an exceptional voice and golden pen, this lady has talent to burn. This collection of songs are a great introduction to her work. All the favorites from her previous releases are here. My favorite tunes include "Happy Ever After", "Manhattan Skyline", "Girlfriend" and "Love Moves". Julia's approach to music reminds me of when Anita Baker first came on the scene - A true singing talent with great song writing capabilities. This is a wonderful collection of songs. If you like this, you can't go wrong checking out "Porcelain" and her first disc, "Julia Fordham." She has a wonderful gift. Peace!

Worthy of 6 stars!.......2002-06-20

After all these years, I'm still amazed that Julia Fordham hasn't gotten the recognition she deserves. Her voice is unmistakable -- going from husky deep tones to soring soprano notes effortlessly. And if her enormous vocal range isn't enough to make you a fan, her intelligent and poetic lyrics ("What chance did I stand? How could I resist? Your American arms and your French kiss?") are sure to win you over.

"The Collection" is an especially good album for first time listeners. There isn't a bad track on the album and it offers a taste of some of her best work to date, including several tracks off her sublime "Porcelain". Three songs are re-worked and two new songs are added making it a worthwhile purchase for those who already have all her albums. And if you don't already have her entire collection, "The Collection" will leave you wanting to more.

Great introduction to the world of female singer/songwriters.......2002-05-12

As an introduction to the late '80s/early '90s female singer/songwriters, this album surpasses everything that rivals it. Whilst it has all of the literacy and beauty that sets most female singer/songwriters apart from the often childish radio "love songs" and the vulgar rap and grunge of teenage radio, it does not possess the difficult themes of many other female singer/songwriters. Indeed, this absence of "mysterious" elements makes Fordham the most "traditional" of her era's singer/songwriters.
Yet, her beautiful, though often painful, voice and unmistakable sense of melody is just delightful to listen to throughout the album, and despite the fact that the lyrical themes are fairly easy to understand, they lack nothing in depth. Fordham's writing has a wonderful sense of capturing the difficulties of unrequited love, and she has such a beautiful voice that none of the songs fail to come home with precision. Her lyrics are always so heartfelt (even if they are often quite sad, even despairing in tone) that one can always identify with the characters in her songs in a way one cannot with most modern singer/songwriters and their often otherworldly themes.
The highlights of the album include the incredibly beautiful and literate "Porcelain", the extremely spare but wonderful "Lock and Key" and "Manhattan Skyline", the later gem "East West", and the movie theme "(Love Moves In) Mysterious Ways", which, though the only song on the album Fordham did not write, is just as great as the other songs on the album and adds diversity with its piano and rocking guitar. Almost as impressive are the incredibly sad "I Can't Help Myself" and "Happy Ever After" (which was her only entry onto the Australian charts - though it only reached #83) with its African rhythms.
Julia Fordham has proved herself an unusually talented singer/songwriter with this beautiful collection, which shows that simplicity can produce wonderful music as well as sophistication. Though some nay see Fordham as a "singer/songwriter for those who cannot understand singer/songwriters", this is only a tiny part of the story behind this album. The true story behind this collection is that Fordham has written pehaps the most beautiful and tuneful songs of her era, and has an unrivalled ability to express faithfully the traumas of unrequited love.
If you are familiar with the more "mysterious" singer/songwriters of Fordham's era, this collection is an essential purchase for its wonderful beauty and Fordham's superbly tuneful voice. If you know nothing of the late '80s/early '90s female singer/songwriters, you would be well advised to buy this collection as a perfect introduction to them.

Average customer rating: 4.5 Stars, please Soft and Simple Totally Unexpected Joy Can't help myself AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISING ENCOUNTER

Falling Forward Julia Fordham Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: East West Concrete Love That's Life Swept Julia Fordham ASIN: B000000W5S Release Date: 1994-07-12

Tracks:

1. I Can't Help Myself
2. Caged Bird
3. Falling Forward
4. River
5. Blue Sky
6. Different Time, Different Place
7. Threadbare
8. Love & Forgiveness
9. Honeymoon
10. Hope, Prayer & Time
11. Safe

Customer Reviews:

4.5 Stars, please.......2003-11-19

Have you ever heard velvet and silk? I don't mean the sound of cloth rubbing together, I mean heard music that was the aural equivalent of rich, soft blankets that you just want to wrap yourself inside of like a cacoon. That's Julia's voice. It hits highs and lows, but it's always strong and warm. Her songs are mostly about love, the old standard. And her voice is suited for it. But it isn't all just about "oh, baby I love you, I love you, do you love me too?" Julia's songs deal with love gained, love lost. They are about heart wrenching love and about young new love. Listen to Falling Forward and you'll feel like you know about love. Blue Sky will break your heart (if you've just gone through a painful break-up this song will either tear you apart or be a wonderful catharsis). Threadbare is a perfect metaphore for love gone awry. Love and Forgiveness is art. Julia writes from the heart about the heart, then she sings from the same place.

