Don Cherry Music

If you're down with the history of popular dance music, this is a pretty seminal collection of some of the oddities and classics that made their way into deejay record crates back in the day; it's almost worth the price alone to hear Liquid Liquid's "Cavern" again - the bassline launched a million feet at Danceteria and the Peppermint Lounge (this is post-Studio 54 and pre-Area, kids), and spawned imitators aplenty. And who would've imagined that Steve Miller would've set bodies movin'?! Put this one on at your next party and freak some heads with your all-knowing koolness!

I was looking for a collection of exciting tunes for motivation.
This is the best source I found. Well worth the money!

A great collection of Hurricane Smith recordings.
It makes you appreciate the past and it gives you
a little history of his recordings and his own
insights on the recordings.

I love the underdog, the underappreciated and the underplayed artists, primarily from the 70's.Thats why I like to write these reviews, to keep their music alive. Norman "Hurricane" Smith is one of those artists. He was a producer with his name on Pink Floyd and Beatle albums. His biggest hit musically of course was "Oh Babe, What Would You Say", the almost vaudvillian vocals reminiscent of "Winchester Cathedral". This is a good album, you just have to familiarize yourself with the tunes to appreciate it. The first step is to have samples available. The next is to add it to your collection. Enjoy.

From the first listen, Nicola's "Don't Take It Personally" gives the impression of an artist who has paid her dues in the world of rock and roll. Influenced by legends such as Led Zeppelin, Billy Joel, and Pearl Jam, Nicola is a refreshing female voice in a genre traditionally dominated by men. Not to be typecast among the other female acts of today, her vocals possess a confident, almost domineering edge that is complimented by a rapid-fire combination of electric and acoustic guitar.

The first track, "My Name Ain't Mary" is a fitting start for a rock album, the presence of heavy electric guitar
quite obvious from the get go. This is followed up with the more melodic "Almost," which conveys Nicola's
emotional side in typical acoustic fashion. The title track, "Don't Take It Personally" could almost be
considered a dance number, percussion maintaining a very popish rhythm.

Among the most notable tracks are "In Your Own Backyard" and "(5,6,7,8) Hot Date." Deviating the most from the album's formula, "Backyard" is a hip-hop song. It features the vocals of a rapper, Nicola serving as a
backdrop for the majority of the track except for one point where she nearly raps herself. "Hot Date" is a
song personified by a rage that can only be fueled by a woman's scorn. It is by far the most controversially
written songs of the album.

Near the end of the album is "One Life," a ballad that seems to directly contradict the emotions conveyed by
"Hot Date." It's this kind of contradiction that defines many great artists and serves as an internal source for
their music. Nicola is no exception. Unlike what the title would imply, the final track "Combustible" is a slow,
almost dreamy interlude in which Nicola's vocal talent is put on full display. Her singing is soulful and elegant
- bringing to a close an album that began in a very different manner.

I think she is great. I moved from NY city to florida. I miss seeing her perform in NY city. Best I can do now is listen to her CD's

She is a very talented lady that I highly recommend to see live. You can at least purchase her recordings now, if you can't see her live. She has such a vibrant energy and you can feel her soul in the lyrics and vocals she sends out to you. Highly Recommend!