Customer Reviews
The woman with the voice 
2005-12-17
I saw Ruthie at the Great Waters Folk festival in Wolfboro NH. She was amazing! After her performance one night I went to buy some CDs. Ruthie's were flying off the table. Despite stacks of them, they were gone in minutes. While looking at others to buy I kept hearing people coming up to the table making the same request, "I want the woman with the voice." Even though there were many much more famous singers there that night, eveyone knew exactly who these customers were looking for. "Sorry, we're sold out and waiting for Fed Ex to bring more. The woman behind the counter told me they sold 1000 of her cd's in one day!
If you grew up in a small country town, or ever wished you did, "Home" will warm and break you heart at the same time.
Do I love every song on this album? No. Doesn't matter. I love Ruthie. She is the real thing. As great as her gift sounds on a recording, it inevitably pales in comparison to her live performances where she shakes the rafters with the clearest, most perfectly on cue singing you ever heard. And when she finishes, after sending chills up and down your spine and leaving you weak from astonishment, she bursts into laughter. Ruthie is pure Joy.
Ruthie Foster shares her soul 
2005-10-25
I've seen her live, I've shared a cup of coffee with her, I've gained inspiration from her because she is lays it out all the time. Runaway Soul captures Foster's incredible soul and voice. We are lucky she is willing and able to share her gift.
Good Yet Different Listening Pleasure 2005-06-21
This woman makes you want to sing along while tapping your toes as a witness to a simple yet grooving gospel, soul, blues tune....Both cds took me for a walk with Ruthie
Kerrville Folk Festiville 2005-04-16
Saw Ruthie at THE folk festival. Phenominal. The CD does a nice job of capturing her voice. But you'll get this CD and then go see her and say, "Wow, I didn't hear that before." Too much depth for digital. But then when you pop that CD back in your player, and the little hairs on the back of your neck will remind you. She has a God-given voice and presence.
Runaway Soul is only the start for her... 2004-11-09
I saw her at a po-dunk town in Rockne, Texas - for a fund raiser- "she moved me" she is awesome - speaks to the soul in all songs - addresses all the emotions which is where folk music is at - emotional, moving, jazzy, dancing music, blues tempo - she HAS IT ALL! She addresses it all! I have all her Cd's - incorporates harmonica, guitar, organ, but nothing outdoes her VOICE! Incredible! She could sing Happy birthday and it would be awesome!
Ruthie Foster, a gem 2008-01-21
I saw her in concert as part of a group of folk song artists and she stood out among them as talented and powerful. I bought this CD the next day. There is an earthiness to her and her songs speak to her experience.
Runaway Soul 2007-11-21
I was very happy with the disc. It was a great price and arrived before it was scheduled.
Ruthie Foster is the BEST!!!!!!! 2007-05-02
Ruthie Foster grabs your soul with this CD all you want to do is play it over and over!!!
MESMERIZING, CAPTIVATING, A SYLVAN RAINBOW OF SONGS 2007-04-15
How breathtaking! I'm listening to it as I write this. I don't know music or much else, but I know what stirs and enchants me and Ruthie Foster has me in her pocket, hole or no hole, from the moment I slipped in the disk and hit 'Play'. A friend burned a copy and gave it to me out of the blue, without preamble, in a stack with some other disks. Period. What a humble introduction for what I'm beginning to think may enter my pantheon of soul-stirring albums without blemish. That would put her in lofty company indeed, by MY lights, at least. Like, Carole King's 'Tapestry', Cat Stevens' 'Tea For the Tillerman', 'Fleetwood Mac', Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' and Meatloaf's 'Bat Out of Hell', to name just a few. I wasn't even sure what her name was at first, since he'd scrawled it on the CD. But I know it now and I'll do my small part to spread it around. THIS woman deserves to be famous. 'Runaway Soul' and Ruthie Foster have that sort of classic quality that just leaps into your heart and your guts and stakes a claim right from the first listening. I regret not having heard her in concert. That must be astonishing. But even from my tinny stereo she makes me cry, clap my hands and strut my flat like a one-man Mardi Gras! By all means, do yourself a kindness, if you love R&B, gospel, soul, or just smoothly polished passion and heartfelt boogie, buy a NEW copy of this CD. Which reminds me, I need to buy one too. This woman also DESERVES TO BE PAID!!!
Exceptional Artist-Outstanding CD 2007-01-10
The music on this CD is moving...emotionally, energetically, compositionally, and humanly. Ruthie Foster's delivery is magnificent and so well complemented by Cyd's rhythm and accompanying vocals. After I first experienced Ruthie perform (she was with Bo Didley in MD) her music was with me and in my soul. She is a treasure. Listening to, or singing along with Ruthie can make your day. Also check out her CD, "Stages" - standout performances by Ruthie and Cyd.
