I decided to binge on three Rumer CDs that just arrived. I’ve been a fan of Rumer’s mellow voice for years. Her CDs follow no schedule. They’re released seemingly at random. Let’s start with RUMER: B-SIDES AND RARITIES (2015).
Randomness continues with Rumer singing familiar songs like “Arthur’s Theme” and “Sailing” and “It Might Be You.” I enjoyed “Alfie” and “Moon River.” These classic songs sound new with Rumer singing them. Volume 2 is due to be released next month so I’ll be reviewing that CD in a few weeks. Love the cover! GRADE: A
RUMER: B-SIDES AND RARITIES TRACKLIST:
| Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) | 3:57 | ||
| Dangerous (Bossa Nova) | 4:07 | ||
| Sailing | 4:29 | ||
| Hasbrook Heights | 3:24 | ||
| Come Saturday Morning | 3:14 | ||
| It Might Be You (Theme From “Tootsie”) | 3:20 | ||
| Moon River | 2:33 | ||
| Separate Lives | 3:49 | ||
| The Warmth Of The Sun | 3:21 | ||
| Alfie | 2:53 | ||
| Long Long Day | 3:12 | ||
| Soul Rebel | 3:33 | ||
| Here Comes The Sun | 3:50 | ||
| Marie | 2:41 | ||
| Frederick Douglass | 5:29 | ||
| That’s All | 3:12 | ||
| I Believe In You | 3:05 |
RUMER: LOVE IS THE ANSWER is an EP from 2015. My favorite song on this EP is Rumer’s version of the Hall & Oates hit, “I Can’t Go For That.” GRADE: B+
RUMER: LOVE IS THE ANSWER TRACK LIST:
| 1 | Love Is The AnswerWritten-By – John Wilcox, Kasim Sulton, Roger Powell, Todd RundgrenWritten-By – John Wilcox, Kasim Sulton, Roger Powell, Todd Rundgren | 4:11 | |
| 2 | Being At War With Each OtherWritten-By – Carole KingWritten-By – Carole King | 3:52 | |
| 3 | I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)Featuring – Paul PescoWritten-By – Daryl Hall, John Oates, Sara AllenFeaturing – Paul PescoWritten-By – Daryl Hall, John Oates, Sara Allen | 4:22 | |
| 4 | Be Thankful For What You GotWritten-By – William DeVaughnWritten-By – William DeVaughn | 6:00 |
I’m not a big fan of live CDs, but somehow Rumer and her team managed to suppress any crowd noise and applause–one of things that annoy me about many live recordings.
On RUMER: LIVE AT LAFAYETTE (2021) Rumer sounds relaxed and comfortable singing her set of songs–some new some familiar. The band sounds great and the result is a concert CD that will go into heavy rotation on my CD player. If you’re in the mood for some enjoyable songs sung by a wonderful artist with a great voice, check out Rumer’s work. GRADE: A
RUMER: LIVE AT LAFAYETTE TRACK LIST:
| The Fate Of Fireflies | |||
| Come To Me High | |||
| June It’s Gonna Happen | |||
| Take Me As I Am | |||
| Bristlecone Pine | |||
| Oklahoma Stray | |||
| Aretha | |||
| Learning How To Love | |||
| Play Your Guitar | |||
| You Just Don’t Know People | |||
| Pizza And Pinball | |||
| Sara Smile | |||
| Slow | |||
| Love Is The Answer | |||
| Better Place |
Never heard of her. Played some tracks on You Tube. Nice enough voice but I found her rather boring. Sounds like music you heard while shopping at the grocery store. And I never want to hear any one sing Arthur’s Theme which I hate. Or Moon River which my mother played to death when I was a kid. The Andy Williams version. A man who will burn forever in hell for fostering the Osmonds on us. I’ll pass and put on some Kate Bush instead.
Steve, I turn to Rumer when I need some soothing music. I’ll listen to Kate Bush today, too.
Same here–had to resort YouTube. This is just not for me.
Michael, Rumer is my go-to-singer when I need mellow music. All the death and destruction in Ukraine caused me to turn to Rumer.
