East West (Julia Fordham album)
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| East West | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Studio | Ocean Way (Los Angeles) Hybrid (San Francisco) | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | Virgin[1] | |||
| Producer |
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| Julia Fordham chronology | ||||
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East West is the fifth album by the English musician Julia Fordham, released in 1997.[2][3] It was Fordham's final studio album for Virgin Records.[4]
The album was produced by Michael Brook.[5][6] Members of Jackson Browne's band served as backing musicians.[7] Judith Owen played piano on "More Than I Can Bear".[8] James Fearnley played accordion on "I Can Tell You Anything".[9]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [11] |
| Houston Press |  [12] |
| Knoxville News Sentinel | [9] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [13] |
The Washington Post wrote that most of the musical settings "not only subtly highlight the sheer beauty of Fordham's voice, they quietly dramatize the emotional yearning and vulnerability that shapes the album's songs."[8] The Knoxville News Sentinel declared that "Fordham's rich voice is a marvel... She conveys a cool British demeanor, but she is affecting and genuine."[9]
The New York Times thought that, "amid all the talk about 'girl power' resounding in the media, some grown women continue to make lovely, complicated pop music about the ambiguities of maturity."[14] The Dallas Morning News stated that Fordham's "smoldering soprano and confessional songs simmer in a soulful stew."[15] The Houston Press concluded that, "with its tempo locked at a moderate swing and lots of innocuous strumming throughout, it quickly becomes stale."[12]
AllMusic wrote that "Fordham possesses a gorgeous, dusky voice that is reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and Alison Moyet."[10]
Track listing
All tracks written by Julia Fordham, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Killing Me Slowly" | 5:31 | |
| 2. | "East West" | 4:04 | |
| 3. | "Stay" | 4:53 | |
| 4. | "I Want to Call You Baby" | 3:51 | |
| 5. | "My Last Goodbye" | 3:19 | |
| 6. | "More Than I Can Bear" | 3:48 | |
| 7. | "I Can Tell You Anything" |
| 3:36 |
| 8. | "Wishing You Well" | 3:38 | |
| 9. | "Magic" | 2:56 | |
| 10. | "Fat Lady" | 4:55 |