Natalie Cole - Snowfall on the Sahara

Interesting Try...Disappointing

I waited for this CD with great anticipation when it was initially released. I'd been hearing for years Natalie was going to FINALLY do some of her gospel-tinged, Aretha influenced singing in an R&B setting. It was long overdue. Afterall, we are the fans who stuck by her long before her standards era.

When I discovered Natalie was covering, the great DJ Rodgers' R&B classic "Say You Love Me"(covered by Jennifer Holiday in the late 80's) as well as "Stay With Me Baby" (originally sung and the definitively delivered by the late Lorraine Elison) I knew this was going to be a winner....WRONG!

Natalie is singing this material as if she's afraid she's going to scare away her dinner music audience. It's as if she dialed in her performance. I say this as someone who is familiar with ALL of Natalie's music, long before she started doing the standards. This CD is plain boring, especially for long time fans. Her standards are fine, but this is supposed to be pop/R&B and Natalie was supposed to bring some heat...

I thought Natalie would at least sing the house down on "Stay With Me Baby" but Shirley Brown(Woman to Woman) does the best cover of this(I love Bette Midler, but in comparison to Lorraine Ellison and Shirley Brown her version pales considerably..but she is pop, and their versions straight up R&B and we know how that goes in the music world..POP-important.. R&B-NOT important).
Anyway..Natalie brings NO FIRE to any of these numbers.......disappointing when you consider Natalie "LIVE", "Thankful" etc or even the title track for "Take a Look" all delivered with great passion and fire....

Don't get me wrong, Natalie can still bring heat, still can sing the hell out of R&B, but she don't do it here...I give this 2 stars only because it's Natalie Cole. October 11, 2006

Still another fabulous album!

This album is still another nice album from Natalie Cole. Most of the time, it's very mellow, but Natalie does a fine job on this mix of remakes and newer songs. The title song Snowfall on the Sahara is fabulous with its quiet feel on the keyboards--it makes you feel like you're in Egypt or an open desert when you hear it. Another favorite is Say You Love Me, which also has that mellow feel and it fits very well with Natalie's voice. But there are some other strong numbers like Reverend Lee, A Song For You, the soulful Serve Somebody and Stay With Me. One of Natalie's best post-Unforgettable period albums. November 8, 2004

One of her best

This is a really good album from Natalie Cole. Throughout the 90s, her music consisted of her mostly interpreting old standards and classics. With SNOWFALL ON THE SAHARA, the sound has adapted more to fit adult contemporary, without losing the classic pop touch sound she has. She makes a bold move in covering Bette Midler's "Stay With Me", which was from THE ROSE. The title track, an original composition written by Natalie, is a wonderful moving ballad. Other highlights include "His Eyes, Her Eyes", "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming", "Say You Love Me", "More Than You'll Ever Know", the title track and "A Song For You". With this album she proves music doesn't have to be predictable or boring. She definately benefits from the modern production. Overall a very satisfying effort from Natalie Cole. July 27, 2004

A Diamond

I had read a review of Natalie Cole's "Snowfall" CD, but with all the wonderful music available, had never picked up a copy until I saw a used copy at a pawn shop, of all places. WOW! What a magnificent diamond this CD is! Ms. C & I have been making up for lost time!

Two of the tracks are my very favorites. Bob Dylan wrote a special verse of "Gotta Serve Somebody" especially for Natalie who introduces the song by "Thank you, Mr. D!" This is one knock-out version with the cast of thousands background vocals that builds to an amazing climax. The opener, Leon Russell's "A Song for You" is a gorgeous melody. I loved Merry Clayton's soulful version from the 70's as well as Aretha Franklin's, Donny Hathaway's & Joe Cocker's, but Natalie gives this modern classic a great polish and emotional wallop. Taj Mahal's "Corrina" was also a great favorite; and Natalie's update is a wonderful performance! "Everyday I Have the Blues" is also tremendous fun with its cool jazz flutter. Natalie's "With My Eyes Wide Open" is an emotional experience that rises above the 50's string arrangement. Sandy Denny's "Since You Asked" that Judy Collins immortalized comes through as such a wonderful song with Natalie's performance. The CD concludes with "Stay With Me," with which Natalie blows the roof down. I don't know who pawned this beautiful diamond, but don't miss out on this incredible set! Enjoy! January 30, 2003

Top Notch - Listening to an Angel

What words can express the lingering sweetness, soothing feeling, and easygoing touch that Natalie Cole's "Snowfall on the Sahara" leaves you with...each time your ears are treated with the smoothness of her lasting and melodic voice. 'Say You Love Me' and 'Snowfall on the Sahara' moves one to tears, yet brings a smile across your face because somewhere in your psyche and in your soul, you have been led 'there....somewhere personal' with Natalie as your guide. This is truly a beautiful collection of sounds that one must not miss listening to..and while doing so, one truly will enjoy the journey...over and over again! April 23, 2002

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