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While Sinatra,Martin, and the Rat Pack were busy sacrificing a good measure of their vocal talents in the sordid business of fame and fortune,Tony Bennett was quietly, stubbornly, burnishing his vocal gifts into High, if seemingly effortless, Art. How good is Bennett? Just ask the Chairman of the Board and Head Rat: "The best goddamned pop singer I've ever heard." While a single disc can't offer much more than a sketchy outline of Bennett's rich, seven-decade career, this one offers the commercial peaks--and some telling hints at the restless artistic instinct that produced them. From the pure, nearly operatic power and perfect vibrato he displays on early hits such as "Rags to Riches," "Stranger in Paradise" and the overly theatrical, borderline kitsch of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" through his signature "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" to his gratifying if unlikely '90s resurgence, you can literally hear Bennett's voice tempering like the wood of a Stradivarius, his phrasing taking on a deceptively loose, jazz-fueled languor that tells you where his musical heart really lies. The singer, not the song; damn straight advice--take it from a master. -Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Heavy on the 50's & 60's...
With 14 songs from the 50's & 60's and 6 from the 80's and 90's, This CD is heavily weighted in favor of Tony Bennet's earlier commercial hits. According to the liner notes, Tony himself carefully handpicked these songs, so if you don't like the selection you'll have to talk to the singer about it.

However you look at it, this is undeniably the essential Tony Bennett hits over some 40 years. Many of them were produced by Mitch Miller. And many come from the classic compsers such as Julie Styne, Cole Porter, Jonny Mercer, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin and such.

This is basically 50's and 60's nostalgia with a nod at Tony's more recent work, and so is obviously for those who prefer the older and most familiar music. And for those listeners, it's definite four star material.

The best compilation by the best singer in the business!
Tony Bennett is a singer's singer. This CD is the best compilation disc of greatest hits he's ever put together. It covers his entire career from early hits like Rags To Riches thru "San Francisco", I Wanna Be Around, Just In Time and the heartbreaking When Joanna Left Me, one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. There are excellent liner notes, dates etc. and the sound is clean and exquisite. There are 20 cuts, and every one is a jewel. Tony Bennett is the Rolls Royce of singers. If you're lacking room and can only make room for one Bennett CD, this is the logical choice. Buy It! It will be one of the best CD purchases in your life.

This is Croonin'
With the delivery of some of his biggest hits on Columbia, Tony holds his own and then some with croonin' songs. He sings them as if he wrote them which of course he didn't. The only dud on this collection of 20 songs is 'Blue Velvet' which should have been left to Bobby Vinton. I believe Tony left Columbia because they forced him to record material he didn't like. Maybe Blue Velvet was one of them?? Of course San Francisco is on this set plus Rags to Riches, Because of You, etc etc.
Great album to have in your collection.

Terrific collection of Tony's most memorable songs!!!!!!!!!!
Tony Bennett is like an excellent bottle of scotch just waiting to be opened. All of the great crooners (Nat, Bing, Frank, Dino, and Perry) are all gone now. Tony is all that is left from the Your Hit Parade era. This is the definative album where Tony has selected the songs that he cherishes. My children (ages 12 and 16) just love this guy. Nearly every song is memorable although I would have added a few more, such as "Firefly", "Once Upon a Time", "Rules of the Road", as well as some cuts from his now-famous MTV concert, just to name a few. Keep up the GREAT WORK Tony!!!!!! We LOVE you!!!!!!

The Finest
I am just getting into this singer, but I feel that his approach to singing a song is so unique. When he sings, "The Best Is Yet To Come", he puts his signature on it. One of his best songs on there is "The Shadow of Your Smile". I mean he take his time with it, and Jimmy Rowles on the piano along with the orchestra gives it what it needs to stand out.One of the best versions I ever heard. "Put On A Happy Face", "When Joanna loves me","Rags to Riches", "Just In Time", and "The Good Life" are some more favorites. A fine CD by a fine gentleman. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Barbra at her romantic best. Easy listening to enjoy life .
The songs selected for this album are all very romantic, except perhaps for "enough is enough/ no more tears" which is in the disco style, but still has romantic parts. Although I consider "MEMORY'" the theme song from the Broadway show CATS to be very good, almost excellent, I find that it would have worked better as a duet. In certain parts of the songs Barbra's voice sounds "husky" . Those parts would have been ideal for a man's voice, such as Michael Crawford, Mandy Patikim, or even Johnny Mathis. The remaining parts of the song Barbra sings like an angel. It is the "husky voice" parts that bother me. I would recommend to Barbra to re-record this song as a duet. My other favorites in this collection are "evergreen" "the way we were", " My heart belongs to me". The other songs are also very good. Today is Barbra's birthday. I truly wish her the very best. She has given us such pleasure. This album is excellent. If you are depressed, play this album and you will see the simple joys of life. Highly recommended.

