Track Listing

1. You On My Mind
2. Where In The Wotld
3. Forever Blue
4. Heart For Hire
5. Tainted
6. Waiting Game
7. Precious Words
8. Masquerade
9. Between Strangers
10. The Kaleidoscope Affair
11. Coney Island Man
12. Precious Words (Instrumental)
13. Forever Blue (String Mix)
14. Masquerade (Instrumental)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64716 in Music
• Released on: 2003-07-07
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Album Description
Japanese pressing of the sophisti-pop duo's 1989 album includes three bonus tracks, 'Precious Words' (Instrumental), 'Forever Blue' (String Mix), & 'Masquerade' (Instrumental).

Customer Reviews

Simply Beautiful
I'm embarassed to admit that, quite regretfully, I wrote this CD off after my first listen back in the very early 90's. I loved "Its Better To Travel" and expected (demanded) something similiar. Kaleidoscope World is a vast departure from Better To Travel. My mind was closed. I was hugely disappointed. I took the disc back to the store and exchanged it for something else...

Many years later, I picked up a copy of Swing Out Sister's video compilation, "It's Better To Watch". As I watched videos for "You On My Mind", "Where In The World", "Forever Blue" and "Waiting Game", I thought "Wow, these are great songs! What album were they on and how did I miss them?" DOH! It didn't take me long to solve the mystery! (And, I'm all done kicking myself...)

With great basslines, brilliant instrumentation and spectacular background vocals, every song on Kaleidoscope World is rock solid. I thoroughly enjoy the entire CD. My particular favorites are: You On My Mind, Where In The World, Tainted, Waiting Game, Between Strangers, Coney Island Man and Masquerade (Instrumental). The lyrics on this album are remarkably, poignantly, hauntingly lovesick. Corinne delivers them quite convincingly and with maximum affect. The words tug at your heart and you can't help but wonder what the person who penned those emotions was going through. Although the songs are notably sad and remorseful, this disc is simply beautiful.

Forever Blue
Corrine Drewery is my favorite "girl" singer, and she's does her best work on "Kaleidoscope World". Of course, Andy Connell is the brains behind Corrine's pipes, and the diversity of his arrangements on this album make it one you'll always treasure. This is a true classic in that unique, SOS style. They do 60's pop better than 60's pop ever did it, especially here. The brass and all the orchestration are perfect. For example, the first track,"You On My Mind", is an amazing consolidation of 60's iconic riffs. One brief trumpet solo, repeated several times in the song, is clearly from the 60's James Bond flick "Goldfinger". Corrine's vocals are powerful, clear and sweet.

My favorite track is "Forever Blue" (notice the cover photo shows both Andy and Corrine with blue skin). The tune starts with a harmonica intro that almost reminds me of something from Roger's and Hammerstein's 60's musical "Oklahoma". But then Corrine's vocals start and she is amazing. Her British accent combined with her superb, multi-range alto make me want to play this one over and over. The full orchestration just enhances that 60's sound of perfect June nights with fireflies and just the right breeze. The ending riff, which brings back the harmonica along with the violins is from some instrumental I remember my parents playing from the 60's when I was a child. I've hummed that tune most of my life. And wouldn't you know it, Connell has thoughtfully provided a fully instrumental additional track of "Forever Blue", which is also a joy.

Also worth a mention, as others have, is the "The Kaleidoscope Affair", which could be the theme to a 60's sophisticated spy movie. No, not Bond, or even "Our Man Flint". More like Steve McQueen's "The Sand Pebbles".

The rest of the disk is equally memorable. If you just have one Swing Out Sister CD, this is the one you want.

Great Album!
This review is short and sweet: If you like 60's-style adult-pop sensibilities, then you'll LOVE this album!!! The whole Burt Bacharach/ Jimmy Webb sound is alive and well. You won't be disappointed.