Eva Cassidy

Subject: Eva Cassidy
From: Fiolar
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 04:58 AM

Fans of the late Eva Cassidy will be pleased to learn that her recording of "Songbird" recently made number 3 in the BBC Radio 1 Top Ten. Also her recordings which include "Fields of Gold" are played regularly on BBC Radio 2.

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: GUEST,Sam Pirt
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 11:26 AM

Eva is touched by somthing special when she sings, this coupled with her amazing ability to make any song of just about any genre sound her own results in one of the greatest singers we have ever seen.

You think you have got to know her singing the blues then she sings a trad song, then a jazz number oh and don't forget about the gospel stuff, Amazing!!

Everyone should buy at least one of her albums as she has storys to tell from the heart. The fact her publisity has been mainly through word of mouth and recently BBC Radio 2 (the best radio station) has meant the focus of the music has not been profits, looks, pictures but the music itself is what is at the heart of Eva. She was born to sing so let her sing to you, you wont be disappointed!

Sadly she is no longer with us but her music and storys will be with us forever.

Cheers, Sam

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Big Phil
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 12:21 PM

Thank T Wogan and P Walters for playing Eva's music on Radio 2...... Phil

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 02:58 PM

Hi, Sam; I agree with every word you say.Heard her on Radio 2 again. I bought the Songbird CD a couple of weeks ago after I'd heard other people raving about her versions of Fields of Gold and Over the Rainbow, but every track is a gem.

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Tig
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 09:18 PM

|Just bought the Badger 'Songbird' for his birthday pressie. what a fantastic album!

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 11 Mar 01 - 11:41 AM

Unfortunately I have only ever heard her singing Somewhere over the rainbow and both Geoff and I thought it was the worst rendition of the song we had ever heard. I shall delay judgement on the rest until I have heard more.

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 11 Mar 01 - 12:24 PM

That shows how subjective opinions about music can be. I think Eva's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" may well be the best version I've ever heard.

She had a beautiful voice and a very rare gift of knowing, very intuivitely, how to communicate the essence of a song.

Eva's cousin maintains a very nice Eva Cassidy website. I don't have the URL handy, but its on the page of artists links on the Folk Roots/Folk Branches site.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: GMT
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 12:00 PM

I video taped Eva's performance on Steve Wrights TOTP2, but the tape was duff. However I caught it second time round when he showed it again; as the most requested song in the programmes history.
I agree with you Mike R, best version I've ever heard.
Cheers Gary

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: BlueJay
Date: 28 May 01 - 05:20 AM

I was unaware of Eva Cassidy until last Friday night. Dave Marash did a whole ABC Nightline show featuring her. I heartily congratulate him. One of the best Nightlines I have ever seen. He told Eva's story, interspersed with sound clips and videos. I was mesmerized. The depth and beauty of her singing is very rare. My only regret was that they didn't make it an hour long show. In a half hour show, they didn't have the time to play full songs. But what they did play blew my socks off. If you go to www.abcnews.com, and click on the "Nightline" page, you can get to a videoclip of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", as well as Marash's axxount of how Eva's singing helped him keep sane while covering the war in Bosnia. (BTW, I am not a shill for ABC News).

But mostly, I would like to offer my thanks to the British people, and BBC, who seem to be most responsible for her posthumous fame. Had it not been for you folks, I may have never heard of Eva Cassidy. And I agree with Mike Regenstrief, Eva has the finest version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" I have ever heard. Eva's story, and especially her singing have really inspired me musically. Thanks to you all, BlueJay

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Noreen
Date: 28 May 01 - 07:13 AM

Thanks BlueJay for the link, which has video of the whole of Somewhere over the Rainbow, and other audio clips too. Wonderful. I love her eclecticism.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Amergin
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 01:20 AM

My mom has recently fallen for her singing, watching Michelle Kwan skate to her singing Fields Of Gold....

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 03:37 PM

I like Eva Cassidy. I think she had a lovely voice and was a great interpreter, but I can't be doing with people telling me she'd done the "definitive" version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. And now it's happening on The Mudcat! I'm sorry, good as her version is, the definitive, bestest version was recorded a long time ago by little (well, not so little if the stories are true)Frances Gumm.

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 04:50 PM

Don't much care for her version of over the rainbow but damn it the rest of the album is the breath of the angels! I especially like her version of Wade in the Water. She was truly gifted and I'm glad that someone is giving her airplay. It's just a damned pity it didn't happen while she was alive. Neil

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: O'Trasno
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 06:13 PM

I'd never heard of her until last week when someone played a track on the (Spanish national) radio,and i was blown away.I think it was called "when autumn leaves fall",is that on the songbird album?

And how did she die?

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: BH
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 08:05 PM

Francis Gumm---is that a try at showing your knowledge of trivia? We all know her as J____ G____

BH

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: irishajo
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 09:11 PM

O'Trasno,

Autumn Leaves is the song, on her Songbird album. I absolutely love it.

She had cancer, not sure what kind. There are a few websites out there that tell more about her life...apparently she was very shy about singing in public.

Amy

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: O'Trasno
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 09:56 PM

Thanks,amy...i'll have to try and get hold of the cd. :)

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 04:56 AM

Good call, BH, I was showing off! BTW how exactly do you pronounce J___ G______?

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: GUEST,Sue
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 09:32 AM

I absolutely adore Eva Cassidy's voice but I have to say that I think she did the worst version of Woodstock that I ever heard. Has anyone else read her story? I defy anyone to read it and not cry buckets when it gets to the part where she finds that she has the malignant melanoma. A truly tragic story.

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: irishajo
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 11:22 AM

Where did you read it, Sue? I heard someone mention there was a book about her, but I've not found it...

Amy

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Greyeyes
Date: 04 Mar 02 - 01:16 PM

Click here for details of "Songbird" the book. This is from Amazon UK, I can't find it on Amazon US, may not be published there yet.

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Jerry Dingleman: The Boy Wonder(inactve)
Date: 04 Mar 02 - 09:56 PM

Greyeyes,

"Songbird" was published in North America by Blix Street Records well before it became a hit in the UK.

I bought it after first hearing it on CKUT's Folk Roots/Folk Branches back in 1999.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Greyeyes
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 12:02 PM

My link is to details of the book "Songbird", Eva Cassidy's biography.

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: irishajo
Date: 05 Mar 02 - 12:53 PM

Thanks Greyeyes for the info.

I would really like to read this book. I hope it's published in the U.S. soon. I'm guessing I can't get it from Amazon UK.

Will have to be patient I guess!

Amy

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: Greyeyes
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 06:07 AM

Amazon UK will deliver virtually anywhwere in the world. If you pay by credit card it should be possible to order direct from them. You would need to add about £5 for airmail P&P.

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: irishajo
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 08:49 AM

As a matter of fact I tried this last night, and it worked. I was able to use my existing Amazon account. The total cost of the book and shipping was about 17 pounds. Have no idea what the means in dollars, guess I'll find out when I get my credit card statement.

Amy

Subject: RE: Eva Cassidy
From: C-flat
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 09:02 AM

Nobody could deny Eva Cassidy's singing prowess but nobody's mentioned the sublime guitar accompaniment. I think her guitar arrangements were subtle and exquisite!