Album Description

UK box-set featuring 99 tracks that highlight the late jazz icon's career between 1935-49. Backed by small All Starbands under Teddy Wilson's & her own leadership & the moreformal studio bands during her Decca days, Billie turnsevery song into poetry. Includes 56 page booklet with rarepictures, discography & story. Four standard jewel cases housed in a box. 2001. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Better appreciated now than in her lifetime
Nobody sings the blues quite like Billie Holiday. This boxed set represents the best value for money, not only for the quantity of music and the extensive liner notes, but also for the sound quality and the fact that this contains music recorded for several different record labels (Brunswick, Vocalion, Commodore, Okeh, Columbia, Capitol, Decca) between 1935 and 1949. Billie continued to record great music in the fifties (for Verve, Clef and Norgran) but that music is not represented here.

Billie had plenty of hits on the American pop charts between 1935 and 1938 (when she was with Teddy Wilson), after which she had just four more hits, none of them reaching the top ten. However, the passage of time has added substantially to her credibility as many blues, jazz and R+B singers cite Billie as one of their influences. Her first hit was What a little moonlight can do, a song I first came across via a Crystal Gayle cover. I didn't realize the song's origin at the time but I've heard several versions since. I love them all but Billie's is the definitive version.

Billie's other classic hits included here are These foolish things, A fine romance, The way you look tonight, I can't give you anything but love, I've got my love to keep you warm, This year's kisses, Carelessly (her only number one hit), How could you, Moaning low. Mean to me, Easy living, Me myself and I, Sailboat in the moonlight, Nice work if you can get it, My man, You go to my head, I'm gonna lock my heart, Strange fruit, God bless the child and Trav'lin' light. Some big hits are omitted including Twenty-four hours a day, Who loves you and Pennies from heaven, but I'm not complaining. Some of the songs that Billie is best remembered for didn't chart at all.

Although the hits became rare after 1938, this was not due to the quality of the music. Listen to Billie's versions of such classic standards as I gotta right to sing the blues, Night and day, Body and soul, Let's do it, All of me, Love me or leave me, It's a sin to tell a lie, As time goes by and You're my thrill (to name a few). And, of course, there's the classic That old devil called love, revived by Alison Moyet in the eighties, when it became a UK number two hit for Alison.

If you only buy one collection of Billie's music, make it this one. You might begin by asking yourself if you really want five hours worth of Billie's music - but eventually, you are likely to ask yourself if it's enough.

Ditto!
Great sound quality, great packaging, great liner notes and booklet. 4 discs, 99 songs, 21 bucks. How can you beat the value?

It sure beats any other "best of" out there. Why save $6 to get one disc with 10 to 20 songs. (And unlike the Ken Burns collection, the songs on this box set sound great).

Most, if not every, Holliday song on every label released between 1935 to 1949. Now you've got the early to mid (and in many people's minds, the best) recording eras of Holliday covered.

Buy it as an introduction to Lady Day. Keep it as a collector.

PROPER does it again...
For the price, this is as good a collection of Billie Holiday's early material (for some, the ONLY Billie) as there is out there. Almost all of the essential recordings are included - Brunswick, Vocalition, Decca, Columbia, and Commodore - and the presentation includes a great booklet with photos and information. Proper is in the process of putting together and releasing some of the best American music - both jazz and other-wise - in stunning compilations with great presentations. Look for more of them.

THE LEGACY IS THERE
Maybe for today's crowd,four cds of BILLIE HOLIDAY in her greatest years can be hard to digest.Don't feel sorry for yourself,because sooner or later,if you have any interest in jazz singing,this PROPER box set will do the trick.Don't listen to this only once,repeating listenings are recommended to have you hooked on BILLIE.The musicians who played on these famous sessions are among the finest of the era.Even if you don't look at the credits,one can easily know when LESTER YOUNG is soloing,his economical solos always hit home.Be aware that this is the thirties and the forties, when conductors were not stars the way they will be in the fifties.Many will find that all the songs sounds the same.While there is some truth to that,you've got to figure out the contect of these recordings to fully appreciate them.Maybe i seem to act like an history teacher reviewing this,if so i am sorry.BILLIE HOLIDAY has inspired countless singers that came after her who often recorded tribute albums.

One of the Best Kept Secrets in Recorded Jazz
If you haven't purchased one of Proper Record Company's extraordinary jazz boxes, you don't know what you're missing; and this release, THE LADY SINGS, is the best of the bunch. For the past few years, Proper has researched and assembled the most critical recordings by leading jazz performers from the first half of the last century, and packaged them in four-disk sets with extensive booklets that actually have something new to say -- all for a super, super budget price. Their remastering is so skillful, recordings such as Billie Holiday's here --stand up to the best remastering efforts of Decca and Sony. The richness and value of this collection -- as with other Proper Boxes from the UK -- are simply extraordinary. From her affecting Brunswick recordings of the early 1950's with Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra to her sides with Decca, Commodore, Columbia and Vocalion, Holliday's accompanists read like a Who's Who of classic jazz. Lester Young. Ben Webster. Roy Eldridge. Kenny Clarke. Benny Goodman. Milt Hinton. And some of her most celebrated material is here. God Bless the Child. My Old Flame. Gimme a Pigfoot. Lover Man. As Time Goes By. I Hear Music. I Can't Get Started. Almost 100 songs, flawlessly restored and a far better value than expensive sets such as the new Sony compilation, Proper's BILLIE HOLIDAY: THE LADY SINGS is simply a pleasure. It's great music to listen to by a roaring fire. Wonderful to play after a long, hard day.
Good anytime you need a lift. Strongly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With her combination of jazzy cool and kittenish charm, it's probably safeto say that JessicaMolaskey has entered the realm of "phone book singers," i.e., those whoyou'd pay to hear vocalizing anything.As anyone who remembers her "Stars and the Moon" from Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World knows, Molaskey made her name in musical theater, and it's those roots she returns to in Make Believe after her previous solo albumscovered the Depression eraand '50s jazz.That includes chestnuts like "All That Jazz," which though familiar and obvious, still sound great, and representations from Broadway's new generation: Adam Guettel duets on Rodgers and Hart's "Glad to Be Unhappy," Brown arranges a frenetic combination of the Lambert Hendricks and Ross favorite "Cloudburst" and Stephen Sondheim's "Getting Married Today," and Ricky Ian Gordon cowrote with Molaskey "Cradle and All."As usual, husband-guitarist John Pizzarelli accompanies and vocalizes on a couple tunes, and Sondheim's gorgeous "So Many People" is another highlight. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Amazon.com

Whereas Paris Combo's self-titled debut leaned heavily on cabaret chic, Living Room sees them broadening their palette considerably, the sign of a band with more experience and a strong sense of adventure. So while sensuous limpid chanson remains their home turf, they also venture into the tortuous turns of "L'Avenir Uncertain du Titanic" and the North African-inflected "Mobil'homme." Potzi's guitar work is dazzling, influenced by Django Reinhardt, while the shadow of the legendary Hot Club of France--with its swing and subtlety--looms over the entire repertoire. Apart from being an excellent pianist, David Lewis has matured into a trumpet player of taste, adding gorgeous Miles Davis muted touches that veer songs into pure jazz while vocalist Belle du Berry imprints her personality everywhere. Living Room sees Paris Combo moving well beyond their origins, a band that continues to impress by growing by leaps and bounds. --Chris Nickson ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Great playful inventive music and lyrics!
i stumbled on this group about a month ago (4/01) while listening to french radio over the internet brushing up on my french. their inventive musical style and polished sound takes you to a higher musical plane. you don't have to know french to enjoy their music, but it would help in understanding the quirky lyrics. belle du barry has an exceptional voice that's backed up with a first rate group. they're back in the u.s. & canada starting in september (2001) and i'm definitely going to see them! ....

