Tracklist (CD)
| 1 | | Love | | 4:32 | | 2 | | Italy | | 3:41 | | 3 | | Wake Up With You (The I Wanna Song) | | 4:29 | | 4 | | Concrete Love | | 4:02 | | 5 | | Missing Man | | 4:34 | | 6 | | Foolish Thing | | 5:03 | | 7 | | Butterfly | | 4:04 |
See more tracks| 8 | | It's Another You Day | | 3:33 | | 9 | | Something Right | | 3:18 | | 10 | | Roadside Angel | | 4:08 | | 11 | | Alleluia | | 4:44 |
* Items below may differ depending on the release.
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Review
I'm like a butterfly pushing against the wind," sings Fordham on her Vanguard debut. Fordham is, in fact, more like a butterfly emerging from her cocoon as Concrete Love marks a significant change in direction for the English singer. Her past six efforts, from her eponymous debut through East West, hinted at a CD collection filled with Joni Mitchell and others of her ilk. This time around, though, Fordham explores her sexy and soulful side, revealing unexpected influences, including a cover of R&B singer Minnie Ripperton's "Loving… Read More You." Lust oozes from Fordham on the jaunty "Wake Up With You (The I Wanna Song)," and sensuality suffuses "Italy," "Love," and most of the other songs. Joe Henry's coarse vocals light up "Alleluia," while the title track, a paen to love without histrionics, features a smoky duet with India.Arie, whose soft, silky voice weaves in and out of harmonies with Fordham. Billy Preston helps pump up the funk on Hammond B3 organ and a variety of keyboards throughout the album, and Sir Harry Bowens and Sweet Pea Atkinson add heartfelt supporting vocals. With bass-heavy production from Larry Klein, Concrete Love breaks new ground for Fordham, pushing her from demure singer-songwriter to blue-eyed diva. CHRISTOPHER RUBIN
(June 18, 2002)
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