Good, but GREATEST HITS 1 & 2 are much better!
I'm a big Barbra Streisand fan but I must say that MEMORIES is a rehash. Don't get me wrong, the songs are great, but numerous songs are available on many other Streisand albums.

There are a few newly recorded songs. "Memory" and "Comin' In and Out of Your Life" both made their first appearences on this album, but are also availiable on the much better A COLLECTION: GREATEST HITS . . . AND MORE. That leaves "New York State of Mind" and the solo version of "Lost Inside of You" (formerly a duet From A STAR IS BORN) as the only two exclusive songs.

Is the whole album worth buying for just these two songs? If you are a fanatical Streisand fan (like me) then YES! However, everyone else would be better off buying GREATEST HITS Volumes 1 & 2. Those two albums give a much better presentation of her work.

Streisand for Those Who Don't Like Streisand
Let's get this straight up front. I don't like Streisand much; either her songs or her politics. It amazes me that people would pay hundreds of dollars for tickets to a concert of hers, even if she rarely gives concerts. That being said, this is a great album that has some beautiful songs and is very listenable. (It was given to me; I didn't buy it.) Several reviewers said there are too many repeats from other albums, but if you don't own any other albums of Streisand's, this is a good one to start with. The first song (Memory) and the last (The Way We Were) are two of her best efforts and songs you can listen to over and over without getting tired of them. The duet with Neil Diamond (You Don't Bring Me Flowers Any More) is also a gorgeous song and Diamond and Streisand sound great together. This album surprised me as I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. In good conscience I can't give it 5 stars because I think there are many better singers and better albums out there. Barbra gives it her all, but sometimes I think she overdoes it and gets too loud, especially noticable on "Comin' in and Out of Your Life". I think she does better on slower, softer songs. The cover art is nice too and shows what an attractive women she is in spite of her rather large nose.

A rehash, but a good rehash.
All of the songs on MEMORIES, a love song compilation, are first-rate, however there seems to be little reason why any fan would need to own it now. Barbra had won over a whole new legion of pop fans with the phenomenal success of 1980's GUILTY, but was working on the film YENTL full time by 1981 and didn't have time to record a follow up release. Columbia wanted to release something, so they decided to release a basically revamped version of the multi-platinum GREATEST HITS, VOLUME TWO, and get Barbra in the studio to record two new songs to reel in her long time fans.

The strategy worked: MEMORIES hit the Top Ten and reached Quintuple Platinum status in sales, but it irritated her longtime fans who had to buy material they already owned on other albums just to get the new songs. For the record, the two new tracks both rank among her finest work. The hit single "Comin' In and Out Of Your Life" (#11 Pop, #2 Adult Contemporary) is a sentimental classic, and Barbra's stunning rendition of "Memory" is the definite recording of the phenomenal CATS theme. Also, MEMORIES does spotlight a couple terrific album tracks ("New York State Of Mind," "The Love Inside") that causal fans may not have been familiar with, and contains a previously unreleased solo recording of "Lost Inside Of You," which is superior to the original duet version from the A STAR IS BORN soundtrack.

But three of these ten tracks were making their third appearance on a Streisand album, and four of the cuts had just been released GREATEST HITS, VOLUME TWO a scant three years before. Now that "Comin' In and Out Of Your Life" and "Memory" are available elsewhere, there is no reason that anyone but the most casual of fans would need to own this album. The material is great and the photos of the front and back covers are beautiful, but you can basically find everything here on other albums that provide a better value.

Talented
There is no one who can compare to this talented singer. She is one of the best natural singers that I have ever heard with a style all of her own. She is simply wonderful. Her songs have such warmth and feeling. The songs on this particular cd are some of her best work. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Barbra Streisand in top form!
The film soundtrack of ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER is a delighful album that should be in all Broadway fans' collections!

The 1970 film version of the failed Broadway musical significantly re-wrote the libretto and cut several of the songs from the stage score ("Tosy and Cosh", "Don't Tamper with My Sister", "On the SS Bernard Cohn", "Wait Till We're Sixty Five", "When I'm Being Born Again"), rewrote some of the material ("She Isn't You" became "He Isn't You" and a showstopper for Miss Streisand) and changed character's names (Dr Bruckner became the more French-sounding Dr Chabot for Yves Montand; Daisy's past life's name was changed from Melinda Welles to the more alluring Melinda Tentrees).