Review From The Distributor in Malaysia.
I Find this band truely eclectic in their approach to many styles of music including jazz itself,which is embodied in a contrasting way on this cd.Slight taste of tango,sprinkled with some Valse sounds that roll up with bebop and beyond.You dont really have to understand the french lyrics to enjoy the music,thats the best part.I am not saying this because i distribute it in malaysia, lets get something cleared,...Malaysia is Malaysia,but music is always music!!.

Fun at a party or alone
I really enjoy this CD for a fun loungy sound when I'm not in the mood for mainstream music. I would say if you like Pink Martini, you could well like this one.

Living Room
Adult music! That's what Paris Combo is. It's music for adults. It's sophisticated, it's refined, it has history, it has mystery. It's good, it's interesting. there's absolutely nothing juvenile about it and that's why I like it! Although I would love it if it had a good, strong base beat that made it easy to dance to.

Their best so far.
This is definately the best Paris Combo cd out there that I've heard. Sure "attraction" is a great cd, but it is just not as good as "Living-Room". The cd is in French and how can you go wrong? ... Read more

Album Description

Conscious is the long awaited follow up to Julie Dexter’s Peace of Mind and Dexterity which combined have sold over  40,000 copies in their limited release. A dynamic singer/songwriter /composer and producer hailing from Birmingham, England, Julie’s artistic passions flow in her latest effort, an insight to her muse on love, trust, and the plight of perseverance. Blending the signature brand of meditative funk and soul from label mate Michael Johnson with  her jazzy reggae vocal stylings,   together they have produced Conscious. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Quite good, but...
The music is great and the setting is intimate, but Bobby Short's delivery ocassionally annoys me. He has a tendency to break into an abrupt piercing warble and his phrasing seems choppy to me. It's not enough to ruin the album, but it can be distracting.

Bobby Short at His Best
Owning nearly all of Bobby Short's albums, this is the one I play the most. I love his style! He recorded at an actual preformance which added more intimacy to the of the album.

Agree!
There cannot be a better night of classic American music than a Bobby Short gig at the Carlyle.

SUBLIME!
This is Short at his best. There's no brass section to drown out his voice or his piano, and you can hear the audience at the Cafe Carlyle react to his performance. Short's interpretation, along with Beverly Peer's and Robert Scott's, never gets stale. You can listen to this CD a hundred times and hear new aspects each time. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One of France's greatest singers
Probably the greatest, most celebrated -- and most tragic -- of the French popular "chanson" singers. Piaf was celebrated for having come, indisputably, from "the people", having been born the child of a prostitute, and having been abandoned by both her parents while still an infant. In 1935, at the age of 19, she was discovered by a nightclub owner who both built her popular image and got her a recording contract. Her popularity swelled during the War, and her song "La Vie En Rose" became a standard during the German occupation of France. After the war, Piaf's glamour became torn by ongoing hardships and substance abuse (which, in turn, enhanced the tragic elements of her legend...) This CD sticks pretty strictly to her earliest stuff, from the '30s and '40s; it includes her first big hit, "Mon Legionnaire", but omits "La Vie En Rose" and "Non, Ne Je Regrette Rien", which are her two best-known works. The tinny, Jazz Era sound of these early songs may be less accessible to listeners who are more familiar with the emotionally torturous (and more warmly recorded) material made at the time of her postwar tours of America, many of which are highly prized by her fans.

Her best years-her best voice aand songs
I am French and was born in 1949, her songs played on the radio day and night when I was a child and even then I could tell the difference in her songs and in her voice. Post 1950 is out for me , she bears the weight of her years and her songs after 1950 -like Mylord (not charismatic praise song by any stretch of the imagination) became sad and depressing- So I suggest that this period and this CD contain her best songs , her voice was THEN coined "the voice of the sparrow" and is fresh and clear , her songs are the best and she carries them with the emotion you heard in Private Ryan. A very good buy.

A great collection of Piaf's earlier works...
This CD is Edith Piaf at her best... I love many of the songs on it - I would single out "C'est Lui Que Mon Coeur A Choisi" and "L'Accordeoniste" as being two of my personal favorites. This is a must for any Piaf fan...

With all due respect to the person who posted below about "Cannibal Corpse", I don't think we're talking about the same Edith Piaf, and I thought I might clear it up here to avoid any confusion for anyone else. The Edith Piaf I'm talking about, and the one who sings the songs on this CD, is a Parisian singer who has been dead for nearly 40 years (b. 1915 d. 1963). Your Edith Piaf is a different person, I think, because you said that she left "Cannibal Corpse" in 1991. My Edith Piaf, and the one who sings the songs on this CD, left this earth and went to heaven in 1963.

Anyway, thought I'd clear it up - No offense intended...

Edith Piaf is one of the best
This is the best Edith Piaf CD i have listened to.... 1935-1943 was a great time period for music ... Read more

Amazon.com

Cole Porter's songs have long enjoyed a special place in Bobby Short's repertoire, but this set gives additional luster with fine fresh arrangements by Short, guitarist Howard Alden, and tenor saxophonist-conductor Loren Schoenberg, among others. Short is the ideal artist for Porter's songs, and it's more than mere respect for lyrics and his meticulous diction and musicality. He seems to live inside Porter's world, with its archly comic sophistication, its ambiguities, and its suddenly pointed insights. Above all, Short is able to find the subtle emotional tones that these songs require to be fully realized, the celebratory with hints of losses past and to come, the wistful knowledge that experience must be seized to be savored. The accompaniments range from Short's piano through duets with Alden or bassist Frank Tate to a fine small group and a big band, and along the way there are particularly good solo contributions by Alden and trumpeter Virgil Jones. Amid the sentiment there are two of Porter's witty list songs. "You're the Top," with its manic inventory of all things good and beautiful--Mahatma Gandhi, Mickey Mouse, Pepsodent, Jimmy Durante's nose--is spirited, while "Can-Can," another inventive inventory--"If an elm and an oak and an ash can, Baby, you can cancan too"--is delivered with broad humor and sly insinuation. Short is the ultimate cabaret singer; his art is timeless rather than nostalgic. --Stuart Broomer ... Read more

