The Why Because by John DeNicola is a revisit of some songs he’s been known for in the past, as a songwriter dating as far back as the 70s who picked up in the 80s by way of efforts which include songs on the Dirty Dancing movie soundtrack being where his work is most prominently known. The release is his debut solo album, but as mentioned, he’s been around for decades so it’s not like this is his first time in the studio. DeNicola is no stranger to the studio and this album deserves top marks for everything on it.
URL: https://john-denicola.com/
The musicians who helped make this a great release are as follows: John Waite and Peter Lewis (Moby Grape fame), as well as his singer-songwriter daughter Arwen Lewis, Mickey Madden (Maroon 5), Glen Burtnick (Styx), bluesman Zonder Kennedy and drummer Brian Delaney. If that’s not impressive, the music does the business without question, beginning with “You’re The Only One” getting the album off to a killer start. DeNicola’s voice has that quality resonation which is undeniably awesome for any lover of truly fantastic melodies you swore you’ve heard somewhere else and in some cases you have.
“Everything You” is where the female vocals of Cassidy Ladden enter the picture early-on and give a vibrance to it all that keeps you steadily interested in hearing where the it proceeds to go. Their voices intertwine with a confidence hard to find, lacking zero rough spots in the entire arrangement of the song. This goes everywhere from folk to pop music and can be appreciated by fans of both. It puts the album under a modern light and keeps it there, and what actually-follows starts to really make a lot sense.
“Hungry Eyes” completely stops you in your tracks for the duration of it, and you’re not just listening to the old Eric Carmen track, you’re hearing it from one of the writers and how he hears it now. My overall take on this is that DeNicola improves the track to my ears, but some great nuances added, and a few things left out. It’s an outstanding upgraded listening experience and I’m not usually a fan of anyone revisiting studio tracks but he’s not on the original so it’s fair. I was- actually-moved by this version, and that is a testament to Carmen I’m not hesitant to publish on-the subject of this song.
“In God’s Shadow” revisits the John Waite slow tune with just as much effort as anything else on The Why Because, with DeNicola shining at his best. But it makes way for a delightful take on the Stylistics “People Make The World Go Around” and it’s like going into a whole other thing. The vocals are where it gets most enlightening because it makes you recon with the force of DeNicola without feeling forced to do so. It’s beautiful as a cover in its own-right and just a must hear for any soul music appreciators. And don’t miss the closing track, because that is where DeNicola takes it full circle with his co-penned classic “I’ve Had The Time Of My Life.”
Jodi Marxbury