[FM] FAME Review: Sandy Cash's "Exact Change" written by Roberta B. Schwartz

[David N. Pyles]

Exact Change
Sandy Cash
http://www.sandycash.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/sandyc

Muso Productions
Jerusalem, Israel
c2000

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Roberta B. 
Schwartz (rschwartz@oeb.harvard.edu)

All of us have had moments, and sometimes even days, when we question "does 
life have to be so tough?"  It is at these times that we look toward music 
to lift us out of these moods; to take us far away from these dark and 
dispirited feelings.

I wish I had Sandy Cash's CD EXACT CHANGE at hand every time a dark cloud 
crossed my sky.  It is fun, playful, witty and wise.  And it comes from out 
of the land of Israel, proving that acoustic music is alive all over the world.

Sandy Cash has one of those voices that is hard to describe as it dips into 
the alto range,  yet reaches up in to the higher ranges with ease.  She has 
a lovely, expressive voice with a great deal of warmth and color.  She 
sings as if the audience is full of family and friends - as if she knows us 
well.

On her recording EXACT CHANGE, Cash sings nine covers and two of her own 
compositions.  Her themes are down to earth, revolving around family, 
children and the foibles of everyday life.

The opening track, "Nine Gold Medals," is a delightful tribute to the 
Special Olympics, written by David Roth.  It tells the story of how one of 
the young athletes stumbles and falls in a running event, and how the eight 
other runners stop to help him, join hands and finish together.

"Pirates Bounty" is a lullabye penned by Cash.  Beautifully performed with 
voice and accompanying guitar, it is simple and lovely.  There are many 
nice metaphors here about life and how your children often surpass your own 
accomplishments.

One of the standout tunes is a cover of "You're Aging Well" that would make 
Dar Williams proud.

My favorite cut is "Kilkelly," by Peter Jones.  It tells the story of an 
Irish family's hardships in a series of letters beginning in the year 
Eighteen-sixty.  The vocal is very sad and moving, made particularly so by 
Cash's accompaniment on the English concertina. It is almost eight minutes 
in length, but well worth listening to through the last note.   It is the 
highlight of the recording.

Cash also covers humorous songs by Camille West and Cosy Sheridan, as well 
as Lou and Peter Berryman.

Sandy Cash has produced a recording well worth seeking out.  Acoustic music 
is live and well in Israel in the hands of Cash.  The world of music is 
certainly a far happier and funnier place with Sandy Cash in it.

Track List:

Nine Gold Medals/David Roth
Pirates Bounty/Sandy Cash
Bye Bye Future/John Forster
New Toys/Milo Binder
You're Aging Well/Dar Williams
Orange Cocoa Cake/Lou & Peter Berryman
Kilkelly/Peter Jones
Root Canal of the Heart/Camille West
The Star Spangled Banner and Me/David Roth
Car Phones and Airplanes/Cosy Sheridan
Exact Change/Sandy Cash

Edited by David N. Pyles (dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)

Copyright 2000, Peterborough Music Society and Roberta B. Schwartz. This 
review may be reprinted with prior permission and attribution.

=====================
David N. Pyles
acousticmusic.com
P. O. Box 459
Brattleboro, VT 05302-0459
(802) 257-0336 Mon-Thur 9:30am-4:30pm
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames/fame.htm
=====================
some people think they got nothin' to say
they're just wishin the world would go another way
some people need to know the fire burns
in everybody's belly that's ever been born

raise your voice, don't leave it on the ground
raise your voice, let your hair hang down
raise your voice, make a lotta noise
make a whole lotta noise lemme hear the sound
make a whole lotta noise lemme hear the sound

 From "Raise Your Voice" by Tina Lear