Reviews (2)

For everyone who deserves to hear Cole Porter done right
I have no experience with the nightlife of Gotham let alone hearing Bobby Short perform Cole Porter songs at New York City's Cafe Carlyle during the last half-century, but I certainly remember the impression the man made in Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters." I remember Allen's character bitterly informing his disastrous date "You don't deserve, Cole Porter," and certainly the exact opposite is the case with Bobby Short. It is hard to find a lyricist who can compete with Porter, whether it is the simple lyricism of "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" or when he literally floods a song with sophisticated and witty rhymes like in "Can-Can." Clearly words to Porter are playthings, albeit sophisticated toys of the highest order. Listen to this album and it is no wonder Short is considered by many to be Porter's foremost interpreter. Just compare the intimacy of Short's rendition of "I've Got You Under My Skin" with Frank Sinatra's brassier version and see if you do not exhibit a preference for the former. The arrangements of these songs offer some nice changes of pace, where a trumpet might be featured on "I Love You, Samantha," or a guitar on "You're Sensational," and then "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" is basically short on piano with the bass player, not exactly an obvious pairing on instruments on that particular song. Whether you come to this album from an affection for the smooth vocal stylings Bobby Short or a love of Cole Porter, please cross-pollinate accordingly and continue to let your love of sophisticated music grow.

NOTHING BEATS SHORT SINGING PORTER
Bobby Short has to be the leading Cole Porter interpreter today. It's hard not to think of Short and not picture him singing Porter. As for Cole Porter he is simplely the GREATEST composer that ever lived. In my opinion. I never heard Short sing some of the songs on this album and was wondering when he would record them. For instance "What Is This Thing Called Love" which is a or should I say WAS a very popular song. There's something extra here in this album,Short now works with a orchestra. Also he has Howard Alden playing his great guitar. I happened to hear Alden in the movie "Sweet and Lowdown". Short once again makes a great album. If your a fan of Cole Porter's music or Bobby Short...YOU HAVE TO GET THIS! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Diana Krall, here with her first GRP album, expands on the delights that populated her 1992 debut, Stepping Out. Again, her talents are simply remarkable: she sings with feeling, emotion, and nuance--she invests a lyric with believability--and plays marvelous piano, no matter the tempo. The program pleases on so many levels: slip the disc into the player, hit any track at random, and you'll be moved. Take the oh-so-slow, heartfelt groover "Squeeze Me," on which her alto is both breathy and demonstrative and her accompaniments are sly, and which features a winsome solo by bass maestro Ray Brown. On another gut-wrenching crawler, "All Night Long," Krall tears you up with her emotive, intimate vocal, interspersing her singing with telling, shimmering piano notes, then delivering a solo full of wry confidences. The succulent title track is a deliciously slow bossa where Krall's vocal is partly whispered, as if sung in your ear. More upbeat is the finger-popping "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby," where the artist sings with grit and life then solos with an economical drive. Tenor saxophone giant Stanley Turrentine adds a trademark saucy improvisation. "I Love Being Here with You" is a romping shuffle where Krall's voice hits some notes on the head and stretches others like pulled taffy. "Broadway" is another vibrant outing that includes a singing, fat-noted solo from bassist Christian McBride and Lewis Nash's deft brush work. Aces all around. --Zan Stewart ... Read more

Reviews (24)

You Can Trust Diana
When I first bought Diana Krall's, "Only Trust Your Heart", I gave it one or two listens and then put it away being not too impressed. Then about a year later I saw her in concert where she opened with a tune called "I Love Being Here With You". I couldnt figure out at the concert, where this energetic little opener had come from. It turned out to be on the before mentioned CD. I gave "Only Trust Your Heart a relisten and I realized, what a wonderful jazz album it really is.I think the reason I like "Only Trust Your Heart" is because it sounds so unlike Diana's other albums. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Ms.Krall and her other albums.I love that smokey, honey-tinged voice and her wonderful piano stylings. But on this particlar album, rather then her usual sexy whisper, she seems to belt them out with a roar.Also her band seems more at the forefront of the production including a very sassy turn by veteran sax player, Stanley Turentine.There are plenty of song stand outs including "Is You or Is You My Baby" and "I've Got the World On A String."A special mention should be made also for the lovely ballad "Folks Who Live On the Hill." This is a really good jazz CD, that grows on you after a few listens.

A real jazz album
Whatever you may think of Diana's more recent crossover music (which I think is brilliant), this early album demonstrates clearly that her music is rooted in jazz. There is no crossover here - it's pure jazz. Diana sings and plays piano, backed by a small but select band comprising a bass player (sometimes Ray Brown, sometimes Christian McBride), a drummer (Lewis Nash) and a ten saxophonist (Stanley Turrentine).

Like so many of Diana's albums, this one relies heavily on songs from the first half of the twentieth century, beginning with Louis Jordan's classic Is you or is you ain't my baby. Other classic songs featured here include Squeeze me (Duke Ellington) and two songs associated with Peggy Lee (I love being here with you, The folks who live on the hill). The only original is the closing bluesy instrumental, CRS craft.

This is a fine album that will particularly appeal to jazz aficionados. It may even expand the market as fans of Diana's later music learn to appreciate jazz. But some of those fans may not like this - if in doubt, listen to some of it before buying.

WOW !!!! Diana Krall made me do something unusual !!!
What can I say? Diana is making me buy an entire album and this is the first time that I am buying albums as Christmas gifts. I am giving her album and Micheal Duble's self titled album to my closest friends. I send gifts that are high quality and thoughful gifts that I would personally enjoy (Just in case they are sent back). Both albums are kick ***, making this a banner year. All this and QE on Bravo TV! Color me happy!

Stanley and Diana
Oddly, little mention in the customer reviews of Stanley Turrentine's presence on the recording. It's what makes this album different from --and hotter than --any other of Ms. Krall's fabulous work. Example: No doubt about it --Diana and the band supremely cook on the song "I Love Being Here with You" from her latest Paris live recordings. But on this version, Turrentine's tenor sax steers the tune up the onramp and into overdrive. He's jazzy enough to be interesting but stays sane and faithful to the melody. Which matches Diana's musical style, I think. But whether it's Stanley Turrentine, Ray Brown, Christian McBride, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, etc., it's testament to Ms. Krall's ability to attract and lead such superb associates. And at such a tender age, though she was no overnight sensation at this point, having played professionally since her teens.

Still, one of my favorites cuts on the CD is saxless: the dreamy "All Night Long." Diana's lilting piano solo and sultriness interpret the plaintive mood of the piece perfectly.

