Goth Reviews: Davy Jones

Davy Jones SHE (Happy Productions) www.davyjones.net

Spike: This is a much-anticipated collection of pop standards the ex-Monkee worked on for over a year…

Goth Woman: …in three different studios from central Pennsylvania to Florida to England…
Spike: …with two arranger-orchestrators, including Chris Andrews, a singer-songwriter from London’s West End who has also written for Roger Daltrey, David Essex, and Leo Sayer.

Goth Woman: Suffice to say, SHE has pedigree and atmosphere. Jones was going for that Nat “King” Cole, Rat Pack, Elvis Presley-ballad sound, and it worked. Jones supervised everything, with an astute focus on song choices and sounds. The musicians are mostly from his road band. You hear everything from strings to mountains of mandolins to French Horn (played by Valerie Whyman of the Williamsport Symphony).

Spike: My choices are “Secret Love” (best known by Doris Day), “Always on My Mind,” a spot-on remake of Burt Bacharach’s “This Guy’s in Love With You” (a hit for Herb Alpert) with trumpet by Eric Biondo, and “Cry,” made famous by Johnny Ray.

Goth Woman: Ray is due for a critical re-evaluation. What a singer! Jones does him proud.

Spike: Catch the tremolo guitar on the fade of “I’ll Remember You.”

Goth Woman: Jones has proven himself with vocal power and a great ear. With so many veteran pop/rock singers clamoring to record standards, SHE stands out as something personal and special.