Of the new material, it's all fantastic, with Daisy's duet with herself in the delicious "Go to Sleep" one of the standouts. "Love With All the Trimmings" is alternately cooed and belted by Streisand in grand-style, while "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?", the showstopping 11 o'clock number wisely retained from the Broadway score, is a perfect performance of syncopation and wit. A sublime performance.

Yves Montand does well by "Melinda" and "Come Back to Me", both retained from the Broadway score, whilst Barbra Streisand's version of "Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here" slowly builds to its huge climax.

Fans of Broadway musicals and the incantory Miss Barbra are advised to buy this soundtrack today!

One of my favorites--but where are those bonus cuts??
Early D.J. versions of the "Clear Day" record album reportedly contained a few extra songs, including a Jack Nicholson number(with Barbra chiming in at the end)and a duet between Barbra and Larry Blyden called "When We're Sixty-Five"(this one was actually released as a promo 45 single, I've heard it and it's sensational). I wish to God the record company would put together a special package of this one, containing all the cuts eliminated from the film after it was chopped down from three-hours. That said, getting "Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here" and "Love With All The Trimmings" isn't too shabby, and they sound fabulous on disc. Sure there's Yves Montand warbling on three numbers, but he actually does a decent job on "Melinda"(his accent gets in the way on the tongue-twisting "Come Back To Me", which is good for a laugh). It's Barbra show all the way, and she's wonderful singing with her sarcastic dream-twin on "Go To Sleep" and being coyly fetching on "He Isn't You". Very nice to own!

**THANK GOD FOR my iPOD** GOODBYE YVES!!
I've been transferring my music onto my new iPod and got to my Barbra collection(after seeing this great movie again last night;the period costumes by Cecel Beaton are breathtaking).so after over 30 years of listening to that painful voice of yves..he's gone with one click of a button.....he was so miscast it's pathetic!!!
!!I haven't listened to the original broadway music,but i will....after they chopped great songs from Chicago & Cabaret for the movie versions.it hurts me.not to say how the writers of this great music feel!!

BUT..Barbra's voice and her performance are golden!!!

What does Streisand have that Montand doesn't?
The film may have been a modest hit at the box office, but it's soundtrack counterpart was an absolute flop, failing to even reach the Top 100. The disc is considerably enjoyable though, with Streisand giving lovely renditions of six Lenner-Lowe compositions. The title song is the only real classic, however several of the other numbers ("Love And All The Trimmings," "He Isn't You") are almost as good. The lightly comic "Go To Sleep" (which features Streisand dueting with herself) is a particular delight. Unfortunately, the album also contains the three Yves Montand solos, which are excruciating and need not have been persevered on disc.

Where'd all the songs go?
Great idea for a movie, but simply wasted. 2/3rds of the songs are missing from the original play! And Barbara Harris is just simply better. But the original Broadway cast recording and rejoice. ... Read more

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If Columbia Records was trying to cash in quickly with this 1958 package before heartthrob Mathis's string ran out, the joke was--happily--on them, since it ended up staying on the Billboard charts for 490 weeks. These, of course, are his earliest smashes, and for the most part, his best: the likes of "Chances Are" and "Wonderful! Wonderful!" are young people's music the way, for instance, the '50s Sinatra wasn't, and Mathis was growing up fast. He'd rarely sound quite so earnestly embracing again. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Fits The Definition Of A CD Dinosaur
I do NOT mean Johnny Mathis in the above caption. Far from it. During the halcyon days of the birth of R&R any house party worth its salt had the prerequisite Presley, Domino, Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Connie Francis, and Pat Boone 45s ready to roll for pure dancing pleasure. But when it was time for ... err ... other things the first LP to hit the turntable was always a Johnny Mathis one.

His smooth delivery and velvet tones, usually backed by the Ray Coniff or Ray Ellis orchestras, were the perfect combination to settle things down and relax.

No, the caption refers to the 10- or 12-track CD with no liner notes which hit the market back at the beginning of the CD age. They were alright back then, at least until the novelty wore off and the major labels were eventually confronted by Rhino, Ace, Bear Family, etc. How they can continue to be available, and how anyone would fork over the amounts asked when much better compilations are available for just a few dollars more, and with copious liner notes, is beyond me.

This, and its companion CD - More Greatest Hits [like many CDs from that time] - also take liberty with the term Greatest Hits, giving us three in this volume which were uncharted B-sides - When Sunny Gets Blue which backed his first hit Wonderful! Wonderful!, Warm And Tender on the other side of It's Not For Me To Say, and When I Am With You, the flip of Come To Me.

The other one includes three uncharted B-sides [Very Much In Love, You Are Everything To Me, and Let It Rain] along with one [Flame Of Love] which wasn't even the B-side of a hit. So, out of 24 selections in two CDs just 17 were actually hits. Not only that, but they left out three that were very much among his greatest hits - scoring higher than ELEVEN of those included. These are: Gina [# 6 in 1962]; What Will Mary Say? [# 9 in 1963]; and Misty [# 12 in 1959].