Her three subsequent recordings are maybe a little more softened and refined. That's not at all a bad thing, but I tend to listen more to this CD, its predecessor, "Stepping Out" or the two recent killers "The Look of Love" and "Live in Paris." "Only Trust Your Heart," among all her recordings, is Diana at her most muscular, both vocally and instrumentally. Even on the slower pieces she reaches decibel levels more likely to be heard only in her concerts. Maybe it's Turrentine's influence. In any case, it's just nice to hear Diana prove that she can belt 'em out.

So this is where it all started....
...and you can tell she had some work to do on her lyrics, but regardless, there are some great tracks on here worth checking out if you're a Diana fan:

is you is...
only trust your heart
broadway
squeeze me
all night long

they're soft songs perfect for the winter months and curling up next to a fire and listening to....no "smooth" jazz here, just nice sounds and soft piano. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Jane's a total revelation, but the liner is a mess of errors
Well, let's start with the good news, namely that the remastering job is, well, masterful. These cuts off of Olivor's Columbia recordings are a revelation, even for those of you/us who are longtime fans. Words, sounds, etc. which were never clear before (either on LP or on CD) are finally present and fully realized. Whether you've heard all of these songs before or whether you're a new listener, these cuts are just jawdroppingly good. One can simply imagine the amazement of the people in the booth during the recording of "Some Enchanted Evening" as it's quite simply one of the finest recordings of the 20th or 21st century. Whether this CD is really the "Best" (even from a quasi-greatest hits stance) of Jane Olivor is debatable, but it's SO good and SO much better than the previous releases. So, everyone in the world should buy this CD, see caveats below.

On the other hand, I'd bet Olivor had nothing to do with this rerelease -- witness, in the liner notes, the use of her former name not once, but twice, a name she has long since distanced herself from, and probably a Sony jab at her. (Some other factual errors exist too in the liner notes as Jane had returned to performing by 1990, and was already doing big concert halls again by 1993).

The liner credits are pretty much a total mess. First off, does producer Jason Darrow have a longlost evil twin, "James Darrow" (listed as a producer on the back, on the inside and as specific producer for "Vincent" off of FIRST NIGHT)? (Does anyone proofread anything? Wouldn't someone say, "hmmmm, isn't it a bit weird there's a "James" AND a "Jason" Darrow producing on the same release? Apparently, not). Second, Michael Masser did NOT produce the cut "The Best Side of Goodbye" -- uh, Jason Darrow did (I'm guessing "James" was unavailable). Third, the unlisted Jack Gold produced "Last Time I Felt Like This." Fourth, NO one is given any producer credit for the cuts off STAY THE NIGHT; again, that would be Jason Darrow.

One can picture the meeting around the Sony/Legacy tables -- "look kids, this Olivor has released her SAFE RETURN concert CD/DVD, which has all of the good songs from her Columbia years, and she's getting royalties! Get some release out now to compete with that! Oh, and point out a couple of times she used to be Linda Cohen too!" Oh, and I really love the enormous FBI warning on the back of this CD about piracy and royalties -- especially since the battles between Olivor and Columbia have been well-publicized. Maybe she's finally, through this release, getting a nickel or two from the money she's earned them over the years, and I'd be pleased to hear that, but whether that's a reality.......

I certainly agree with the reviewer below: Columbia/Sony/Legacy needs to rerelease Olivor's full recordings, remastered, with bonus tracks, and with accurate, proofread liner notes. Her recordings for them are too important to be ignored, and there simply has to be more material in the vaults for release.

I have to mention another unsung hero, and that's the original engineer on the Jason Darrow produced cuts (including the Masser-attributed "Best Side of Goodbye") by the name of Michael DeLugg. DeLugg really knew how to place Jane's voice in the mix, and to give her voice some space around it; his engineering on Olivor's Columbia years served her extremely well.

I'd give this 5 stars, but Legacy's sloppiness is too rampant to warrant that. Why do they put people who know nothing about an artist in charge of a release like this?

GOOD, BUT COULD BE BETTER WITH RARITIES
Granted this is the first US remastered Best Of for Jane Olivor, as the only other "Best Of" type recordings were her "Enchanted Evening" LP issued in Australia (with the best album sleeve photos), and the budget-line CD "So Fine". This collection would've had 5 Stars from me if it weren't all the same songs previously released on the Columbia LPs/CDs from 1976-82. There are a couple of rarities that could've been included, and gratefully, one that was.

First of all, "Some Enchanted Evening" was issued as a single close to the release of Jane's second album "Chasing Rainbows". When I purchased that album in 1977, a bonus one-sided while label 45 single was included of a different version of "Some Enchanted Evening" vs. the album version from "First Night". A regular 45 single was also issued with that same single version, which is mostly piano background. The next rarity is the single version of "He's So Fine from "Stay The Night". The single version has a different inflection on the lyric in the middle of the song. Using these two versions over the overly released album versions would have made this collection a "must" for all Jane fans. The saving light is the inclusion for the first time on any Jane collection/album of the wonderful duet with Johnny Mathis of "The Last Time I Felt Like This".

With Jane's resurgance to the concert arena and a devoted following, I hope that all 5 original Columbia albums will go through a superb remaster & add these other rare tracks as bonuses, in addition to expanding the Jane Olivor In Concert CD to include more of or the entire concert vs. the tracks that were only placed on vinyl, with one track "We Go Where There Is Love" possibly being a studio insert. Columbia/Legacy really needs to do some digging & give Jane's releases the polishing and release they deserve. This "Best of" is a start, with a great set of photos. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Voice, Great Music
I had the identical experience as the previous fellow. I watched the movie "The Trouble With Charlie" and was completely taken aback and intrigued by the Charles Aznavour tunes playing in the background. Although somewhat familiar with French cafe music, I must admit that I had never heard of this guy. All I can say is that after buying this CD I have become a fan for life. This is romantic music at it's best, the kind you want to play afterhours with your arm around your lady and a single malt in your hand. Utterly charming and uplifting, rendered by a master at the top of his game.

What is he singing about??
Recently I saw the movie "The Truth About Charlie".. the movie was just okay.. but there was this older gentleman singing throughout the movie.. and his name is Charles Aznavour.. I had never heard of this guy but there was something about his voice that was amazing.. I did some "Internetting" and decided that this was the CD to buy.. I believe I made a fine choice.. I have no idea what he is singing about because it's all in French.. but it doesn't even matter.. This guy can sing.. I also ordered a CD on which he sings in English.. I can't wait to hear it.. There is a duet with Edith Piaf.. I need to do some research on her too... so much music to discover.. I'm very glad I've discovered Charles Aznavour.. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Historic Sounds
If you are here reading this you have been doing some home work. I bought this a few weeks ago and it is very good if your into the twenties. This cd has led me to seek out full cd's by some of these artists. My personal favorites are Ruth Etting,Annette Hanshaw and Libby Holman. The cd is well done the sound quality is very good. I was starved for new music and this is all new to me. Fun stuff.

