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Valerie Carter - anyone heard her stuff?

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chris.redmond2@bushinternet.com

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Whilst visiting the Eva Cassidy web-site, and reading the Guestbook, someone from Australia mentioned that there was an equally talented and unknown singer by the name of Valerie Carter. Now I doubt if a talent like Eva`s exists, but after looking up her details on the Net, it turns out that she has been singing with the best in the business for years, being the warm up/backing singer for Jennifer Warnes and James Taylor. I`m tempted to spend a Saturday on a Valerie Hunt in the local stores, but would like to hear from someone who could give me an idea of what type of music she performs? Thanks in advance for any info.

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Re: Valerie Carter - anyone heard her stuff? robert 20:36:12 03/06/01 (5)
Valerie Carter has been around for awhile (late 70's or so), she did a few pretty good records for Columbia, the best being the first - Just A Stone's Throw Away, the second is Wild Child. Then she basically faded away, not having achieved a 'hit'.
The Eva Cassidy comparison isn't right, she's not at all the same.
Basically So-Cal mellow rock, that whole crowd around that time - Jackson Browne, Michael McDonald, Carly Simon, but not as individual as any of them.
But her first is still a pretty good record, worth checking out - one song is still heard a lot today - you'll know which one!
- Re: Valerie Carter - anyone heard her stuff? Mike C 05:25:11 03/07/01 (4)
  Agreed on all points.
  I have those two records and must pull them out for a listen,
  they are worth it.
  She's not in the least like Eva, but was similar to Jennifer Warnes,
  Karla Bonoff, Linda Ronstadt and Wendy Waldman; gentle 70's west
  coast rock. I think she worked with some of these, and with some
  of their great regular session musicians like Waddy and Russ.
  Comparisons ... all personal views of course!
  Similar to Jennifer Warnes but without the strength of performance
  or individuality of songs of her excellent 'Shot Through the Heart' album.
  Similar to Karla Bonoff but without quite the quality of songs or natural
  charm of her 1st (eponymous) album.
  Overall, a very attractive voice, good musicians etc, good but a touch
  bland ... very nice indeed if you like that style of music.
  Which I do, so I'll have a listen tonight!
  - Re: Valerie Carter - anyone heard her stuff? chris.redmond2@bushinternet.com 14:00:49 03/07/01 (3)
    Thanks for the posts. If I see her first album mentioned anywhere I`ll buy it, but my appetites not been wetted to actually do a lot of searching, it doesn`t sound like my cup of tea to be honest; then again I didn`t think that Joni Mitchell would be either but `Blue` is one of the most played CDs in my collection, so who knows?
    - I listened last night ... Mike C 10:52:23 03/08/01 (2)
      ... to 'Just a stones throw away' and it was OK, but I wasn't
      overwhelmed. She sang OK, the music was good, but to me it didn't
      all fit together. At times her voice seemed to be competing with
      the music (and losing out) rather than these things being in harmony.
      I felt that this didn't do justice to her singing, perhaps she
      deserved better; that's a personal view. I guess it's as valid to
      suggest that the pretty good musical work deserved a more powerful
      singer, I dunno! :-)
      Either way ... not a good match, and it doesn't quite come off IMO.
      Now, a comparison.
      I do rather like the 'Karla Bonoff' LP. IMHO, she doesn't have a
      strong voice either; but the music is in sympathy with her singing,
      it works with it, allows her voice to come through to the very best
      of her abilities. I find the result very appealing.
      Some things she can only just reach, or can't quite give that extra
      bit of emphasis, things like this that aren't technical perfection,
      well it doesn't matter. No, more than this ... I wouldn't change it,
      I love it just the way it is, human, real, alive.
      This one does come off IMO, giving results which are more than the
      sum of the parts.
      - Re: I listened last night ... RobTempe 01:26:13 03/11/01 (0)
        
        In Reply to: I listened last night ... posted by Mike C on March 08, 2001 at 10:52:23:
        
        Valerie Carter sang lead on the song "After the Gold Rush" on Linda Ronstadt's awesome Feels Like Home lp. I believe she even rented a room from Linda at some point when Linda lived in California.
        Karla Bonoff is another of Linda Ronstadt's friends via Linda's former bass player and close friend Kenny Edwards (Bonoff's boyfriend). Karla, Kenny, Wendy Waldman and Andrew Gold put a cd out in 1995 called Bryndle which you may enjoy. It is one of my favorites.
      - Have just crossed out Valerie Carter, and written down K Bonoff. Thanks for the tip Mike. chris.redmond2@bushinternet.com 19:45:26 03/08/01 (0)
        
        In Reply to: I listened last night ... posted by Mike C on March 08, 2001 at 10:52:23:
        
        nt

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