Indeed, two more [Starbright - # 25 in 1960 and Every Step Of The Way - # 30 in 1963] were better hits than either of You Are Beautiful [# 60] and Let's Love [# 44].

It's time to either withdraw these from the marketplace, OR combine the two in a 30-track CD with the addition of those mentioned above, and add a few pages of background notes and a discography.

Johnny at his earliest and his best
If one needs a Mathis album to start with, this is the album to start with as it does have 12 of his greatest hits, just like the title says it has including "Wonderful, Wonderful" (which isn't on the album of the same name although a lot of people do assume that), "Chances Are," the often covered "The Twelfth of Never" and many others from the early years. As it was already mentioned, it is an all time best seller staying on the Billboard album chart for a long time for good reason. This is music from a bygone era when crooning your heart's content made you a superstar and this kind of music stands the test of time. The other greatest hits collections and some of his best albums that were also originally released during his peak years including 1959's "Heavenly," which also had been a best seller for years featuring hits such as "Hello, Young Lovers" and his cover of Erroll Garner's jazz standard "Misty", are great companions to this disc. If you feel sentimental from time to time, this album is for you as it is many things to all people and it is definitely "real" and personal.

"Johnny's Greatest Hits " makes me want to Come to Him
Every single song in the album "Johnny's Greatest Hits" contains his best. Mainly every single song hits the mark with me. I've never heard a singer with so much warmth and love reflected in his beautiful voice.

My husband and I grew up listening to Johnny, but he never got into the " crass stuff" that is constantly on the airways today. I'm so thankful for that. I could just listen to him sing on and on and never get tired of his wonderful voice. He is also the most lovable singer I have ever heard -- kind of on the shy side, which attracts me even more. I love this album and I'm sure I'm not alone.

I love Johnny Mathis's style in this album and just can't get enough of hearing it. Again, "Johnny Greatest Hits" contains most all of the best of Mathis. I Love you Johnny -- especially for being you.

When you sing "Come to Me" in this album, that's just exactly what I want to do!

Marcia Hendricks

For your own good.
Maybe you really would rather listen to the Stones or NWA, really loud, lots of bass, floor shaking and all that. But odds are the lady of the moment won't get in the mood very well with that going on. So go ahead, get this, stash it away for some tender time.

I once asked one of the most independent, wary strong willed women I ever met what kind of music she liked. Johnny Mathis was the first name she said.

The Millionaire Sold-Out Album by Mathis
This is the first Mathis single hits collection and it has shown in the hit charts for many years. There is also an incredible list of arrangers behind each song and Mathis performances: Ray Conniff and Ray Ellis are there. You'll find simple songs here, as one has said, but simply beautiful songs which will remain in the deep of our hearts. Chances are 'cause I wear that silly grin ... I just wonder why Sony has replaced the original album cover photo for an updated one. Photo and sound does not match. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Streisand's greatest album and film
"Funny Girl" is Barbra's greatest album and film.She even said in a interview it's her favorite.I played the hell out of this album when I was a kid.I couldn't stop laughing when I heard some of these numbers,"I'm the greatest Star," when Barbra keeps making joke's while she's singing this classic,"Did you hear the one about the traveling salesman?"The funniest moment from the movie is on this record,when Fanny Brice is pregnet singing,"His love makes me beutifull," and "Sadie Sadie." "when he comes home I tell him,Oh,what a day I had today." When Barbra was recording this album,I heard she recorded "People" over and over again.The producers were happy with the first take,but she wasn't.When Barbra approved the final take,everyone in the room was crying. The score for "Funny Girl" by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill is a classic,especially "Don't rain on my Parade." There's not one song from this soundtrack that isn't fantastic. You have to get this CD if your a fan of Streisand.

Funny Girl--Glorious Music
This is a play, movie and soundtrack I cannot escape from. And hearing all these tunes digitally re-masterd onto CD is quite an enhancement in audio quality. Oy, one has to hear those subtle sensual vocals which Fanny sings to Nick--the red velvet private dining room, the fainting couch, Barbra and Omar Shariff exchanging verbal taunts in "You Are Woman, I am Man".

We are also treated to 13 other tracks telling the story of Fanny Brice, comedienne, and Nickie Arnstein, gambler and love of her life. Remember the tug boat scene? She will not be denied and powers her way to him while empowering us with "Don't Rain On My Parade". Laughing...and "The Swan"--a humorous look into the classic ballet Swan Lake a la Streisand style.