A Good Compilation of Famous and Obscure Artists
I had this record years ago on a cassette which I bought from a mail order bargain house in the days before internet shopping. It was one of my favorite compilations of music from this era because it had an excellent choice of songs, as well as a good mix of famous and obscure artists. I lost that cassette long ago (cassettes always had a way of getting lost) and despite all hope, I never found it again, but here it is on CD, and if you like 1920's vocal styles, this is an excellent collection for your collection.

The famous artists, like Annette Hanshaw, Marion Harris and Ruth Etting are here with good selections, and their work speaks for itself. But check out some of the unknowns, like Jane Green's enthusiastic version of "I'm Gonna Meet My Sweety Now", Esther Walker's "You Gotta Know How To Love Them" and, especially Margaret Young's "Red Hot Henry Brown", one of the wildest vocal performances of the era. For fans of early talky musicals, there's Paramount's resident soubrette Zelma O'Neal; Lilian Roth, doing "Why Am I So Romantiic", her song from the Marx Brothers film Animal Crackers; and the Brox Sisters, a now forgotten act who helped Cliff Edwards introduce "Singing In The Rain" to the world in MGM's "Hollywood Revue" off 1929. The best thing on the record may be Sophie Tucker's "If Your Kisses Can't Hold the Man You Love", which, tho recorded in the 20s, sounds like it belongs to a previous era, but which nevertheless has some of the greatest, and funniest, lyrics ever written.

An altogether excellent collection, one that's very entertaining, and, in these days of MP3 players and CD recorders, one from which you can pick your favorites if there are a few selecctions you don't like.

I love this music
This is great old stuff, even my 4 year old daughter loves this cd! Her constant request is to hear "Dangerous Nan McGrew"!

These gals are horny!
Whoa! I just don't know how to express how GREAT this CD is! Each singer has her own distinct personality and voice (no, they are not ALL squeaky!). And all these broads sing very frankly about "Hot" men, necking, petting and cheating. Yes, when I heard Sophie Tucker say "If you find your husband is cheating, go out and do the same old dear" I gasped. After all, "That's what God made sailors for!"

Another singer who stands out is Margaret Young. If she were performing today, she'd definatly be doing hip hop music. She sings about "Red Hot Henry Brown" like her loins are on fire!

All in all, every song on here is a gem. The period recordings and the surface noise just add to the feeling. If you like anything 20's, I suggest this CD!

Life is a Bowl Full of Cherries
How can anyone NOT love this sort of historical music? What some of these reviewers who complain about the "squeaky" voices, background noise, and unintentionally funny lyrics misunderstand is that this sort of music MUST be placed in the cultural context of the era in which is was meant to be heard.

These sorts of songs and singers emerged after the entire world was recovering from the horrors and brutality of World War I--a war in which an entire generation (20 million) of young men was killed. These people wanted fun, fun, fun: "Four Wheels, No Brakes" and "Hey Chicken, Here's Your Roost"! The age of youth and consumer culture hit the scene and the United States hasn't looked back! After all, this was the era in which "dating" emerged. Previously, people engaged in courting on front porches. But now, young people's romantic activities moved from the front steps to the back seat!

So maybe the sound is raw, the singers do squeak, and the lyrics seem nothing more than "cute." But this music certainly can't be labeled old-fashioned and in no way is it "innocent." This music is a testament to the times; these songs and singers' styles are historical cultural documents. Have fun with it like the co-eds, flappers, flivvers, and racoon-coated ukulele-toting collegiates did! Our times aren't so very different from theirs.

~~23 Skidoo~~ ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tony Bennett has a typical lack of effusiveness about the kudos of his seven-decade career, but he does reportedly display an inscribed picture from a longtime colleague and fellow saloon singer in his Manhattan apartment. It reads: "To the best goddamned pop singer I've ever heard." It's signed "Frank Sinatra." But don't take the Chairman's word for it. Just listen as these two discs bound from one masterly performance to the next, documenting a career whose ups and downs--Bennett actually went long years without a record contract--belie a robust evolution of vocal strength and subtlety of phrasing. The arc of Bennett's art in the decade from "Cold Cold Heart" and "Rags to Riches" to "The Best Is Yet To Come" and his signature "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" is remarkable enough, but it just keeps getting better. When the singer's management shrewdly orchestrated his MTV-powered "comeback" in the late 1980s and '90s, Bennett delivered considerably more than mere hype. Indeed, the highlights of those efforts (a warm, semi-autobiographical collection of ballads; tributes to Sinatra, Astaire, Ellington, and the blues; the obligatory MTV Unplugged set) included here barely skim the surface and arguably warrant a double-disc collection all their own. Still, the 39 tracks here represent the best kind of anthology: one that leaves you craving more. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (8)

C'mon kids, try something new, er, maybe old......
He's "the best goddamned pop singer I've ever heard" too, and I'm in my early thirties. This is great music.

i wanna be around
when i was a little kid, dad brought home a 78 record of tony singing "stranger in paradise" (which as i understand it, the melody is from rocmoninoff (sp) it was his favorite. tony was a staple in our home. as i grow older, well, it seemed he was talking to me. after being "dumped", there was the perfect "i wanna be around", and who amoung us men wouldn't like to be there when your ex lover gets what you got. (not really enought of those kinds of songs around) and the reason i bought this title "when joanna loved me" (just put in the woman's you loved once)....if your not moved by this one......buy this one, you need to....

5 Stars, Plus!
Having been Tony Bennett fans since were "kids" (for over 50 years), my husband and I agree that this is a great representation of Tony's musical career. Also, what a wonderful experience it is to hear excerpts from this album played on radio. Not only does this compilation please & delight the long-time fans, but it also introduces the younger generation to what good music really means. The tone & timbre of his voice, selection of the best tunes and superb delivery make this man a legend and an American Treasure.

Another anthology???
I am a huge Tony Bennett fan. I especially like his jazz albums and backup groups. Pianist Ralph Sharon so often sets the tone, I cannot imagine Tony without him. There are so many Greatest Hits anthologies out there. Columbia first issued the superb "Jazz" compilation, and the "Forty Years" 4-CD collection. All other anthologies are pointless, especially since his newer material is still widely available. Next, in rapid succession, have come "The Ultimate" and now "The Essential", replicating many tracks. Some of Tony's best albums have yet to be released in their entirety. What about "When Lights are Low," named by biographer Will Friedwald as one of the best jazz vocal albums ever recorded, and "My Heart Sings?" I did manage to find on EBay a Japanese version of "Tony Sings for Two," a duet with Sharon. This superb album has yet to be released stateside. We've only heard bits and pieces on compilation albums.

Come on, Columbia! Why hold out on us?

