Eva Cassidy - I Know You By Heart From her album Eva By Heart She had such a beautiful voice and her music will live on forever! "Eva By Heart" was released less than a year after Eva Cassidy's death. Other listeners have described Eva's once-in-a-lifetime voice in reviews here (see "Songbird"); I thought people might be interested in hearing a little background to this particular CD, which I learned about from local radio interviews when it was first released in the Washington DC area. Its production was an remarkable labor of love by her producer, Chris Biondo, and the other musicians involved. You would never know to listen to the album, but some of the songs started out with only Eva's voice on tape, and the accompaniment was added in the studio later. For example, Eva's violinist brother recorded the fiddle parts to "I Know You By Heart" and "How Can I Keep From Singing" when he was home visiting Eva in the hospital. The big band musicians in "Blues in the Night" never met in person; they recorded their various parts in the recording studio at different times. The duet with Chuck Brown, "Need Your Love So Bad," sounds as seductive and responsive as can be, but in fact Chuck added his voice after Eva's death, and it took him months because every time he tried, he started to cry. If all this sounds terribly phony and depressing, let me assure you that "Eva By Heart" is actually an uplifting experience, showcasing great songwriting and some of the best vocals you'll ever hear. "I Know You By Heart," the opening song, is a valentine for anyone who has ever loved and lost. Some of Eva's best singing is heard in the gospel numbers "Love Heals the Wound It Makes" and "How Can I Keep from Singing," and Eva's arrangement of the traditional Celtic song "Waly Waly" has a haunting beauty that is enhanced by the imaginative accompaniment of Lenny Williams. Lyrics... Midnights in Winter The glowing fire Lights up your face in orange and gold. I see your sweet smile Shine through the darkness It's line is etched in my memory. So I'd know you by heart. Mornings in April Sharing our secrets We'd walk until the morning was gone. We were like children Laughing for hours The joy you gave me lives on and on. Cause I know you by heart. I still hear your voice On warm Summer nights Whispering like the wind. Oh oh ohha You left in Autumn The leaves were turning I walked down roads of orange and gold. I saw your sweet smile I heard your laughter You're still here beside me every day. Cause I know you by heart, Cause I know you by heart.
