And that’s the title of the new CD by Veronica Klaus, her
first in seven years, and to me any CD by her is something cool and very
special.
I first met Veronica in April of 1999 in NYC, at the GLAMA
Awards, where my host Patrick Arena finagled that we be seated at the same
table with her. She was a Presenter that year and was nominated in the Female
Artist category. [Another future friend, Sonia, received that award]. And it
was for Veronica’s debut CD that she earned the nomination. It was called “All
I Want,” and that recording made me a devoted fan.
Patrick and Andy won a GLAMA for their CD "Night Cap"
That CD gave us her signature song, the biographically-inspired
“Black Diamond Days,” as it also displayed many of her own gems, along with her
exquisite taste in material: “Ruler of My Heart” (Irma Thomas), “Remember
Walking in the Sand” (Shangri-Las), “Bye Bye Blackbird,” and many more. It is an album that
if I were to lose it, I would replace it immediately.
In 2005 she gave us “Live at the Lodge,” with more material
to wrap your yen for sultry songs around: “Fever,” “Dark End of the Street,” “Way
Over Yonder,” and a delicious duet with Mark Weigle on “Angel from Montgomery.”
On that one she was returning the favor, as they shared another song, “Jo and
Libby,” on Mark’s 2003 CD “Different and the Same.”
Not a lot of people have this next CD, from 2007, as it was
only available directly from her. One of her very popular shows in San
Francisco was “Family Jewels: The Making of Veronica Klaus,” which was her
story in song and dialogue. I wish I could have seen that show, but grateful
for a copy of the demo CD from it.
I finally got to see her sing live, in San Francisco, in June of 2010, where I
visited for Pride, and she was holding court at Enrico’s.
Update: 6/9/12. So, the new CD is here, and I'm very pleased. I think you will be also.