Like Steve, I’ve never heard of her before. I don’t love her choice of songs either (now a fan of “Arthur’s Theme” or “Sailing”) so not for me.
Jeff, Rumer sings a variety of songs. I’m not fond of “Arthur’s Theme” but I do enjoy her version of “I Can’t Go For That.”
NOT a fan…
Also in the “never heard of her” group — UNTIL a few weeks ago, when I played TREVOR HORN REIMAGINES THE EIGHTIES, and she did a nice job on “Slave to the Rhythm.” I looked her up on Wikipedia, but didn’t go looking for more of her music to listen to.
Jeff, like you I just experienced a “never heard of her” moment when listened to a Lorie Line CD called OPEN HOUSE. The piano music appealed to me so I ordered about a dozen more Lorie Line CDs!
You are taking a lot of heat for choosing Rumer. I could use some relaxing music so I will ask Alexa to play her.
Patti, I find Rumer’s voice soothing so I think you’ll like her, too. Alexa should have plenty of Rumer music to offer you.
Never heard of her. Also wasn’t I Cant Go For That by Meat Loaf?
Hall and Oates, I believe.
Rick, I think you’re confusing “I Can’t Go for That” by Hall & Oates and Meatloaf’s “I’ll do anything for love but I won’t do that”!
Working in record stores taught me to never criticize anyone’s taste in music. Life is too short and the energy is better spent elsewhere. Beyond that, the solace and joy that music (any music) gives people is too rare and priceless to be petty about. I used to listen to a lot of “difficult” music but the last few years have changed my taste significantly and I crave gentleness and beauty more and more.
Coincidently, I listened to Kate Bush’s HOUNDS OF LOVE album three times in a row yesterday and smiled the entire time.
Byron, I’m a huge Kate Bush fan. I’ll have to listen to HOUNDS OF LOVE, too!
I’ve never heard of her, but I recognized many of the songs. Probably would enjoy them but I really prefer “fast” music.
Have you ever heard of Larkin Poe? A High School friend of mine is a HUGE fan of them (a duo) and he keeps sending links, but the website is restricted and you have to answer questions about them to get in, so I don’t. I’ll be interested in if you know them/or look them up and what you think
Maggie, I don’t know Larkin Poe, but I bet Jeff Smith does.
No, they’re new to me, too.
They were on one of the network chat shows. Pleasant enough, as I vaguely remember.
When you do a daily blog you have to scrape the sides of the bowl for content sometimes! I never heard of her, either, but I hold no animus for her!
Bob, sometimes my blog posts don’t meet with everyone’s approval. That’s okay. I’ll have something new tomorrow to post.
Okay, Maggie, it turns out I’ve heard a little by Larkin Poe. I’ve heard their “John the Revelator”, a traditional song I mostly listen to from Ollabelle, and they were backup singers on the great NEW BASEMENT TAPES album. You can listen to a lot of their music on YouTube, from individual songs to complete concerts, and they’re quite good. Thanks for bringing them to my attention.
I listened to a bit, but not my thing. I confess I’m stuck in the 60s and 70s for most of my music
My friend, former working partner on pubic broadcasting at TV GUIDE, Jeff Gemmill, is fond of Rumer (to say the least). As with Larkin Poe, I’m OK with her music but haven’t sought it out much yet.
https://oldgreycat.blog/?s=rumer
Todd, I’ve been a fan of Rumer since I heard her Seasons of My Soul in 2010.
I’m the Jeff that Todd mentioned above. Like you, I’ve been big fan of Rumer’s since 2010. First saw her in concert in 2011 (at the World Cafe Live in Philly)!with about 50 other fans, before Seasons of My Soul was released in the U.S. (Prior it was only available as an import.) When she’s on, it’s pure magic.
Jeff, you and I are on the same page with Rumer. I find her singing occasionally magical! I can’t wait for Rumer’s Volume 2 of B-SIDES AND RARITIES due to arrive in April! If Rumer shows up in my neighborhood, I’ll go see and hear her!