A Staggering Singer
Growing up in the 60s, Sinatra and Bennett were the kings of sophisticated pop songs with Mathis and Andy Williams nipping at their heels. Sinatra was the most emotional. Mathis and Williams always seemed to be skimming the surface, and for much of the time, so did Tony Bennett. But of the group, he was the best singer, and Frank Sinatra acknowledged that in a personally signed photo he gave Bennett. Growing up in San Francisco, his monster hit--I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO--was played in practically every saloon in town and it still is. LOVE LOOK AWAY, RAGS TO RICHES, BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS, BECAUSE OF YOU, FLY ME TO THE MOON, THE BEST IS YET TO COME, FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE(Bennett's effortless top G always tore my own larynx to shreds attempting to imitate him), are bonafide classics. While I always admired the beautiful timbre, the range, and the sheer showbiz pizzaz of his delivery, much of his work was superficial. Or so it seemed.

But this new ESSENTIAL TONY BENNETT has some gems I ignored. Anyone who wants to question Bennett's skills as an intepreter should listen to his performances here of IT AMAZES ME and most importantly, I DO NOT KNOW A DAY I DID NOT LOVE YOU. This Richard Rodgers gem was new to me, and it just knocked me out. I had to play the song four times in a row. Bennett sings both with depth and a world-weary sense of inevitability. Here you'll find outstanding examples of his extraordinary breath control (only Streisand is his equal here). His tuning on the latter song is utterly impeccable and his legato exemplary. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Two CDs are crammed with great cuts and if you listen really carefully, you'll be staggered too.

Like Sinatra I came to appreciate Bennett's skills a bit late in the day. Bennett spent a lot of years without a recording contract and much of the 70s and 80s he was forgotten. When he was finally rediscovered in the 90s, I took notice. Columbia seems to be creating a series here. I passed on THE ESSENTIAL BARBRA STREISAND because the material is readily available on a number of other sources, but the convenience and the selection are the thing here and THE ESSENTIAL TONY BENNETT is on that same excellent level. More please. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Abandoned as a baby and raised in a brothel, Piaf was dicovered singing in the streets of Paris by a club owner, who started her 30-year career during which time she became France's best-loved and best-known songstress, with major hits from beginning to end. At times singing in front of the band with no microphone, her powerful voice and emotional delivery was a striking contrast to her diminutive size. Nicknamed "the Little Sparrow," Piaf was plagued by controversy, from implications in a clubowner's death to multiple affairs (including Yves Montand and Charles Aznavour), drugs, and alcohol. Her torchy cabaret and dramatically theatrical songs eventually won her global recognition. This two-CD set covers highlights of her career up to her death in 1963, many of which are now standards. Described in France as "the greatest figure in the history of song," her voice still rings with a passion for life, something that eventually consumed her. --Derek Rath ... Read more

Reviews (9)

not as good as i thought it would be
I am going to be the only dissenter here. The choice of songs is excellent, and this is why i bought the CD.

However, I think that several of the selected songs must be early versions which were then fine tuned by E. Piaf over the years. I have listened to other CDs and vinyl record where renditions such as Jezebel, and La Foule where much more forceful and on a higher emotional level.

A good choice for people who have not heard the later versions of the songs, or those prefer to hear the earlier versions,

A Decent Introduction
It would be hard for me to review a collection of Edit Piaf songs poorly unless the selection offered were lacking, and this is a comprehensive selection. On these discs are her most famous songs, some of them sung in English. Other collections may offer more in the way of additional songs but this set provides a good survey of her career. My only complaint is the horrid cover design. The depiction of Piaf hardly looks like her. Couldn't a photograph or drawing of her have been substituted? The booklet has a good biography of Piaf in French and English but someone new to Piaf's song will probably be disappointed by the lack of lyrics in the booklet. Overall, a decent set that could have offered more documentation, especially since it is an anniversary issue.

A good introduction to the artist
After listening to "Milord" in abridged form on a 45rpm, I liked Piaf enough to pick up this set. It gives a good sampling of various stages in her career, and it was actually responsible for making Piaf one of my favorite singers of all time, although it omits everything she made prior to 1946, when there were many good recordings.

Not counting her most famous hits (Milord, La Vie en rose, La Foule, etc.), I personally really enjoy Jezebel, the violent L'Homme a la moto, Les Flons-flons du bal, Emporte-moi, Johnny, tu n'es pas un ange, and Fais comme si. It also includes the last song she ever recorded, "L'Homme de Berlin," which I've always liked despite signs that by the end of her self-destructive life (she died about 6 months after this song was recorded), her voice wasn't what it used to be.

A good intro to Piaf; if you like this stuff, go right to the 10CD set. And her live material is also worth seeking, even if on LP form to get entire concerts.

I prefer the 10 CD set, also...
I purchased the 2 CD set before I knew the 10 CD set existed. Once I found the 10 CD set, I bought it. If I had known about the 10 CD set, I would not have gotten the 2 CD set, simply because obviously the 10 CD set includes a LOT more of her songs, and in addition, it also includes a "dialogue" CD of her talking candidly in an interview. If you are a really big Piaf fan, I recommend spending the extra money for the 10 CDs - it's worth it. If you are not THAT much into her, then the 2 CDs do her justice, as well, which is why I rated this 4 stars. To put it simply, the 2 CD set is a good set, and includes a good variety of songs, but the 10 CD set includes a whole lot more, plus the extra candid stuff.

The 10 CD 30th Anniversary Collection is a better choice.
I don't really disagree with the other reviewers' evaluation of Piaf. She is truly one of the great artists of the 20th Century. I got this set; and then I got the 10 CD 30th Anniversary Collection. This 2 CD set has only a few songs recorded in the late 50's and early 60's when recording technology could do justice to her voice. The 10 CD set has several CD's recorded toward the end of her career. The recorded sound is outstanding; and Piaf was still in great voice nearly 'til the end. I know the 10 CD is expensive; but I prefer it above anything else I have by Piaf. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

She's a nut--but a colorful, genuine nut
Nellie McKay(the M.C .on the DVD pronounces it "Mc-eye")has an unplaceable accent, a faraway glint in her scheming eyes, and a tart sense of humor that catches you totally unawares. She's an honest-to-God original, and a breath of fresh air in these calculated-pop times. Her music careens between different inspirations, and she's juggles them all like a pro. My favorites are the whimsical "David", the plaintive "Really", the humorous/serious "I Wanna Get Married" and the comical "Clonie". "Married" really epitomizes McKay--sardonic, rueful, but wistful and longing. You can hear the yearning in her voice even as she spouts scattershot poetry. The DVD is a wonderful(but brief)concert in San Francisco, and her in-between patter is constantly surprising. You never know where she's gonna take you.

My CAT died and I quickly poured myself some gin
Just an example of the lyrics that nellie comes up with.Great songwriter!This cd is unique, fun, and catchy!I originally heard her on the late night show and I went out and bought the cd the next day.Great cd!!a must buy if you like unique lyrics and music!

