Dionne Warwick Albums (38)
What The Critics Say
Although she gained fame singing a cool, anodyne version of pop-soul, Dionne Warwick's roots -- like many soul singers -- were in gospel. (Much of her family, including her mother, performed in the Drinkard Singers and Dionne herself formed the Gospelaires with sister Dee Dee to accompany them.) Why We Sing, her first gospel album in nearly 40 years, obviously benefits from that experience, but also from her many contacts and family members. Produced in part by her talented son Damon Elliott (Destiny's Child, P!nk) and including a song by another son, David Elliott, the album also features involvement from BeBe Winans and the New Hope Baptist Church Choir. As on her last secular album, Warwick's voice may be weaker than in the '60s and '70s, but the productions and guest features are solid. Ironically, even in this gospel medium, where a strong voice is arguably more important than anything else, Warwick succeeds, perhaps by the force of her convictions and the importance of the project in her mind. She certainly didn't tailor the material for crossover or commercial success; her choices include "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," an old Drinkard Singers original named "Rise, Shine and Give God the Glory," Psalm 23 delivered verbatim in song form as "The Lord Is My Shepherd," and a piece of brimstone written by son David named "Seven" that's nearly straight out of the book of Revelations. The productions have very little of the contemporary gospel sound, with none of the R&B or hip-hop rhythms that were interpolated into gospel during the '80s and '90s. Fortunately, they're also not adult contemporary slickness, either; most are recorded with a small group occasionally leavened with strings, and given a light touch by producers Percy Bady and Damon Elliott. Altogether, the results are quite good; it's a highly personal project that permits outsiders to enjoy it, and while it's quite smooth, it's never slick enough to enjoy that adult contemporary or coffeehouse crossover. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
My Friends & Me, Dionne Warwick's collection of duets that revisit her classic recordings, benefits from her many talented friends in the music industry, but most of all from a family member. Her son Damon Elliott has worked with his mother for close to ten years, when he's not producing for contemporary hitmakers Pink, Destiny's Child, Jessica Simpson, Kelis, and Mya. Elliott's production for this record is engaging and charming, right up to the minute digitally on the rhythm end, but with plenty of space within the tracks to echo the airy productions of Warwick's long-time producer, Burt Bacharach. Also, Elliott kept most of these versions piano-based and added a tight backing chorus that is virtually necessary for anyone familiar with the original "Walk on By" or "Anyone Who Had a Heart." Dionne Warwick's voice, however, hasn't aged as well as her contemporaries, and the record often resembles a tribute album whose subject only stops by occasionally. (More often than not, the guests are featured more than Warwick herself.) The only track with radical changes is "The Windows of the World," which is presented with no less than four vocal guests (Angie Stone, Chanté Moore, Deborah Cox, Da Brat) and in a version that allows Da Brat to rap on the state of the world between the lines of the verses. Elsewhere, highlights come with Cyndi Lauper's quiet, pleading version of "Message to Michael," Kelis' "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," and Wynonna Judd's surprisingly smoky "Anyone Who Had a Heart." ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
'My Favorite Time of the Year'
Release Date 10/26/2004
Tracks 13
Label DMI
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What The Critics Say
It's almost unfathomable that it took nearly five decades into her career for Dionne Warwick to issue a collection of holiday standards, but that would appear to have been the case until My Favorite Time of Year. This long overdue, 13-song collection puts together a selection of traditional and contemporary holiday classics, and Dionne's velvety smooth voice glazes through each track quite seamlessly. The contemporary over polished production and the inclusion of smooth jazz icon Dave Koz might be a detraction to some listeners, but there's a beautiful duet with longtime friend Gladys Knight and "I Believe in Christmas," the album's sole new composition, which features BeBe Winans on guest vocals, that more than make up for that and any other flaws holiday purists may have. Much like her non-holiday fare, this is a charming and warm affair from start to finish a level of quality you'd come to expect from Warwick. While it's definitely been worth the wait, here's hoping a follow-up is shortly in order. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