Soft and Simple.......2002-12-31

Ms Fordham has an interesting, sometimes almost awkward style that creates just enough tension to make her singing interesting. The songs are perfect for a romantic evening or to keep you company while you read a book. Her Porcelain record is a littel more edgy, but all of her work is solid.

Totally Unexpected Joy.......2001-11-30

I bought this CD on a pure whim - the bloke in the shop said that I might like it. How wrong he was!!! I loved it from beginning to end. Fantastic lyrics backed with wonderful melodies and a voice that is pure vocal velvet. I can't recommend this CD highly enough - the ratings stop at 5 stars.

Can't help myself.......2000-07-01

I bought Falling Forward in '95 and still listen to it. Blue Sky and I Can't Help Myself are my favorites. Lovely music with poetic lyrics, but most of all Julia's amazing voice, an instrument like no other. I have all her previous recordings and she seems to get better with each release. I'm looking forward to getting EAST/WEST when I finally find it.

AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISING ENCOUNTER.......2000-03-25

I don't agree with previous reviews saying that this is an "inferior" album. I've discovered the powerful voice of Julia through it and I've found it wonderful, passing from the soul of "I can't help myself" to the feelful ballad "Threadbard". I've been quite surprised myself by this album I bought in a casuality: I ACTUALLY came across it in a cd store and a uncertain good feeling invaded me & I knew I should buy it. It's really a album full of soul that has impulsed me o buy another titles from Julia to discover her.

Average customer rating: Awesome. I prefer the live performance I think you should buy this Julia Fordham is Awesome! Disappointing She needs voice lessons

That's Live Julia Fordham Manufacturer: Vanguard Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Live Albums | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: That's Life Collection Concrete Love Porcelain Falling Forward ASIN: B0006FO83O Release Date: 2005-01-04

Tracks:

1. Falling Forward
2. Lock And Key
3. Girlfriend
4. Foolish Thing
5. Porcelain
6. Lovin' You
7. Roadside Angel
8. Concrete Love
9. Wake Up With You (The I Wanna Song)
10. Jump
11. Sugar
12. Love
13. Happy Ever After
14. Stay
15. More Than I Can Bear
16. Manhattan Skyline

Customer Reviews:

Awesome. I prefer the live performance.......2006-03-11

She is awesome in this concert. I often feel that performers are more moving live and this is no exception. Julia gives a truly inspirational concert and I'm glad she decided to record this one!

I think you should buy this.......2006-01-16

This performance is amazing. Julia Fordham has been one of my favorites for years, ever since "Porcelain" hit the charts. Yes, it's true that her pitch wanders a bit, but this is to be expected. I doubt that she does enough live performances to keep her voice in perfect shape. Elton John is the same, listen to "Live in Australia". You just need to feel this performance instead of critiquing it with a pitch meter. And then, brother, you are in for a treat. She twists and bends to wrench every bit out of every note. Her enthusiasm is infectious, she smiles all the time. She looks like she's absolutely in the moment. The band rocks. The bass line is nice and heavy but the vocals come through clear as a bell. Great mixing, in my opinion. God, I'm lucky I bought this.

Julia Fordham is Awesome!.......2005-07-29

I had never had the pleasure of hearing this beautiful, talented, singer/songwriter until this DVD was shown on DirectTV Freeview in January 2005.

I am so grateful to my friends for recording this concert. I was simply "blown away". Julia is a remarkable performer, her voice is like an angel, and the lyrics to her songs are amazing!

The band was absolutely wonderful. Larry Klein should be commended for the perfect blend of musicians and singers to play with her for this concert. Unless you watch ALL of the DVD, including the interviews, you may not realize they had only a few practice sessions before performing live together! Truly amazing the talent shown in this DVD.

You will not regret your purchase, and will become a fan of Julia's for life!

