Mother Nature's Son

Mother Nature's Son Artist: Ramsey Lewis
Label: Universal Japan
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1
EAN: 4988005318961
ASIN: B00006S2BP


Release Date: 2004-07-20

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Tracks:

  1. Mother Natures Son
  2. Rocky Raccoon
  3. Julia
  4. Back In The USSR
  5. Dear Prudence
  6. Cry Baby Cry
  7. Good Night
  8. Everybodys Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
  9. Sexy Sadie
  10. Black Bird

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Turning Point.......2006-07-27

This album was responsible for turning me into jazz music. By 1968 I was a teenager and I used only to listen to Rock and Roll music, specially Beatles albums. The first time I listened to the vinyl record, I knew that a new world was opening to me. The Ramsey Lewis jazz arrangements with his typical swinging are extremely captivating. I hope it will become available for purchase again.

Carlos Cunha

5 out of 5 stars Intense and Grandiose.......2006-04-09

I have over 2200 Beatles covers so far and none match the intensity and grandiose arrangements of Ramsey Lewis' Mother Nature's Son. Ramsey Lewis really understood the Beatles music and was able to successfully translate to a jazz setting without losing the original songs' lyricism.

Doing sections from "The White Album" is somewhat novel in itself but these versions have bite. It seems that everybody's done "Yesterday", "In My Life" or "Norwegian Wood" but, how many have done "Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey?" Every instrument is thrown into the mix: guitar, strings, piano, bass, drums and even a Moog.

This is a must have for Jazz and Beatles lovers.

[DW]

5 out of 5 stars Finally!.......2005-05-27

Ramsey Lewis is an American Jazz treasure!. I have been searching for this album for years. It is a "must have" for any collector of Jazz. I could never understand why it was not put on CD and released in the USA.

5 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece!.......2004-03-20

Ramsey Lewis' 'Mother Nature's Son' is one of the most important albums of all times. Pianist and arranger Ramsey Lewis plays exclusively themes from the Beatles' 'White Album', and does is magnifically. The orchestral arrangements and conduction by Charles Stepney are incredibly creative. It was recorded in 1968, but will be at least a forever and remarkable work-of-art.

5 out of 5 stars A classic on vinyl is a classic on CD.......2003-04-01

As a collector of vinyl and ardent Beatles fan, I was always on the lookout for interesting cover versions and then I found this one. I was a fan of Ramsey Lewis too but this album came as a surprise.

It was an interesting Beatles choice to begin with -- so many artists had covered the Beatles early/mid-career stuff that seemed tailor made for 'easy listening' orchestrations (think: Yesterday, Michelle, Something). I was astounded then to hear the White Album covered. The interpretations here were absolutely unique and not just replicas of the originals. Everything seems to work. The key here is in the arrangements -- and Beatles music lends itself so well to exploring new arenas.

I'm sure it wasn't an easy choice deciding which tracks to cover (others come to mind) but the results are nothing less than exceptional. Ramsey Lewis takes each song and keeps a running thread that's instantly recognizable and puts his own spin on it.

I won't go into detail on each track, they really are all worthy. Though my only quibble are with 'Goodnight' and 'Julia' -- pleasant tracks which could or should have been replaced with more upbeat numbers. I could think of any number of songs... Savoy Truffle, Revolution, Happiness Is a Warm Gun and Birthday -- each would have been amazing in Ramsey Lewis's hands.

Concerning the CD itself, the sound is truly astounding. My vinyl copy was in excellent condition but was played on a very basic player but the CD was like hearing something totally new. I've no idea what a '24-bit remastered version' really is, as opposed to any other remastering but it sounded incredible on my 10-year old machine through top-notch headphones. Great clarity and detail. Rich, full sound.

The foldout booklet, of course, is in Japanese and may have had some interesting liner notes but that's a minor issue. The one thing that did concern me was track 2, 'Rocky Racoon' -- it sounds as though it's been faded out too early. I'm sure it couldn't have been for time restraints so will have to check back with the vinyl version to see if I'm wrong!

Four of these tracks (Mother Nature's Son, Julia, Good Night, Dear Prudence) appear on the Ramsey Lewis CD, Maiden Voyage but completists will probably go the extra mile for this. All in all, a truly welcome and long-overdue release for a wonderful album. Congrats to MCA for this. Nice classy packaging.

As a final note, there is another version of Everybodys Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey by Fats Domino -- who I didn't even realize was still recording in '68. It was available on one of those old Warner Bros. double compilations highlighting their artists -- another great interpretation of an unlikely choice.

Music CD:

  1. Kaleidoscope
  2. Jazz & Blues ~ George Benson
  3. Back in Bean's Bag
  4. Live at Sometime ~ Barney Kessel
  5. Quest ~ Liebman, Beirach, Mraz
  6. Newly Warne ~ Warne Marsh
  7. Long Ago ~ Jay Epstein
  8. At the Village Vanguard Again ~ Great Jazz Trio
  9. Beyond the Mind's Eye ~ Jan Hammer
  10. Happy Time ~ Roy Eldridge

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Live in Paris 1971 ~ James Brown

Smooth & Legit ~ MC Smooth

Sandiego ~ Carman Sandiego

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