I more than recommend this soundtrack. A pefect addition to any collection. Thanks for your interest & comment votes--CDS

She is amazing, I am amazed!
The film soundtrack version of the "Funny Girl" score may lack some of the intimacy of it's Broadway counterpart, but Barbra's sensational belting is even more impressive the second time around. The film versions of "I'm The Greatest Star," "You Are Woman," "Sadie, Sadie," and especially "Don't Rain On My Parade" are actually superior to the earlier versions, with Barbra giving even better vocal performances. While it doesn't quite match the superior single version from 1964, the film version of "People" (the third studio recording of the song) is lush and very beautiful in it's own right.

The lovely "I'd Rather Be Blue Over You" and the stunning "My Man" (two of Fanny Brice's standard numbers) are worked into the score and prove to be highlights as does the title song, newly written for the film by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill. It's no surprise that Barbra received the Academy Award for best actress for her work in this film. The "Broadway Cast" album has a more intimate feel to it, but the film soundtrack version of "Funny Girl" is a master work in it's own right and just slightly surpasses the earlier recording.

Question...
Does this CD have Barbara Streisand as well as Omar Shariff??????????? I really want to know before I buy it. or does this version have that Bob Merill guy...I don't like him. Thank you ...

Remastered? No!
This album will go down in history as the worst "Remastering"-job anyone has ever done. The first 2 seconds of every track never have the same fidelity as the rest of the track. "You are woman" has distracting hiss and pops as has "My man" (here especially whenever the instrumental track and the voice track are being mixed). It seems as if the over the years heavily used mixed master tapes have been used for remastring instead of going back to the original elements. A comparison between the first CD release and this one will reveal further disadvantages of (re-)mastering in both editions, mistakes that, alas, have been multiplied by modern techniques in this forgettable release. Collector beware! ... Read more

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William Finn's career in the musical theater is pretty remarkable considering that he doesn't write traditional show tunes--much less traditional shows. But Finn has a gift for catchy melodies and his emotionally engaging work has a way of intimately connecting with audiences (during the initial run of Elegies, hardened New Yorkers could be seen trying to hide their tears). Though no storyline links these songs, they are united by the underlining idea of loss; in turn funny, tender, witty, biting and quietly devastating, they form a unified tapestry. Musically, Finn can turn out perky little numbers and powerful ballads--"Anytime (I AmThere)" could conceivably be a hit if some contemporary pop diva didit. Led by Betty Buckley and Carolee Carmello, the cast is completelyin sync with the material. Some of the narrative-heavy pieces recallMichel Legrand's sung-through work (and there are Legrand-likeflourishes on "Monica & Mark"), but in the end Finn is very much hisown man: There's nobody quite like him in the Americanmusical-theater world, and Elegies just brings more evidence ofthat. --Elisabeth Vincentelli ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Wonderful William Finn!
I'm a big fan of William Finn and this show reaches the level that I have come to expect from Finn. Many of the songs are stories about very specific characters in a very specific context. The conversational style of the lyrics really helps the characters come to life and is one of my favorite characteristics of Finn's work. Probably the only two songs that lend themselves to a more general application are Infinite Joy and Anytime, both also great songs. Though the theme of this show is celebrating the lives of people Finn has known, and whom you might recognize (Joe Papp), some characters are fictional (Mr. Choi).

I really love the Monica and Mark storyline (Mark's All-Male Thanksgiving, Monica and Mark, and Anytime) and these are my favorite songs on the album. The song Monica and Mark especially gets me and I love how it incorporates motifs from the other two songs. The first time I was listening to this album, I had to just stop what I was doing and devote my full attention to this song. I just love the "da da da da da da" sections. The setup for Anytime is perfect and made me cry. I think I like Anytime better on the "Infinite Joy" album, but that could be because I'm used to it.

I also enjoy the storyline about Finn's mother, especially 14 Dwight Ave. I really like Mr. Choi (especially "Looking in the window...") and Finn has said that it is his favorite song on the album, along with Only One. Passover and My Dogs make me smile. I like the music to Joe Papp, but I'm not crazy about the simple lyrics ("Joe Papp never took crap"). I love the song Infinite Joy, but I prefer Liz Callaway's version on the "Infinite Joy" album (I adore Liz Callaway). I'm not crazy about Peggy Hewitt, Jack Eric Williams, and Venice and tend to skip those tracks, though others seem to like them. Maybe they'll grow on me.

It's nice to hear the Finn veterans on this recording. I absolutely love Michael Rupert (Marvin in Falsettos) on this recording! I think he does a great job! I also really enjoy Keith Byron Kirk, who was in A New Brain. Carolee Carmello was in Infinite Joy and Falsettos.

