Crazy Flower: A Collection

by Chava Alberstein

Overview

"The First Lady of Israeli Song" has confounded her adoring public for over 30 years by singing in Yiddish and advocating peace. But with over 50 albums to her credit, Alberstein has been Israel's musical conscience since she was 17 years old, and was a close ally of slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. This collection gathers her delicate, poetic songs with English translations, each limned with sorrow and lessons learned the hard way. Yet they also ring with optimism, and a hope that the mistakes of the past yield to a greater future for all.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/21/1998
Label:	Shanachie
UPC:	0016351803023
catalogNumber:	8030
Rank:	47412

Tracks

1. You Are a Miracle
2. Chad Gadya
3. The Dove of Love
4. Away
5. Crazy Flower
6. Old Violin
7. The Treasure
8. Like a Wild Flower
9. Song Chases the Darkness Away
10. London
11. A Woman in a Watermelon
12. Amidst My Life
13. Signs
14. Take Me with You
15. I Shall Talk to You
16. Mother Used to Say
17. What Man Is He

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Chava Alberstein   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals

Technical Credits

Gordon Giltrap   Composer
Mark Segal   Arranger
Chava Alberstein   Arranger
Y. Yaacobovich   Arranger
Matti Caspi   Arranger
N. Heiman   Arranger

Editorial Reviews

Chava Alberstein, arguably the premier female Israeli musician (aside from perhaps Ofra Haza), here releases a collection of songs on Shanachie for wider market release. The songs are partially traditional Jewish works, but more often contemporary works. Her voice is rather thick, and, as such, works well to accompany the largely Middle Eastern sound that her music embraces. The songs are all in Hebrew, for the purpose (paraphrasing Alberstein) of exposing the mostly English-speaking audience of the CDs to another language in song than they are generally used to hearing. She attempts to make use of the ancient and holy language in describing more mundane and secular occurrences. It works well, the throaty sound only helping. For someone wishing to look into contemporary Israeli music, this album wouldn't be a bad place to start, with one of the major forces.

All Music Guide - Adam Greenberg