Artist: Dionne Warwick Album: Only Trust Your Heart

Year: 2011
Duration: 0:0-1

Only Trust Your Heart by Dionne Warwick: A Critical Review

Dionne Warwick is a legendary American singer, songwriter, and actress known for her soulful ballads and pop hits. In 1992, she released her studio album Only Trust Your Heart, which featured a collection of jazz standards and new songs. As a fan of Warwick's music, I was excited to dive into this album and see what it had to offer. I must say, it left me pleasantly surprised, and in this blog post, I will take you through the album's musical and creative elements, the history of the artist, the music genre of the album, and my favorite picks.

Dionne Warwick was born on December 12, 1940, in East Orange, New Jersey. She began singing gospel music in church and was discovered by Burt Bacharach, who became her longtime collaborator. Her style of music is a blend of pop, R&B, and soul, and her signature sound is characterized by her clear and powerful voice, soulful harmonies, and Bacharach's intricate arrangements. The Only Trust Your Heart album departs from her typical sound, and she experiments with jazz standards, showcasing her versatility as an artist.

The album's genre is mainly jazz, with elements of soul and pop thrown in. The instrumentation is primarily piano, saxophone, bass, and drums, with Warwick's vocals front and center. The album's standout songs include Love Me Still, Anyone Who Had A Heart, and I Won't Last A Day Without You. These songs display Warwick's versatility as she transitions from upbeat jazz to emotional ballads seamlessly. The songs are arranged in a way that tells a story, with the album's title track serving as a climatic ending.

The most innovative part of the album is the new material that Warwick presents. She co-wrote some of the songs, such as the title track, with her son Damon Elliot, who also produced the album. The new material blends well with the jazz standards, and Warwick's voice manages to convey the message with the right amount of sensitivity and power. This is particularly evident in the song And Then You Know What He Did, and the upbeat How Do You Keep The Music Playing.

Despite its strengths, the album falls short in the arrangement department. Some of the songs follow the standard jazz structure, with predictable chord changes and arrangements. This makes the album feel monotonous in some parts, and one can get the sense that Warwick was playing it safe with the covers. However, Warwick's voice and songwriting more than make up for the album's shortcomings.

Overall, Only Trust Your Heart is a testament to Warwick's versatility and songwriting skills. The album's fusion of jazz and pop is a departure from her prior works, but one worth exploring. Its strengths lie in the new material and Warwick's soulful voice, which breathe new life into the jazz standards, making them fresh and exciting. The record's weakness is in the arrangements, which are too predictable. Yet, the album feels like an ode to love, with its emotional ballads and catchy tunes. It's an album that's easy to listen to, and it's perfect for jazz enthusiasts and casual listeners.