Track Listing

1. Summertime
2. Taking A Chance On Love
3. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby
4. Someone To Watch Over Me
5. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
6. Love That Will Last
7. Meet Me Midnight
8. Sunday Kind Of Love
9. On A Slow Boat To China
10. What A Difference A Day Makes
11. Midnight At The Oasis
12. Sentimental Journey

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12036 in Music
• Released on: 2005-04-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

CD Description
In a bold move that even more experienced singers might think twice about, Renee Olstead opens her self-titled major-label debut with a stark, a cappella verse of Gershwin's melancholy classic "Summertime". Olstead sings with confidence and swings with authority on this set of standards, an astonishing accomplishment for a young lady, who, at the time of this recording, was only 14 years old. Very little indicates that this album is the work of a teenager, and certain vocal touches even bring to mind the bold vocal style of K.D. Lang. The record features big-band arrangements with lush strings, punchy horns, and even a quasi-Swingle Singers backdrop on "On a Slow Boat to China". Chris Botti provides sexy trumpet obbligato on two numbers, and Peter Cincotti joins Olstead on a stellar duet of Neil Sedaka's "Breaking Up Is Hard toDo", rounding out a remarkable first outing by a notable talent.

Customer Reviews

Who Knew? Renee Olstead is the real deal!!
Renee Olstead is the real deal!! Who knew this TV sitcom star had such a great voice? Only 14, this teenager takes a collection of great standards, intermixed with a couple of newbies, and makes them her own. She's a pop singer with a true jazz sensibility that is absolutely intoxicating. One can only hope that her record company will promote her as well as Norah Jones was promoted by her label.

This is a fresh take on titles from the Great American Songbook, with arrangements that match. Her duet with Peter Cincotti on "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" is worth the price of the CD all on it's own! A wistfully done "Someone To Watch Over Me" is equally great. Listen to her renditions of Barry Manilow's "Meet Me, Midnight" or "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" and tell me that you aren't hearing a new singing star being born. This is one terrific CD!

A Real Find
Like the song that was written for her, "A Love That Will Last", Renee Olstead is here to stay. Unless you know that Renee is a fifteen year old, you have no idea that this marvelous voice belongs to a teenager. She sounds so much older in the arrangements, and her voice is so melodic and stylistic. As some would say, Renee has an arranger and conductor and entrepreneur, David Foster, who ensures that this songstress will be her best.

The songs Renee chose to sing are the standards, the songs that we remember being sung by Ella and Diana. My favorite is the song that was written for her by Linda Thompson, "A Love That Will Last". A new song sung by a new voice, but sounding so sultry and defined. "What A Difference a Day Makes", is one of the standards that stands out- a lyrical salute to the oldies. "Summertime" is graceful and lazy and easy. "Is It You Or Is You Ain't My Baby", is one of those songs that has your toes tappin' and your fingers snappin' to the beat. The other songs are the old standards that we all love: "Taking A Chance On Love", "Someone To Watch Over Me", the old Neil Sedaka song, and "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do," Sunday Kind Of Love", "On A Slow Boat To China", "Midnight At The Oasis", and "Sentimental Journey".

This CD is a find; it was a present to me to mark the end of treatment and will always have a place in my heart. This young, fresh voice brings hope and renewal to us all.
Renee Olstead has a future that is bright, and at this young age, she will need guidance and support. She has found this in David Foster. He has assisted in the career of Josh Groban and other young people. This is a CD to be recommended. prisrob

Gorgeous album!
Absolutely fantastic album, I first heard it in Virgin records New York one evening and just HAD to find out who it was.... such a gorgeous sound, so easy to have on in the background, you can't help but sing along to it, and you never tire or get bored of it... just amazing. Can't wait for her next album.