Timi Yuro - I'm a Star Now - Rarities 1956-1982 (2014) RPM - Rare Soul/R&B/Blues/MOR (FLAC 481MB)

This album was Compiled by Timi,s friend Mike Iannarelli, these tracks were previously unreleased tracks at the time and are taken from the singer’s own archives including acetates. So the sound on some of them is not great i,m afraid. If like me your a big Timi Yuro fan This CD is fantastic! None of the twenty five songs had Ever been released before on compact disc. In addition, they range from the middle fifties to the early eighties, from before Timi even had a career,"With All My Heart" was recorded when Timi was only 15 years old! "Drive In Movie", "The First Hurt" and "Bye Bye Little Boy" were demos from 1959-60. "This Is My Song", "Love Is A Wonderful Thing" and "You've Got Your Troubles" were recorded in 1967 in the Philippines. "Gone", "You're Gonna Smile" and "Why Am I Treated So Bad" (1967) partnered Timi with school friend Marshall Leib (from The Teddy Bears). "I'll Belong To You", "Daddy", "Until You Were Gone" and "I'm A Star Now" were made in 1969-70. Also "To Love Somebody", "Feelin’ Alright" and "But I Do" were recorded in 1972, "Ain't Gonna Kiss You" in 1977 and "Words" in 1982 in Europe during Timi's comeback, to when she was hovering on the edge of never being able to sing again. Happily, there were a few years left regarding that, but such a timespan on one CD makes a real change from beginning with the iconic 'Hurt' and stalling at 1962! The songs are a mixture of demos and songs Timi recorded for special purposes, while the background music is sometimes understandably rough, that spine chilling voice makes such startlingly emotional and brilliant performances on such songs as "Until You Were Gone" and "I'm a Star Now" that one can see that they should have been released as singles. The soul just bites through the music. All the songs are greatly enjoyable, and a couple, even to this collector who has heard & Collected practically everything the lady ever recorded, were even new to me! You even get to hear the build-up of one of the songs (Takes 1-6), raw in the studio! True, the sound does vary, as the recordings have been taken from acetates as previosly mentioned instead of master tapes, but there is no other way you will get these songs, that's for sure. In any case, Timi's voice and indomitable spirit always shines through the most fuzzy demo. And the sound gets increasingly better as the CD runs on from the earliest and roughest recordings. Another feather in RPM's cap for this gem of a collector's release and another example of how incredible it was that such a talented artist was not in truth 'a star' THEN. Whilst not for the casual listener, this CD is essential for any fan/collector of Timi Yuro and i,m sure she has many ont there and also on this blog. What attracted me to this album were the mega rare Northern Dancers that were only available as acetates before, listen to the tasters!...Long deleted and seldom comes up for sale, check out Discogs!

AMM 

                                                                                                        The Tasters!