Essential

One of the great voices in pop music

Marcia Hines will be familiar to those Australians who grew up when that Australian music institution "Countdown" [ABC TV] first began airing in the early 70's. It was that show, I think, which bestowed on Marcia the title of "Queen of pop", via some viewer polls I think. In fact, Marcia was so popular, she may have won it more than once during her ascendency-the mid to late 70s. Other notables to have won the title of "King of pop" would include the similarly talented John Farnham, and the more pop idol types like "Shirley" Strachan [of Skyhooks fame] and Daryl Braithwaite [of Sherbet fame].

Anyway, Marcia's fine voice and pop choices made her a worthy winner of the title. This album seems to have all the songs of hers that I liked...can't seem to find a track listing here...so, not sure if it has "Your love still brings me to my knees"-if it's not on here, there is another compilation which does have it on Amazon. Can't say I remember this song too well, so will not say whether it is essential omission or not.

Stand out tracks on this compilation are:

"I just don't know what to do with myself" - I probably heard Marcia's version first, and had forgotten that the great Dusty Springfield sang this song before Marcia. In any case, wasn't that big a fan of Dusty's version [I love some of her other songs though] and I do prefer Marcia's version. Marcia does give this song a Dionne Warwick type treatment.

"What I did for love" - The second song from this album that I particularly like. Does have a Barbra Streisand/"Memories" type feel to it, but I prefer Hines' vocals to Barbra's!

The other songs that I give one tick to for quality [giving the songs above two ticks] are:

"From the inside" - Marcia provides some soaring vocals and long notes on this inspirational type song.

"Shining" - Maybe this song deserves two ticks as well! [when I jot notes on albums before I post up reviews of them here, I give stand out tracks more ticks. Two ticks is excellent!]

"[Until] your love broke through"

"You" - apparently her biggest hit in Australia. There is new version of that on this compilation...more dance and perhaps techno in treatment, i.e. the new version is very bass heavy as well as being drum heavy too. Like the original best though.

"Something's missing in my life" - has an uncredited male vocal in it, as does the song "Moments", I think [like I say, there is no track listing at this site for this cd]. The male voice does seem familiar-sort of in the Al Green, Peabo Bryson mould.

And, lastly, a song which I had never heard before and which qualifies as an "Easter Egg" song [i.e. a very pleasant surprise]: "Where did we go wrong?".

Many songs on this compilation have an orchestra backing Marcia. The sound is very rooted in the 1970s style of pop...the kind that you could see on variety shows which were popular then. I.e. cabaret style songs. Marcia covers many songs from different areas-e.g. musical theatre songs like "I don't know how to love him" [from "Jesus Christ Superstar"] and songs written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, like "I just don't know what to do with myself".

Marcia covers "Fire and rain", by James Taylor. Not really a bit Taylor fan, but I would prefer Marcia's version over Taylor's original.

"I've got the music in me" has the feel of a musical theatre song...say, something out of "Grease", if that is not too way off.

Unlike the funky song above, there are spartan treatments of songs, like "I don't know how to love him", which is mainly accompanied by the piano and has a little flute music added too.

Lastly, "Trilogy" had a George Harrison/Beatles feel to it.

Thinking about the track listings, I'm inclined to think that it is a pity that Marcia never covered "You've lost that loving feeling", as, in her prime, I think she could have done a definitive version of this song.

If you like ballads, variety show style pop music, or singers like Shirley Bassey and Barbra Streisand, I think you will really enjoy Marcia Hines. Her voice is terrific as is her phrasing and the way she can hold a note or make it sound glassy.

Had a look at her Wikipedia entry. On radio recently I heard that she was of Jamaican origin, whereas the Wiki lists her as being American. The radio show also mentioned how she was friends with Donna Summer when she was living in America with her mum. Summer was older than Hines though.

Marcia came to notice in Australia for her work in musical theatre.

You never really seem to hear Marcia's songs anymore, at least not on the contemporary pop/rock FM Music stations I listen to. She probably gets played on those AM stations which are likely to play music which old people like. In that way, Countdown did a great thing by having all sorts of music on air. I doubt that MTV would have given such acts a go.

Just by the by, I did hear how a contemporary of Marcia's, Renee Geyer, a respected white soul singer of the time, did get radio airplay in the US, on black music stations. Her big mistake was to release a single over there, I think, with her on the cover...she stopped getting played on those radio stations over there when they found out she wasn't black! No such snobbery here in Australia over the talented Marcia Hines.

P.S. If "Your love still brings me to my knees" isn't on this compilation, maybe look for the one which has it and the other songs I recommed here.

I've reviewed a lot of other cds by Australian acts at this site. Check them out. May 23, 2008

Truly a Queen of Pop

I've tried for several years to get Marcia Hines music, but due to the high prices of imports I've had little success. I'm fortunate that I found this CD on amazon at a bargain price. Vocally Marcia Hines kind of remind me of American Idol winner Fantasia without the screaming and shouting. Stephanie Mills also come to mind as well. Marcia is vocally sophisticated while maintaining her gospel/soul sound. I hate that Marcia haven't conquer the American music market, but at the same time I feel that America would've tried to put her into the box of being classified as a "R&B singer" when she's so much more than that.( Her childhood bestfriend Donna Summer had that problem when she become famous in the U.S. after living in Germany for several years.) On the Essential CD Marcia excel at Rock, Broadway, Ballads, and R&B. Once you listen to this CD you will see why Australia declares her to be the Queen of Pop. Fire and Rain: OMG! Hello! This is an excellent version of this song. Totally different from the James Taylor Starbuck depression classic. Marcia turns this tune into an anthem. She also does an excellent version of the Bacharach and Hal David's I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself, which I consider better than Dusty Springfields and Dionne Warwick's version. (Until)Your Love Broke Through is a beautiful song. I think I've Got the Music is another cover song. I heard American Idol contestant Ramielle Mallubye singing this song during Hollywood Week. She does a good take on the Steve Wonders Sign, Seal, Delivered. I love What I Did For Love from the musical Chorus Line. Ever song she sings she makes it her own. You is her only #1 hit in Australia very discolike. She does an excellent take on the Jesus Christ Superstar song I Don't Know How To Love Him. ( She portray Mary Magdalene in the Australian production.) Something Missing in My Life written by Paul Jabara( Last Dance Donna Summer) was latter recorded by Karen Carpenter on her solo album. I betcha Diana Ross was slapping herself when she heard Marcia take on her song Where Did We Go Wrong. Moments is beautiful duet. I think the guy Marcia's singing is Terry Young from her backup group Monalisa and Terry Young. The Bonus Track is a 2005 Remix of You. Not only is Robie G. Porter an excellent producer, but he's an excellent songwriter. He wrote Trilogy, Shining, Empty, A Love Story, In a Mellow Mood, Believe In Me, and Music is My Life, which I enjoyed. Robie didn't produce this one dimensional sound on Marcia. The only thing I didn't like about this CD is that it don't contain her post 1980 hits such as Your Love Bring Me To My Knees, and Many Rivers To Cross. But as a whole love it. Love it! Love it! April 11, 2008

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