Anne Murray Album: “Love Song/Highly Prized Possession [Remaster]”

for us Anne Fans who grew up in the beginning of the sixties this records are a real goldmine because my old records arent in good shape anymore im grateful to EMI who give us a chance to buy them again. i like all the material on this cd but please dont sell Nova Scotia must be one of her best songs i love that song... take care Stefan

Here's hoping the folks at Capitol/EMI will consider releasing these great two-fer domestically. LOVE SONG, first released in 1974, was Anne Murray's best album. Even the ever-cynical Robert Christgau praised her cover of "You Won't See Me" as one of the best re-recordings of a Beatles song. And, her understated, elegant rendition of Chip Taylor's "Song of a Rotten Gambler" is a classic. 1975's HIGHLY PRIZED POSSESSION isn't as strong as its predessor. This time around, the Beatles' cover, "Day Tripper," is presented as a bit of ill-conceived, blue-eyed soul. Almost all of the songs feature the tempo and themes of '70s lite rock. Two glorious exceptions: "Please Don't Sell Nova Scotia," an ode to anti-development and environmentalism; and "Uproar," a bit of country funk -- unfortunately, it represents the last town Murray got down and dirty on her recordings. Excellent production by Brian Ahern throughout. These two recordings were they last time Ahern and Murray worked together; he resurfaced a couple years later as the producer and later husband of Emmylou Harris. She, in turn, covered two of the songs on LOVE SONG -- the aforementioned "Gambler" and "Another Pot of Tea."

(Here's a hint...you may be able to find this CD cheaper at Canadian-based CD stores...)

'A LOVE SONG' ~ Murray's 7th L.P. Originally released in 1974.

With every album release Murray out-does herself!

Three songs made the country chart from this album ~ their here and 2 B-sides.

1. Send a little love my way.

2. Love song.

3. Son of a rotten gambler ~ B/W ~ Just one look.

4. (of a previous hit) the B-side ~ 'You won't see me'.

Murray's versatility shows off here in the sweetness of ~ 'A love song' ~

the reflective ~ 'Son of a rotten gambler' and the rockin' ~ 'Just one look'.

'HIGHLY PRIZED POSSESSION' ~ Murray's 8th L.P. Originally released in 1974.

Here's another great set! Only 1 song from this set was a hit ~ it's here & 2 B-sides.

1. Uproar ~ B/W ~ Lift your heats to the sun,

2. (of a previous hit) the B-side ~ 'Dream lover'.

But by now anyone following Anne Murray's career has learned

that aside from what hits you may hear over the air waves ~

her albums are chucked full of quality music.

Here's an all around good C.D. with the Murray touch on the standards 'Dream lover' & 'Day tripper'

to the tender song ~ 'Lullaby' ~ the up-tempo tracks ~ 'Saved by the grace of your love' & 'Uproar'

to the touching ~ 'Highly prized possession'.

This is one of Murray's best yet.

These albums are digitally remastered and have excellent sound.

When I was seven years old, my mother bought me these two Anne Murray albums on vinyl (CD's weren't invented then.) I had very sophisticated tastes in music as a child. I remember what she paid for them too. They were each $3.67! Can you imagine?! I was so excited and my childhood was such a happy place due to Anne's music having always played a part in it. These were my two very first Anne Murray albums. After these, came "Country" and "Talk It Over in the Morning."

What makes these two albums so special is not only the content, but the beauty and diversity in the music. They're both very soulful, yet still maintain an overall "Pop" sensibility with her smooth, rich alto voice so perfectly in place.

"Love Song" is as beautiful as any love song can ever be and is followed by soulful readings of the classic, "Just One Look" and the mega-hit "You Won't See Me," a cover of The Beatles. The most endearing and beautiful song on "Love Song" is "Another Pot O'Tea" with its gorgeous acoustic arrangement and heart-wrenching lyrics: "I'm in love with the Irish accent to your story and I need some sympathy." Also notable here is the torchy and bluesy, "Back Street Lovin'."

The second part of this magnificent two-fer is the latter album, "Highly Prized Possession." The same soufulness prevails but through a more diverse set including the opening remake of Bobby Darin's, "Dream Lover." Other key moments include the stark, moody and magnificent, "Slow Fall" and the gospel-tinged romp and grit of "Saved by the Grace of Your Love." The remaining songs on Highly Prized are where and when things really heat up in the beautiful, folky "Lift Your Hearts to the Sun," the bluegrassy, Country Funk stomper and first single, "Uproar!," the title cut and the pleading closer, "Please Don't Sell Nova Scotia" which addresses Anne's love for her homeland. The background vocalists are extremely soulful here too and they lend to the R&B feel of some of these cuts as well.

No other two-fers in The Signature Series can compare to this one save for the followup which couples 1975's "Together" and 1976's "Keeping in Touch," but even in these, the R&B element isn't so firmly in place and there's a twist of Big Band in the mix. "Highly Prized Possession" is an Anne Murray masterpiece!