Nellie McKay is a natural songwriter
in the vein of our best and most cherished pop stars. She is a poet who refuses to not be feminine and yet she has mastered the art of the sly one two punch as well as any man. We should consider ourselves lucky to be alive on the planet at the same time as this remarkable woman artist. She's only at the beginning of her career, and she is going to get even better as she goes. Nellie is beautiful and bawdy at the same time. She has a great since of humor and a great big heart full of compassion to go with it. All those nasty people who email her those little hate notes are so obviously jealous of her talents and determination. They hate that she's young. They hate that she didn't finish school. They hate that she's full of herself. You need your ego if you're going to survive in this business. She would have made a great young Beatle. Maybe she'll be in a band later on in her career. Right now we've got this rocket of a record start to enjoy. Great songwriting, piano playing, worldweary yet brave view and truly talented, absolutely beautiful girl/woman taking on the whole world, song by song by song. Man. that's cool!xbs

Even more from the great Nellie McKay
Congratulations if you're here on this page, and you're reading about Nellie - she is worth your attention.If you've never heard her songs before, spend the extra few bucks and get this dual disc.It showcases what is perhaps her greatest strength - her ability to dazzle and charm (and educate) a live audience, with all the humble confidence she can muster.Although the live show is all too short, you can't imagine how talented this person is until you watch her play the piano like someone who's got more years of experience than she has years.And I say this as a pianist - and a very humbled fan of Nellie McKay.(Why humbled?Here's a direct quote of credits from the jacket of this album: "All Vocals, Piano, Organ, Recorder, Vibes, Chimes, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Synthesizer, Additional Percussion: Nellie McKay.")And oh, by the way, she's 21.

This is one of the best albums to come along in years.Do yourself a favor and find out why people like me are spending the time to write 5-star reviews.

a great album in a great format
First, thoughts on the DualDisc format: it's pretty cool.My car's CD player won't play the CD, which is a bummer, but all my other players spin it fine, so it's not that big a bummer.As for the DVD side of the disc, well, the highlight is the 5.1 surround mix of the album itself.The sound is fantastic.The bonuses are: a very good (but brief -- only 26 minutes) concert film, including two new songs; and two studio recordings from the period between the release of the album and the fall '04 presidential election.Both of those last two songs are great, and deal with politics in a totally un-heavy-handed manner.At the same time, it's clear that McKay is dissatisfied with the current administration, as well as the choices we had to replace it.

Now, the album.Well, it's awesome.McKay (it's pronounced "Mick-Kigh," apparently, by the way) is obviously a talented woman, and the talent sometimes threatens to get out of her control.But it never does, even on a track like "Sari," a hip-hop track that really ought not to work but totally does.Every song is good, but my particular favorites are "Ding Dong" (the catchiest song about suicide ever written), "Change the World," "Manhattan Avenue," and the hilarious "Clonie," in which McKay's lyrical wit is at its keenest.

I liked this album an awful lot when I bought it in the spring of 2004; now, a year later, it's even better.It's one of those albums that doesn't give over all its secrets at once.It rewards attention.There aren't too many artists who do that, and there are NONE who do it in so many ways.By turns funny, yearning, subversive, cynical, and sincere, this is a seriously good piece of work, and if the next one comes out tomorrow, then it isn't a moment too soon. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Great music in an even better package.
The Ultralounge series -- in addition to being great collections of music that straddle the line between irony and good music -- also have commendable art production, with the best examples being their Fuzzy and Tiki samplers.

This is a CD everyone wants to look at: Packaged in faux bamboo, it opens up to a CD printed like a slice of pineapple. Remove the CD and see the glass beneath. The CD booklet contains a beautiful painting of a 1950s swinging cocktail lounge.

And the music? It's a great sampler of the Ultralounge series, and a stronger album on its own merits than the previous Fuzzy sampler. Of particular note are the rock and roll covers on this album (poor Mel Torme -- did he realize that he'd end up a punchline) and the bongo lessons track. This album also contains numerous hidden tracks that aren't listed by Amazon.com.

A great value for the music alone and a CD that all your friends will be jealous of when they see it.

Ultra Cool
I own all the ultra lounge CDs. This is a great sample set and a great place to start if you are new to the series. The Fuzzy Sampler is good too, along with Vegas Baby. Ultra lounge series has alwasy been heavy on instramentals...some great, some ok. This disc has a lot of intramentals but every one is a gem! i love this CD and the entire collection. Not really Tiki music, but a cool set anyway. if you want more Jungle stuff ....try a Martin Denny CD or the Del-Fi title: Jungle Jive.

Ultra-Lounge has done it again
Attracted to the hip, texturized cover, I purchased this CD to serve as an introduction to the Ultra-Lounge series... and WHAT an introduction it was! The disc contains 1-2 samples from several Ultra-Lounge discs including...

TV TOWN
- "The Munsters Theme"
- "My Three Sons"

BOSSA NOVAVILLE
- "So Danco Samba (Jazz'n'Samba)"
- "The Look of Love"

WILD, COOL & SWINGIN', TOO!
- "A Boy From Ipanema"
- "Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody"

MONDO HOLLYWOOD
- "Theme From 'The Apartment'"
- "Moon River"

BONGOLAND
- "The Inch Worm"
- "Brazil"

BOTTOM'S-UP!
- "Oh, Honey"
- "Guys And Dolls"

ON THE ROCKS, PART ONE
- "Light My Fire"

ON THE ROCKS, PART TWO
- "Happy Together"

THE EXOTIC MOODS OF LES BAXTER
-"Go Chango"

THE EXOTIC SOUNDS OF MARTIN DENNY
- "Cubano Chant"

THE ROMANTIC MOODS OF JACKIE GLEASON
- "A Taste of Honey"

The title also features six bonus tracks, "Come On-A My House," "Wives And Lovers," "Wave," "My Baby Just Cares For Me," "I Dig Chicks!" and "Get Smart/Casino Royale."

This CD has the potential to serve as an introductory disc or a collector's piece. Just remember Ultra-Lounge afficionados, this CD is a sampler. If you already own the individual Ultra-Lounge compilations, many of the tracks will be repeated. But, with six bonus tracks and ultra-swank packaging, this CD is definitely worth the money for collectors and newbies alike.

Like A Time Machine
A great compliation of music that transports you back to a time when tiki bars and cocktail parties were all the rage. The CD has a good variety of music - from tiki-ish, to space age, to downright wacky. The packaging couldn't be any better!