Disappointing.......2005-06-22

First, I am an enormous Julia Fordham fan. I consider her songwriting to be second to none. Her album Porcelain is one of the most sublime pop albums ever crafted IMHO. Unfortunately, this live recording does not hold up. The most disappointing aspect of all unfortunately is Julia's voice. There are serious pitch problems on almost every song on this album. If it were simply an occasional slip up it would not bother me. I found this to be very distracting from the overall enjoyment of the music. The performances are also not very inspiring. I probably will not be listening to this again.

She needs voice lessons.......2005-04-16

I know, I can't believe it either. When her voice cracked in "Falling Forward," I thought she was just nervous, but she was consistently flat or off-pitch in every song. I was embarrassed for her. I guess she's just better off in studio. It's a crying shame.

Average customer rating: Long overdue for my CD collection The album that started it all! Julia Fordham's amazing debut! Fabulous debut album Talent documented for the world

Julia Fordham Julia Fordham Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Porcelain Concrete Love That's Life Collection Falling Forward ASIN: B000000WGJ Release Date: 1992-06-29

Tracks:

1. Happy Ever After
2. The Comfort Of Strangers
3. Few Too Many
4. Invisible War
5. My Lover's Keeper
6. Cocooned
7. Where Does Time Go?
8. Woman Of The 80's
9. The Other Woman
10. Behind Closed Doors
11. Unconditional Love

Amazon.com

Julia Fordham is one of those rare singers whose work crosses the lines between jazz, folk, and pop, and whose career has unquestionably suffered because of, not in spite of, her versatility. Radio simply doesn't know what to make of her, though she did enjoy some play on VH1 around the time of her sophomore set, Porcelain. Some find Fordham a bit of a cold fish, thanks to her debut's studied production, yet the album finds Fordham coming nicely into her own in a variety of lush settings on songs such as "Happy Ever After," "Invisible War," "Where Does the Time Go?" and "Woman of the '80s." --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews:

Long overdue for my CD collection.......2006-11-03

This CD, in particular, the 'Happy Ever After' track, has been in my head since 1988. While I realize this tune was about apartheidt in South Africa, it was the haunting beauty of the tune, Julia Fordham's incredible voice, and a personal broken relationship back then that has forever seared that song into my mind. She was and is a great talent, and it's unfortunate that she never achieved the commercial success that one of her caliber so richly deserves. A highly recommend CD!

The album that started it all!.......2003-08-07

KKSF in San Francisco first played "Happy Ever After" on the radio back in 1988 and I've been hooked on this singer's voice ever since. I finally brought the CD a few years ago and I play it constantly. She has a voice that is one of a kind! Other favorites of mine are "Cocooned" and "Few Too Many". Well recommended!

Julia Fordham's amazing debut!.......2003-06-11

The first review I ever read of this album (yes, this was back in the days of albums, 45s, and other extinct vinylsaurus species) described Julia's sound as "a south-of-the-border Sade." The sound may occasionally evoke the music of Sade, but there is no comparing the voices of Sade Adu and Julia Fordham. Sade's voice is the epitome of coolness, smoothness, and elegance. Julia Fordham's voice possesses some of these qualities, but she also adds an amazing range, with spine-tingling falsettos and rich, soul-fathoming lows. This is a completely confident and assured debut by a great singer. "Happy Ever After," the first track, combines a profound sociopolitical statement (apartheid in South Africa) with an irresistable beat and a thrilling vocal. "The Comfort of Strangers," the next song, is lively, upbeat, and completely catchy. The third and fourth tracks, "Few Too Many" and "Invisible War" respectively, slow the pace, adding a bit of sadness and the kind of world-weary wistfulness which fuels the later "Porcelain" CD. "Invisible War" is about the emotional barriers in relationships, and the piano and lyrics make it a very intimate performance. "My Lover's Keeper" begins with a dark, exotic beat, and then adds layers of electronics, brass touches, and powerful backing vocals. This piece is a good example of the sometimes-heavy Hugh Padgham production, which some people criticize a bit too strenuously. The sixth track, "Cocooned," is quiet and sad and intensely personal, and is one of the strongest tracks on the CD. Her vocals are especially amazing on this track, spanning both high and low notes gloriously and effortlessly. "Where Does the Time Go?" is next, and is more upbeat and commercial-sounding. Despite the wistful lyrics, there is enough humour and rhythm to give the piece a lot of momentum. The eight track, "Woman of the 80's," may seem a bit incongruous compared with the rest of the songs, and my deejay buddy Joe (whose opinion matters) feels the song hasn't aged well. I still like it, but I do find the production a bit intrusive and, well, just a bit 80's. "The Other Woman" is another dark, moody number, with yet another thrilling vocal performance. "Behind Closed Doors" has a very spare feel to it, and the anguish of being "the invisible woman" is documented: "In this man's world I'm always screaming to be heard." The high notes at the end are filled with trembling emotion, and the entire effect is extremely moving. The CD closes with the lively, beat-laden "Unconditional Love." The chorus is incantatory, almost like Julia and her background singers are chanting a mantra. Lest it get too preachy, too strident, there's a great, jazzy brass solo and a very energetic ending. There are only eleven tracks, and some of them are quite short (7 of them are under 4 minutes long, and 2 of these are under 3 minutes!), so it definately leaves you wanting more. Julia Fordham is one of those rare artists who needs only a few notes to establish a very special connection with her listener. From my first listening experience, I knew this relationship would last.