I am so glad that Fynnsworth Alley recorded this show! It is a great label and I like lots of the albums they put out. Though I would buy anything from Finn anyway! I recommend that you buy this album and Infinite Joy even though there is some overlap in songs. While you're at it, buy anything you can from William Finn!

Best CD you'll buy this year!
William Finn's new songcycle is the most incredible compilation of songs written in my recent memory. There is not a song work skipping on this CD. It will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. Finn's songs are just right, never tear-jerking or corny. Exceptional songs on this CD are "Mister Choi & Madame G," Carolee Carmello's beautiful and hilarious renditions of "Passover" and "Anytime," Betty Buckley's moving "Infinite Joy" and my personal favorite, the hilarious and just sooo cute "My Dogs." It seems silly to say which songs are my favorite because they are each so good. If you have any appreciation in music of any kind, this CD should be added to your collection.

Elegies: A Nasal Song Cycle
I love the pianist.

I was a fan of Finn's "A New Brain" (thanks, mostly, to it being Kristen Chenoweth's B'way debut) and was excited to purchase this album. However, I couldn't focus much on the music as all three of the male performers (who have the brunt of the music to sing) were incredibly nasal and very irritating to listen to. Most of the time I found myself skipping a track (aspecially "Mark and Monica" and "All Male Thanksgiving") because the performers' voices were soo obnoxious and nasal that I started getting a headache.

The only people I would recommend this album to are fans of the divine Carolee Carmello and Betty Buckley. Both are in excellent voice (although Carolee seems to have started pushing her voice since "Parade") and sing their songs with as much conviction as they have in all of their other works.

Except for the last song, I was not impressed by the material--what few rhymes there are are trite and commonplace, and Finn is even audacious enough to put praise forhimself in one of the lyrics. Sure he struck gold with "Falsettoland" and (well not so much) "A New Brain", but Finn's "Elegies" are less reminiscent of good times as they are whining about the unfairness of losing someone and how shocking everything is when someone you love is gone forever. Blah blah blah.

Mediocre at best.

A Light Beyond Death
I was initially concerned that an entire score about the passing of loved ones would be painful and dreary. And don't get me wrong, I like painful and dreary, but not for an entire cd. So I was greatly relieved when I listened to Elegies for the first time. I had already heard Anytime (I am There), Infinite Joy, and Turning on the Infinite Joy cd, so it's lovely to hear that the rest of the score lives up to those numbers, with the possible exception of the song about the dogs. The cast is vocally strong, and their passion comes through on the recording. Standouts are Keith Byron Kirk on "Mr Choi and Madame G", and with Carolee Carmello on "Goodbye", Betty Buckley on "14 Dwight Ave., Natick Massachussetts, Carolee on "Anytime" and "Passover", Michael Rupert on "Mark's All-Male Thanksgiving" and Christian Borle on "Turning". Overall, Elegies celebrates the lives of the departed with joy and light, and most importantly, the idea that life goes on.

what more can i say...?
if i were to summarize the experience of listening to this CD, it would be in a very simple sentence - great. now that's such a hollow and meaningless word as a response to "how are you?'s" casually asked of acquaintances. but it is the truth - this CD is great.

it evoked a myriad of emotions ranging - the lightness of the song "My Dogs", the mysterious depth of "Infinite Joy", and the peek into the singer's and the composer's soul in "Anytime".

this is great for Fridays spent alone in one's apartment - it fills the air with music worthy of the label "music". ... Read more

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Tony Bennett's commercial renaissance of the 1980s and '90s was aided by a string of albums that communicated his essential values while providing conceptual rings (Sinatra, Astaire, women singers) for record buyers to grasp. Playin' with My Friends links duets with an assortment of marquee artists to a set of blues and blues-influenced standards. While Bennett is no Joe Turner or Bobby Bland, his upbeat style melds well with that of most of his guests. He achieves the proper level of brio on "Let the Good Times Roll" with B.B. King and sits in spiritedly with Stevie Wonder ("Everyday [I Have the Blues]") and Ray Charles (a moaning "Evenin'" that's the standout cut). In fact, it's the visitors, not the host, who occasionally misfire: Sheryl Crow sounds unsure of her putative pain on "Good Morning, Heartache," while Natalie Cole is simply too glib to make for a convincing "Stormy Weather." Still, Bennett, his small band, and the best of these cameos make Playin' more than just another series of superstar walk-ons. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (32)

One of the last great singers still around today...
It's no secret that Tony Bennett continues to sing well, as aptly demonstrated on this excellent CD. With Rosemary Clooney now gone from us, he's among the few great interpreters of classic American pop singing still around, as is Kay Starr, who duets on "Blue and Sentimental."

