Track Listing

1. His eye is on the sparrow
2. (They're gonna be) looking at you
3. Gotta find a way
4. If this is love
5. Love natural
6. The wedding song
7. Future love
8. Return to lake erie
9. Wasting your time
10. All you need is love
11. Reprise
12. Listen to your heart
13. Keep pushin' on
14. Some other time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50748 in Music
• Released on: 2000-04-03
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY MUSIC LOVER!
1. His Eye Is On The Sparrow
Probably we've been too much delighted with Donny's unique way of digging deep inside souls to appreciate this song for what it deserves but I believe Frank's singing on this track is just his voice. Very very similar to Donny's but still his voice.
The timbre of his voice is constant for the whole album so we can't blame Frank for God gave him that voice!
Hey, after all also George Benson took a lot from Donny's singing technique (and not only: if you listen to mid 70's albums by George - like Weekend in LA - you find almost everything of Donny's elements, including essential part of the band members who obviously contributed to define a certain sound: Phil Upchurch above all but I wouldn't be surprised to find bass player and drummer connections as well), yet we don't say he simply copied Donny!
I believe that when it is possible to have great examples of how to sing/write music/play music, everyone should be influenced in the right measure.
That's not simply copying, rather "Keeping Tradition" to paraphrase a Dee Dee Bridgewater's album which I have listened to just yesterday.
Sure, if you are able to develop those influences and go ahead, that's even better!

2. (They're Gonna Be) Looking At You
This track takes me to Donald Fagen's shores although the voice has undoubtly, again, a George Benson's flavour.
The groove is good (great use of a dry snare, in my opinion) and the bass player, we say, has a great "tiro". I don't know how to translate this word 'cause it's even a musician slang expression. Anyway "tiro" comes from "tirare" which is "to pull", "to drag". I mean that the bass player (together with the drummer, in one word the rhythm section, but mostly is the bass) is taking the whole band with him on the rhythm.
I really like the mute trumpet too.
As far as Donald Fagen's connection... go to the bridge. You'll see what I mean

3. Gotta Find A Way
Typical Fagen's tune.
Kamakiriad (sorry for the spelling but I'm trying to remember by memory!).
The track is good but nothing really spacial.

4. If This Is Love (McComb)
Great track and great synth solo a la Larry Williams.
For those who are familiar with George Duke/Al Jarreau stuff go listen A Brazilian Love Affair/Spain/Easy and you'll find lot of similarities.
I haven't read the credits yet but whoever is who plays the solo (very likely Frank himself) he showed to have a great taste and sense of melody.
It's not very common, in a era where everyone is kinda virtuoso, to limit a solo to a few but really well posed notes.
I love solos made up of a few notes when they express so much feelings and emotions.
The Fender Rhodes... this has been one of my favourite sounds ever. So I need to add nothing more but that Frank can really play it.
The harmony is very simple. But this is the beauty of great music.
I wonder what would have been the effect of a Stevie harmonica solo on this track.
We must hope Stevie might be available to some kind of collaboration with artists like him, Omar and - why not? - Craig David.

5. Love Natural
This is another track I like very much. Makes me remember of those Stevie Wonder's sweet melodies with quick change of chords.
It's totally different but I see a connection with "As", but there are elements of many others.
The solo is done good but a special feature is the soprano sax. I would have preferred a solo with sax.

6. The Wedding Song
At first listening this song didn't impress me. Listenable but honestly nothing particular. Then it has became one of my favourite, especially for lyrics.

7. Future Love
If I must say who is in this track... I'd say Joe Jackson!
But the voices still take me on Donald Fagen's neighborhood!

8. Return To Lake Erie
Kinda jazz interlude.

9. Wasting Your Time
Funky tune again. A good track but at this point I'm accustomed to Frank's music style.

10. All You Need Is Love
I love this track for the use of voices.
The choirs seem like arranged from a superior mind (let's say Brian McKnight). Good track.

11. Reprise
No special comment to do.

12. Listen To Your Heart
The track is a bit repetitive and probably weak.
But it's normal that an album at a certain point starts to go down. Also because there must be a quick lift at the end. And in fact...

13. Keep Pushin' On
Musically here is Al Jarreau at the times of Glow/Look To The Rainbow!

14. Some Other Time
Good ending. It leaves me the wish there was another track.
Which indeed exists! There's in fact a hidden track because from 5.55 to 7.03 there's a gap and then another track (still #14!!!)

General opinion:
a very good album. Yes, it has a lot of Donnie/George/Stevie/Donald influences and reminiscences but to be influenced, especially when you admit it, doesn't mean you're copying or covering, simply taking inspiration.
Anyway, I don't mean that the album sounds "dated", old.
I think it's fresh. Not like, let's say India.Arie, but fresh. Sounds are new.

To conclude: I think the album is well played and there are many good moments of music.
Frank hasn't a unique voice [:-)] but he can play (jazz influences and technique shows he has total control of his instrument) and he can sing.
When you add that he is even able to write his own music and that he's very young... well, he has a bright future in front of him and we can surely trust we'll get other good music from him.
It's worth buying it.
General rate: 8/10

bruno striano

AWESOME
As we're living in a time where RnB has become extremely watered down and monotonous, this masterpiece of an album demonstrates that thankfully real soul music is still alive and kicking. It only took one listen of this album for me to purchase it straight away. His musical talent and vocal ability is well beyond his years, and I can bear witness to that after attending his two appearances at the Jazz Cafe. Everybody that attended were amazed and spellbounded by his incredible vocal similarities to the legendary Donny Hathaway, as he took us on a journey through set pieces of the ups and downs of relationships. I'd strongly recommend this album to any true lovers of soul music. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!!

Pure magic
For many years I have been totally disillusioned with the state of the R&B/soul/jazz music scene in general, excepting maybe Jill Scott and the occasional quality release by Angela Winbush or guest appearances by Patrice Rushen. Male vocalists in particular have left me cold, excepting maybe El Debarge.

To acquire this masterpiece has lifted my spirits to a place they haven't been since first purchasing "Innervisions" in 1973 - Frank McComb - you deserve worldwide success - you are a creature of true beauty