Fabulous debut album.......2003-02-09

Fantastic first album from one of the most underrated artists of our time. If you are not familiar with Ms Fordham, this is a great starting point.

Talent documented for the world.......2002-01-23

The singing, the writing, the production, are all bold and definitive statements of talent. Julia Fordham has gone on to produce a brilliant collection of work, some of it moderately successful in popular music, some of it less than perfect, but for those of us dependant on hearing her recordings, it all began here. If this cd isn't in your collection-you aren't a true cd-phile.

Average customer rating: Vocalist's seasonal EP

Christmas in July Judith Owen Manufacturer: Courgette Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Twelve Arrows Lost and Found Adieu False Heart An Irish Christmas Half the Perfect World ASIN: B000BEZP8W Release Date: 2005-09-27

Tracks:

1. Christmas with the Devil
2. Dancing Tree
3. Silent Night
4. Christmas Song
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen [Live][*]
6. My Father's Voice [Live][*]

Customer Reviews:

Vocalist's seasonal EP.......2007-04-19

Track 1 features Harry Shearer. Track 3 features Julia Fordham. Live bonus tracks are a nice addition.

Average customer rating:

Julia Fordham Julia Fordham Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Concrete Love East West That's Life Swept Falling Forward ASIN: B00008EQ1R Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Happy Ever After
2. The Comfort Of Strangers
3. Few Too Many
4. Invisible War
5. My Lover's Keeper
6. Cocooned
7. Where Does Time Go?
8. Woman Of The 80's
9. The Other Woman
10. Behind Closed Doors
11. Unconditional Love

Average customer rating: Great Compilation Great Off-the-Beaten-Path music!!

Radio Free Music, Vol. 1 Various Artists , Crowded House , Delbert McClinton , Marc Antoine , Darden Smith , Cassandra Wilson , Julia Fordham , Nil Lara , Suzy Bogguss , and World Party Manufacturer: Intersound Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Rock | Compilations | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000000BWR Release Date: 1997-07-22

Tracks:

1. She Goes On - Crowded House
2. Latin Quarter - Marc Antoine
3. Days On End - Darden Smith
4. The Secret Of Life - Gretchen Peters
5. Souvenirs - Suzy Bogguss
6. Sooner Or Later - World Party
7. Just To See You - Lowen And Navarro
8. Miss You Fever - Delbert McClinton
9. Day Of Reckoning (Burnin For You) - Robbie Robertson
10. Baro - Nil Lara
11. Death Letter - Cassandra Wilson
12. Genius - Julia Fordham

Customer Reviews:

Great Compilation.......2003-10-16

I bought this CD on a whim a few years ago and it is one of my favorites. It is a great mix of songs and most are by performers either I had never heard of or who I had never listened to. It introduced me to artists whose CD's I now purchase. I like the concept and hope that more CD's are to come. I only know of #1 and (recently now) #2.

Great Off-the-Beaten-Path music!!.......1999-05-23

If you are looking for an eclectic mix of music that you don't hear everyday, this is the CD for you. It is a great blend of artists--from many genres--with something to appeal to nearly everyone. Check some of the tracks for yourself!

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5. Live Live Live [Live]
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7. Love Collection
8. Luminaria
9. Melody [Import] [Soundtrack]
10. Now or Never (Bonus DVD) [Limited Edition]

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