With help from producer Phil Ramone and a superb group led by his longtime pianist, Ralph Sharon, Tony and his duet partners really cook on a collection of blues-tinged material (many of them timeless classics, with a few rare gems thrown in). Check out "Good Morning Heartache" (with Sheryl Crow), "I've Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" (with Bonnie Raitt), "Alright, Okay, You Win" (with Diana Krall), "Let the Good Times Roll" (with B.B. King), and others, including "Evenin'" (my favorite track of the entire set, thanks to Ray Charles).

This CD ranks among Tony's best of the past several years. Enjoy!

Hey- it worked pretty well for Sinatra and B.B. King!
I love Tony Bennett- he's talented without being a megalomaniac (unlike Frank Sinatra). "Playin With My Friends" brings Tony together with the likes of Billy Joel, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and Ray Charles. Tony and Diana Krall have a wonderful sound together on the first track "Alright, Okay, You Win". The most enjoyable factor of these types of CD's is hearing younger artists truly showcase their talents through older songs. It seems more and more kids are warming up to music from several generations ago simply because they recognize newer vocalists on the album. Overall, an entirely scrumptious and delectable CD for evenings in or dinner parties.

A near-perfect combination of Jazz and Blues
If you love both Jazz and Blues, then this CD is a near-perfect combination. The songs are blues, the scales are blues, but the singing & overall feel leans more towards Jazz. This makes it more upbeat than a typical Blues CD. Although Tony shows he's still a star crooner with a voice that defies his age, his guests are really what makes this CD worth buying. When my wife first heard his duet with Diana Krall, ''Alright, Okay, You Win,'' she was instantly hooked (the title alone peaked her interest). My entire family sings along in the car with B.B. King & Tony on ''Let the Good Times Roll.'' Stevie Wonder and his harmonica really shine in ''Everyday I have the Blues.'' My favorite track is when Tony and Billy Joel team up for ''New York State of Mind.'' Like his version in the America: Tribute to Heroes CD, the song enters a whole new level when it's played with a jazz/blues interpretation; plus Billy's voice is once again outstanding. The ladies that accompany Tony, Diana Krall, K.D. Lang, Kay Starr, and Natalie Cole, really showcase their smooth-as-silk voices. Having Ray Charles join Tony on Evenin' clinched the deal for me. The CD is high on the request list when my family joins me in the car. Overall, it has great energy, vocals, and musicians which makes it a must-have for those who appreciate music in these two genres.

Good
Any fan of Tony, Jazz or Love Music in particular will LOVE this cd. It has a collection of really great songs and very talented artists.

Still going strong, still greatly versatile
I never truly considered Tony Bennett one of the great singers of the late 40's and the 50's, and have become amazed at his longevity as a performer and at his continuing popularity.

All this is well earned, as this CD shows. He maintains an upbeat style and while it's wonderful to hear him with a veteran such as Kay Starr on "Blue and Sentimental", he is still a good match for such gals as Diana Krall, Sheryl Crow, and Bonnie Raitt.

Most outstanding, though, in my mind is "New York State of Mind", a great duet with Billy Joel. And for real low down blues, "Evenin'" with Ray Charles can't be beat. Another master blues musician, B. B. King, really backs Tony up, and easily shares the spotlight on "Let The Good Times Roll".

This is good blues, although with the Tony Bennett upbeat interpretation, it isn't always at its most soulful...often a blending of Bennett's smooth and upbeat voice with generally soulful vocal or instrumental accpaniment from the great guest stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This album's full title should read Songs I Heard When I Was a Kid and Never Forgot, as Harry Connick covers a selection of familiar, if unlikely, chestnuts. Who can deny the appeal of classics such as "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "Spoonful of Sugar" (from Mary Poppins) and "Oompa Loompa" (from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)? Connick proves his worth as an arranger, especially on the tracks that get the full New Orleans swing treatment. Boasting several excerpts, The Wizard of Oz must have made quite an impression on young master Harry: "Ding Dong" becomes a zippy big-band number and "Over the Rainbow" begins with a thunderous intro before segueing into the familiar melancholy tune. But the best is the obscure "The Jitterbug," a brilliantly catchy number that had been cut from the movie's final version. Still, as good as they are, Connick's arrangements don't quite match Herbert Stothart's original ones. The CD ends with The Sound of Music's "Edelweiss" and "Do Re Mi," the latter in a swell finger-snapping version. Connick's silliest record to date is also his most warmly endearing. --Elisabeth Vincentelli ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Musicals with a little cayenne pepper added?
The lady at the record store told me about her experience when I bought this CD without hearing it and I admit that I certainly agree with her. Children's songs? Am I going to like this?