I loved it
I discovered this CD while browsing in a record store awaiting a friend. Intrigued by the cover and campy artwork, I decided to give it a try. Am I glad I did! I listened to it three times from beginning to end on my trip back to Tallahassee from Orlando. I've never heard many of the songs before, so although they're 40 or so years old, they sounded new and fresh to my ears. I truly enjoyed the "Boy from Ipanema," "Brazil," and Jackie Gleason's "A Taste of Honey." Although I'm an avid Doors fan and have even met Robbie Krieger, the CD's elevator version of Zacharias' "Light My Fire" had me giggling with glee. I work in the rock music industry, and this was a welcome change from the generally nondescript and repetitive music heard on popular music stations today. I think anyone who can nostalgically remember these songs when they were first released, as well as those like me who were too young to have caught them as original releases, will enjoy these hits. I've since ordered three more Ultra-Lounge CDs and am planning my first retro-cocktail party--as soon as I can find some tiki drink stirrers, lava lamps, and faux bamboo wallpaper in the local party store. Fun fun fun!! ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A Match Made In Music Heaven!
Many rock singers have released albums of standards with varying degrees of success. Where Nelson Riddle's big band arrangement perfectly suited Linda Ronstadt, who belted out the song "What's New?" for all she's worth, the small jazz combo backing Boz Scaggs perfectly suits his laid back vocals on that song. He sings the classic "Sophisticated Lady" as though Duke Ellington had written it for him to perform. Boz sings "For All We Know" with a world weariness that perfectly matches the mood of the lyrics. "So love me tonight; tomorrow was made for some. Tomorrow may never come, for all we know." No singer's voice is better suited to singing standards than Boz Scaggs. The musicians backing him are superb and the production is perfect. The subtitle of this album is Standards, Volume One. Personally, I can't wait to hear Volume Two!

The Title Says It All
Jennifer Simpson, a big Boz Scaggs fan, wants to know what I think of his latest CD, But Beautiful. Here, Boz breaks away from his rock and blues menu and gets into jazz and American standards. Wait a minute - he's copying Larry Ching (the artist whose CD I just produced)! Thing is, Boz has always traversed the great American musical landscape, from blues and soul to country and rock to jazz and pop. On Fade Into Light, a 1996 CD released in Japan, he did a gorgeous version of "Harbor Lights." And in recent years, he's captivated audiences with a silky reading of "My Funny Valentine." Unfortunately, that chestnut is not in this collection, but "What's New," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "Sophisticated Lady," and a lucky seven others, are filtered through the singular Scaggs voice. If you've dug Boz through the years, and understand that, in a sense, he's always been a jazzer-improvisational, eclectic, spare, and capable of making the voice a musical instrument, part of the ensemble-you'll find the new recording a little different. But beautiful. --from my column at asianconnections.com

It May Not Be Silk Degrees, But It Still Agrees With Me.
I have been I big Boz Scaggs fan ever since I purchased "Silk Degrees" back in the 70's when I was in high school. There was something about his music that was uniquely different than anything I had ever heard before, and his emotionally charged tunes were my companions on many a lonely and desperate (at least it felt like that) weekend I spent during my junior and senior years.

That same something that grabbed me back then is also grabbing me today every time I play "But Beautiful, Standards: Volume 1". The way he handles these timeless classics casts them in a whole new light. His vocal interpretations, thoughtful yet musically inventive arrangements, and the fabulous musicianship throughout this CD, has given music lovers everywhere hip new versions of these standards that will be with us for a long time to come. All I can say is thanks Boz, for being there for me, then and now.

If you are in the mood for some bigger, brassier, swingin' versions of tunes from the Great American Songbook, I would also recommend, Monte Procopio "Swingin' With Style" CD. He is a crooner that can really SWING and deserves a listen. Buy both these CDs, you can't go wrong!

Art C , Hoouston, Texas
I first heard this album on the local TSU jazz station. I have not been a fan of his music, I am now. His interpretations and superb side men make this album one I listen to time and time again.

The recording is excellent, a cut above the average CD. I use a high end system that immediately separates the good recording from the average.

I have listened to this album many times and never tire of it. As I listen each time I hear something different.

I hope he comes out with another one soon.

Gorgeous
I first heard some tracks from this album on an internet radio station and I was transfixed. The phrasing, the voice and the feeling were those of a seasoned jazz vocalist, and the performances sounded (musically) as if they were recorded back in the 50s, having that very special, "after hours" nightclub atmosphere that could be found on so many records by the great jazz artists of that era. Scaggs performs these time-proven classics knowingly, with the laidback assurance and emotional know-how this material requires, and it's a revelation. I strongly recommend this album to every dedicated jazz fan out there, and may we have Vol. 2 now, please?. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

We need a remastered version Verve
This is more than a decade old, and I dont like the sound very much. Verve should really release these tracks in a new compilation with better sound. I prefer the early Billie Holiday, and to me she reached her peak at her last sessions for Columbia. I'd strongly recommend to anyone just getting into Bilie to check the Columbia/Legacy stuff first. This is more difficult to appreciate, but stil is great music. Billie is the best jazz singer that ever lived, period.

GOD BLESS HER SOUL !!!
For many years now, there's been going on a "strange" comparison between Billie's two periods : before and after her time in prison.... The explanation is very simple. You don't buy Billie's records in order to HEAR them, but to FEEL them !!!! It wasn't her technical capabilities in singing that made the Lady famous. It was her emotions, her strength at heart, her willingness to overcome all the problems she had with her private life. That's what you get if you purchase the "Lady in Autumn" CD. You get a Great Lady that stands up with pride, and still manages to keep a high level of quality at her work. It's harder to remain at the top, than getting there at the first place. And Billie stood at the top for a very long time !!!!!

And Still Her Heart Has Wings
This is the best ballad collection of Billie Holiday to date. You hear someone who has experienced life, in every nuance of her voice. 'These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You' is the most heartbreakingly perfect ballad ever recorded, with a subtly touching piano accompaniment by Oscar Peterson. This track is for those who have loved and lost. 'Don't Worry 'Bout Me' has an ironic sadness when viewed from here and it is appropriately placed as the last song in the set. It will make you cry.

A Revelation
There is an on-going dispute between Holiday fans: is Billie Holiday more interesting at the beginning of her career, when her voice was at its best, or at the end of her career, when her interpretive skills were at their finest? My preference is for the latter, and LADY IN AUTUMN offers a truly fine sampling of later Billie Holiday recordings.

Even at its youthful best, Billie Holiday's distinctive, very quirky voice was never noted for any of the qualities we usually applaud in great singers: Holiday's range, power, and breath support were always more than a little ify. But Holiday showed a remarkable facility for shaping her voice much as sculptor might, and she transformed her vocal defects into an astonishing personal idiom that has never failed to mix musical delight with raw emotional power. And this ability was at its height toward the end of her career.

It is true, however, that Holiday's later recordings are an acquired taste, and listeners who are new to her unique stylings may be put off by the vocal roughness of her later work. But for those who have already listened to an enjoyed her earlier work, Billie Holiday's LADY IN AUTUMN will be a revelation.

Lovely lonesome and blue
A voice so jarring it can crackle the sun and mirror the moon.I never heard none sweeter than Billie Holiday.This collection shows the despair that ravaged her later years but kept her believing in music.Her children were her songs and she gave them all the love she had. ... Read more