In the late '60s, it was briefly in vogue for woman singers known more for pop than for soul to go to Memphis, Miami, or Muscle Shoals to record and get funky. Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, Lulu, and Cher all did this, and so did Dionne Warwick, with 1969's Soulful. And although it was actually a big commercial success, reaching number 11 on the pop charts and number two on the R&B listings, it's not too well remembered. Rhino Handmade's expanded edition of Soulful virtually makes it over into a whole new release, more than doubling its length by adding a dozen tracks in a similar mold from the late '60s and early '70s that appeared on the 1972 double-LP compilation From Within, along with a previously unreleased cover of "Put a Little Love in Your Heart." Those who think of Warwick as a lightweight pop-soulster with a far greater bent for soft Bacharach-David pop than soul might be surprised at how well she handles purer soul material, both on the Soulful LP and the bonus tracks. But although she sounds good and the backing (Soulful was recorded at American Sound Studios in Memphis) is strong, all of the material is comprised of covers of well-known soul and rock hits. The interpretations range from the Beatles (the deliberately dragged-out renditions of "We Can Work It Out" and "A Hard Day's Night" are not among the highlights), Aretha Franklin, and Motown to Sly & the Family Stone and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" (the last of which did give Warwick a big hit). She does this stuff well, but she was neither the first nor the best to cover such songs, which makes it less stylistically distinctive than her more renowned covers of Bacharach-David songs. Still, no serious Warwick fan should be without this record, as it shows a different side of her talents than is evident from most of the recordings from her prime. [This CD is only available for purchase over the Internet, from www.rhinohandmade.com.] ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
'The Essence of Dionne'
Release Date 9/25/2002
Tracks 10
Label BMG Special Products
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'Dionne Sings Dionne'
Release Date 10/6/1998
Tracks 14
Label Platinum
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What The Critics Say
As one of the premier pop/R&B singers with a singular voice, Dionne Warwick's list of hits includes "Are You There (With Another Girl)," "Once You Hit the Road," and the often nerve-racking "Heartbreaker." As she racked up the singles, Warwick fans also realize she has also released fulfilling albums through the years, including 1975's Track of the Cat and her 1979 comeback effort, Dionne. Dionne Sings Dionne is also a strong effort. While including new tracks, the bulk of Dionne Sings Dionne consists of reconfigured versions of her '60s work with Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David. Although many talented singers have come up empty when reviewing their classics, Warwick seems to be having fun here and deftly reexamines her oeuvre like only a handful of artists could. The '80s Earth, Wind & Fire-styled production values boost "Reach Out for Me." The song also features the Emotions, DeBarge, and the talented El DeBarge, who has some great chemistry with Warwick. "Say a Little Prayer" gets a casually elegant quiet storm reworking, with the rasp of Warwick's voice coming through loud and clear. Along the same lines, the always sweet Bacharach and David gem "All Kinds of People" is just as steady, with Warwick now bringing a sense of wisdom to the lyric where there once was hope. A new track, "Be My Neighbor," features Tyrese. With a lyric expressing that Warwick is desired by Tyrese as a surrogate mother who can offer advice, it comes off apt and sweet. Although at first this does seems haphazard, Dionne Sings Dionne is a fun and skilled effort. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide
'Celebration in Vienna'
Release Date 1/1/1994
Tracks 12
Label Sony Classical
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What The Critics Say
Placido Domingo and Dionne Warwick are both great singers, but they are not a natural match. They come from different backgrounds and have different styles, yet they were paired for the holiday record Celebration in Vienna. Given that it's a Christmas album filled with good cheer, it's hard to begrudge either artist, but the album doesn't work as well as one might hope. Individually, both vocalists acquit themselves fairly well, but the duets don't quite hold up. Nevertheless, there is a certain charm to much of this record that makes it worth hearing for fans of either artist, even if it doesn't deliver as much as it promises. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Here lies the pleasant balance between Dionnesque pop anthems ("Age of Miracles" and "I Sing at Dawn"), ballads (Sting's "Fragile" and a duet with Whitney Houston on "Love Will Find a Way"), down-right funk on "Much Too Much" and shameless lust on "Where My Lips Have Been." Also included is Warwick's glorious reunion with Bacharach/David on "Sunny Weather Lover." Certainly one of her best-produced, best-sung and well-packaged albums since joining the Arista roster. ~ Bil Carpenter, All Music Guide
