The Soundtrack of My Life: Clive Davis' Victory Lap

How can a decade old book be such a fascinating read for a hardcore music fan? Easy! Fill it with behind the scenes stories are great pop artists from the 1960s forward. Clive Davis' The Soundtrack of My Life reads like it was written for my life, and probably yours too. From the expected stories around Whitney Houston to the unexpected ones about Bruce Springsteen and Aretha Franklin, the book's a joy to read. A totally fascinating look at the excesses and successes of the music industry. Find a copy. You'll be glad you did!

Whitney Houston Live

November 10, 2014 Arista Records once again mines the Whitney Houston vault. This time, it's a live album. Still mostly greatest hits with an important exception- Whitney's stunning performance on the 1994 American Music Awards. Clive Davis has given us one real gift here. A truly spellbinding medley of the classic I Loves You, Porgy with the Dreamgirls classic And I Tell You I'm Not Going. Toss in an incredible version of her own I Have Nothing from The Bodyguard. 

                     

Check out this medley on YouTube. It will have you buying the song and video on i-tunes. The rest of the album? Possible but not probable.

Whitney's Prayer

It's been a year since the death of Whitney Houston.

Here's the lyrics to "I Look to You" one of her last songs. Chilling.

As I lay me down
Heaven hear me now
I’m lost without a cause
After giving it my all

Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun
After all that I’ve been through
Who on earth can I turn to?

I look to you,
I look to you
After all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong
aI look to you,
I look to you
And when melodies are gone In you I hear a song
I look to you

'bout to lose my breath
There's no more fighting left
Sinking to rise no more
Searching for that open door

And every road that I've taken
Led to my regret
And I don't know if I'm go'n make it
Nothing to do but lift my head

My levees are broken
My walls are coming down on me
My rain is falling
Defeat is calling
I need you to set me free
Take me far away from the battle
I need you
Shine on me!

Sorry, Whitney

Short and sweet: It's officially the end of the line for my Whitney Houston CD collection.

I've just heard her album in streaming audio on the official website- and it is a major disappointment. While "I Look to You" starts off promisingly with the upbeat "Million Dollar Bill", it is the chorus and production that carries the song. For someone like me who is a fan of her singing, this is very telling. Sadly, it is painfully clear that Whitney has burned out what was once a beautiful voice and now must rely on studio tricks and producers who can maneuver around her voice as opposed to highlighting it.

The production, arrangements, and the studio sparkle are all there, but the poor woman sounds tired and working too hard for a hit. In her own words, "It's Not Right But It's Ok". Her desperate bid to sound contemporary dillutes what made her unique. The ending result is lackluster package.

What should have been a showstopping personal ballad, "A Song for You" instead becomes a mixed genre piece of recording, with Whitney having a very hard time remembering something called melody in the midst of a disco beat. Leon Russell wrote this gorgeous song and after many, many covers, no one yet sings it like Karen Carpenter did 37 years ago!

Heavy marketing and retouched photos will make this disc a sure fire hit, but it isn't deserved. Her best recording days are behind her. Sorry, Whitney. I really am.

Greatness Recaptured?

Does Whitney Houston still have it or has she given all her love and talent to a life of partying and drugs? At last night's Grammy awards party for Clive Davis, seems like Whitney has the goods once more. She is well produced for the most part- her Christmas album being an obvious embarrassment- but its all about the voice. Some things just cannot be hidden. So, for this man, the jury is still out- and I'll gladly wait until her new disc to decide whether of not Whitney can still sing. Taking bets...
(Photo by Dan Steinberg)