Liz Callaway - The Beat Goes On

Liz Callaway has one of the best voices on Broadway, with a clear-as-a-bell tone, seemingly effortless soprano range, and terrific warmth. After spending five years on Broadway as Grizabella in Cats and further occupying herself with animated voiceover work, Callaway has released The Beat Goes On, her first solo album since 1995's outstanding The Story Goes On, and it was worth the wait. Naturally, any celebration of the frenetic '60s needs a wide scope, and included here are infectious pop ("Wedding Bell Blues"), Broadway musicals (Hair's "Frank Mills," Promises, Promises' "Half as Big as Life"), the Beatles ("When I'm 64"), social protest ("Where Have All the Flowers Gone"), and movie music ("Moon River"), all masterfully arranged by music director Alex Rybeck. Callaway has never sounded better--her "Up, Up and Away" soars, and "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is totally irresistible. She confesses that recording Petula Clark's "Downtown" has been a lifelong fantasy; it comes true in this dream of an album. --David Horiuchi Amazon.com\'s Best of 2001

Liz Callaway's Music Goes On...

Liz Callaway has soothing, calming, angelic, sweet voice that when put into good use can really make songs soar. At first, I was a little hesitant about the songs in this album since these are not exactly the type of songs I would normally imagine her singing. But to my surprise, she was able to bring life to most of the songs. The only thing I have against her voice is that it is too pretty and her diction can be really "girly" sometimes. But overall, she`s a pleasure to hear.

I love her rendition of "Frank Mills", especially the arrangement and the melody. And her tender ending was really beautiful. I also like her energetic and lively "Wedding Bell Blues". She managed to make "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "When I'm 64" suit her voice even though the arrangement didn't totally veer from the original.

To the downbeat songs, I probably like "Didn't We/McArthur's Park" and "Leaving on a Jet Plane" the best. Both were simple and heartfelt renditions especially the former. But for some reason her version of "Moon River' didn't appeal to me. I don't know it sounds a little too pretty for me.

Grade: A- May 5, 2006

Callaway tackles the 60s

Liz Callaway is a talented stage performer with the beautiful gift of a brilliantly expressive voice and a large vocal range. The clarity in her diction and delivery is quite amazing.

I've heard her work in musical theatre and in other solo recordings and while this is a lovely attempt to tackle the Pop medium and wrap her solid voice around something other than showtunes, it's only partially successful because Callaway seems more comfortable with the ballad-like message songs than with the up-tempo pop ditties of the period.

Her rendition of "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" is magically poignant, as she works the repetition in the lyrics and melody into an almost hypnotic anti-war message. She soars through "Didn't We/McArthur Park" with a depth usually not associated with these songs. The tempos and arrangements, while not always even on this recording, work magic by slowing down the often annoying tempo of "Didn't We" and somehow making it sadder than usual. Also, Callaway sings the lovelier song within a song in Jimmy Webb's complex "McArthur Park" and avoids the cliché ridden chorus about the cake and the rain.(Dionne Warwick also did this in her 60s lp "Valley of the Dolls" to great success.) The result is lovely and one of the most moving moments on the CD.

But the definitive tear-jerker comes totally from left field. Callaway embraces "Leavin' on A Jet Plane" with a subtle nuance of regret mixed with love and longing that makes the song work on more levels than I've ever heard before. This track is the definitive highlight of the entire venture.

If only Callaway were so successful with the up-tempo Pop hits on this CD, which totally seem to escape her interpretive grasp. "Wedding Bell Blues", "Downtown", "Up Up and Away", "When I'm Sixty-Four" and particularly "Wouldn't It Be Nice" seem completely out of place and out of genre for this talented ballad singer. Without solid lyrics she struggles to get her point across. And some of these popular tunes, while hummable and great radio hits, have almost no lyric-depth to them.

It's only when she has strong lyrics, especially concerning love/relationships, that Callaway truly shines on this CD. May 29, 2003

Liz obviously loves sixties music - it shows in this album.

I've heard (and enjoyed) plenty of albums full of covers, but this is something unique in my experience. Liz has managed to record a set of songs from a variety of different sources, with the only linking theme being the sixties.

Musicals (Half as big as life from Promises Promises, Frank Mills from Hair), movies (Moon river from Breakfast at Tiffany's), surf music (Wouldn't it be nice), folk music (Monday Monday, Where have all the flowers gone), the Beatles (When I'm 64), women's lib (You don't own me) - all these and more are represented, yet the whole album hangs together brilliantly.

Liz's favorite sixties song is Downtown, and she indicates in the album notes that doing this album gave her the excuse she needed to record it, although I've come across the song on all sorts of albums that I wouldn't expect it to be on. Liz's version is stunning, certainly one of the best.

So, Liz didn't really need to record a whole album of sixties music just for one song, but I'm glad she did. Her clear soprano voice and obvious enthusiasm for the music shine on each and every track.

If you like sixties music, this is as good a sixties tribute as you are ever likely to find, with plenty of variety.

Buy and enjoy !!!! June 30, 2002

Retro FRESH!

Although I am big fan of Liz Calloway, and her sister, Anne, I was skeptical when I saw this new album on the store shelf. Afterall it's 60's music?!?!. Fortunately I was able to sample it and fell in love with it. Liz not only brings a fresh voice to the old songs, but preserve their sincerity and heart. Especially love her renditions of, "Wedding Bell Blues" and "When I'm Sixty Four". July 13, 2001

I loved this CD

My daughter suggested that I get this CD, and was she ever right?. I especially like "Leaving on a Jet Plane", but the songs are from my era and I like all of them. Liz has a truly remarkable voice. May 25, 2001

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