I have all Claire's original album and I love them all. In the previous two, she experimented by introducing pop / rock into her music, but there is no evidence of fact here. Although Claire has included covers of pop / rock songs, theyhave been re-arranged and re-interpreted search thatthey are nothing like the originals. Perhaps the most dramatic transformation is of Buddy Holly's Raining in My Heart. Although Essentially a sad song, Buddy did it as an up-tempo song rock'n'roll. Claire slows it right down in keeping with the mood of the lyrics. With jazz instrumentation and the different tempo, the song is almost unrecognizable from the original. Claire, Whose smoky alto voice sounds as good as ever, so gives the jazz treatment to I can let go now (Michael McDonald) and Blue Motel Room (Joni Mitchell) with Equally impressive results. When I fall in love (originally an American hit for Doris Day in the early fifties, but most Commonly associated with Nat King Cole, who had a huge hit with it in the late fifties and again in the late eighties) has been covered frequently down the years, but Claire and her musicians have found a way to give even this song a fresh arrangement, and it works brilliantly. Another great cover is Black Coffee, originally recorded by Peggy Lee in the early fifties. There are several other covers of old standards, Including Too darn hot, The Gentleman is a Dope and These foolish things, all nicely updated for the new millennium. There are at least two new songs - Love is a necessary evil and Four Walls - but this album is most notable for the new treatments of old classics. Jazz fans will welcome Claire's return to roots ago. Personally, I enjoy her singing in whatever style she chooses, Because Claire is among the best singers to be found anywhere today, in any type of music.
