THELMA HOUSTON / SUNSHOWER 祝！海外初CD化！ポップス方面からも絶賛の声上がる69年名作ファースト！
THELMA HOUSTON / SUNSHOWER (SOULMUSIC.COM / SMDC05CD)
彼女自身がベストと語る69年のデビュー作「SUNSHOWER」がボーナス6曲を加えて海外初CD化。ジミー・ウェブがプロデュースを務めており、ストーンズの前年の大ヒット曲をカバーするなどロック〜ポップス方向のリスナー、特にソフト・ロックやバカラックを好む方面からは高い評価を得ているアルバム。しかしストリングスを多用した小奇麗なアレンジとゴスペル色強いボーカル・スタイルが絶妙な味を出しており、聴かず嫌いでスルーしてしまうにはあまりにも勿体無い質の高い作品です。
アレサのフィルモアでのレパートリーとして知られる(5)などもアレンジは若干あっさりしているが歌唱はなかなかどうして、負けてはいません。同じくアレサと比較対象となるのが(7)のストーンズ・ナンバー。本編ラスト(12)の壮大なバラードもかなり効いてきます。その他もフリー・ソウルを好んでいたリスナーあたりにはど真ん中な系統がずらり。そのフリー・ソウル・ムーヴメントから十数年経ち、当時もまだ国内盤がCD化されておらずあまり話題に上ることが無かったアルバムですが、今こそ多くのリスナーに耳にしてほしい作品と言えそうです。
by 営業部 Ｓ氏
収録内容
1. Sunshower
2. Everybody Gets To Go To The Moon
3. To Make It Easier On You
4. Didn't We
5. Crazy Mixed-Up Girl
6. Someone Is Standing Outside
7. Jumpin' Jack Flash
8. This Is Where I Came In
9. Pocketful of Keys
10. This Is Your Life
11. Cheap Lovin'
12. If This Was The Last Song
13. Save The Country
14. I Just Can't Stay Away
15. The Good Earth
16. Ride, Louis, Ride
17. Crying In The Sunshine
18. I Just Gotta Be Me
(13)〜(18) BONUS TRACKS
祝！海外初CD化度 ☆☆☆☆☆ | 名作度 ☆☆☆☆☆ | ボーナス豪華収録度 ☆☆☆☆☆ | さすがの英SOULMUSIC.COMリイシュー度 ☆☆☆☆☆
“I still think that 'Sunshower' is the best album that I've ever done,” states Thelma Houston, the gospel-reared best known in the UK for her Top 20 disco anthem, 'Don't Leave Me This Way,' released on Motown in 1977. “Sunshower was produced by Jimmy Webb (he wrote 'My Christmas Tree' for The Supremes' 1965 LP, 'Merry Christmas'). In 1968, Webb was justifiably viewed as hot property - he'd received Grammy awards for two songs he'd written: 'Up, Up & Away' by the Fifth Dimension and 'By The Time I Get To Phoenix' by country singer, Glen Campbell. What transpired was 'Sunshower,' a unique album that fused soul with baroque-style pop, rock, gospel and sophisticated easy listening music.
The album contains eleven Webb originals. Most were newly written for Thelma, but a couple had already been recorded by other singers. Soul fans will recognise 'This Is Your Life,' which was revamped in 1977 by Norman Connors with Eleanore Mills on lead vocals.
This first ever UK CD issue contains first ever time on CD bonus tracks of songs later released on singles, for ABC/Dunhill during 1970 including her debut pop chart entry with a soul-infused cover of Laura Nyro's 'Save The Country' plus two further singles - only previously released in the UK on EMI's Stateside label.
This CD contains an extensive sleeve note by Charles Waring and is endorsed by Thelma personally who is constantly touring and performing internationally.