The answer is: YES, YOU ARE!!!

If you were a child in the sixties and seventies you probably grew up with and remember well, the musicals, 'Sound of Music,' 'Mary Poppins' and 'Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.' Only now you get to hear them again with a little Dixieland cayenne flavor added to spice them up.

Connick opens with excitement as he sings a word we all know but can't spell: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. The horns and brass take over and the walls will shake with the volume, so be mindful of the neighbors. Another fifteen tracks follow; some you may recognize, some you may not. But the bottom line: you'll find yourself singing along and tapping your feet like the big kid that you are. And if you have it loud enough, your neighbors will too! This CD is guaranteed to bring children and adults together with a common and enthusiastic celebration of music.

Give this CD a chance
Ok, I was a little skeptical of a jazz cd with the "oompa loompa" song on it, but if nothing else I thought my kids would like it. This cd is great! I love it. What a cool idea, to take songs that we used to hear in movies and sing when we were kids, and set them to great music. It brings back so many memories hearing all these songs again, but done in a way that is not childish sounding. My kids are two and four and they love this music. Adults will love this music, I am going to play it at our next coctail party. Harry Connick, Jr. is wonderful. He has the smoothest voice. I had several of his cd's before this one, but I am now a Harry fan.

Good for Parents; So-so for Kids
Much of what is good about Harry Connick Jr.'s music--his unusual phrasing, his unique song stylings--works against this disk from a child's point of view as he alters some well-chosen material almost beyond recognition.

My family (which includes five children, 4-14) listens to all kinds of children's music, and the kids would rate this near the bottom (though most have grown to like his version of "Oompa Loompa").

My wife and I, who own several of Connick's other CD's, enjoy this disk. But it would get a lot more airplay in the minivan if it were sung with kids in mind.

If he set out to create an album of children's songs for adult ears, Connick has succeeded. If you're looking for something the kids will enjoy, do a search of Tom Chapin's stuff (especially "My Hometown" and "Family Tree").

Relive your childhood!
Of course you have to be of a certain age to have this qualify as sounds of your childhood! But if Willy Wonka, The Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music and Mary Poppins colored your childhood, these songs will take you back but with a grown up sound! You may not be able to sing along the first couple of times through, but you will! You KNOW the words....you just have to learn Harry's spin on the beat and timing. But before you know it you'll be sitting in traffic singing "...what do you get when you guzzle down sweets?...Oompa Loompa Doompity Dah..."

Arrangements & Orchestrations!!!
I'm amazed at the excellence of arrangements on all of Harry's recordings. Everytime I read a title of something really old and worn out, I honestly think it'll be inane, but never, NEVER underestimate the power of a stellar orchestral arrangement! With "Songs I Heard," the tunes are classics and standards, but brilliant writing and performance bring a life all its own! I first discovered his sublime arrangements on "Come By Me" (my fav Connick album) and how he turned standards I thought I'd never listen to into music I now absolutely love! It's all in the arrangements and orchestrations, man! I HIGHLY recommend this! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

A harrowing classic, Billie Holiday's personal favorite among her '50s albums captures the singer 17 months before her death, her once honeyed voice, scarred and weakened from punishing life, its ravages highlighted by the 1958 session's crisp sonics and the contrasting "satin" of Ray Ellis' sleek string arrangements. Yet it is that very contrast that explains the power of these performances: In revisiting its torchy standards, Holiday reduces them to their core of pain and longing, transforming "I'm a Fool to Want You," "You Don't Know What Love Is," and "You've Changed" into naked declarations as mesmerizing and unsettling as a horrific accident.Any postrocker that presumes pop standards and string sections automatically translate to "easy listening" hasn't listened to this. This 1997 version adds unreleased takes and a beautiful 20-bit digital transfer to extract every shivering pang of Holiday's music. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (55)

The start of a love affair
I admittedly was never particularly drawn to Billie Holiday for various skewered reasons (too legendary, too long ago, too sad). But after seeing her story on an A&E Biography, curiosity got the best of me, especially with respect to Lady In Satin. I remember having run across this album in the stores; it was the only Holiday offering that looked like an actual album, as opposed to the endless profusion of latter-day compilations.

I haven't wanted to listen to anything else since I bought it last week. It's just that good! There's something to be said for an artist's so-called "declining period". Though even for someone like myself who's largely unfamiliar with Lady Day's early work, this album can make for difficult listening. But her worn out, often fractured voice only adds to the material's emotional honesty. Be prepared to have your heart ripped out by "Glad To Be Unhappy"; her voice has a whimsical trace that somehow manages at times to pierce through the sadness.

Placing singers with less-than-perfect voices into lush pop arrangments tends to make for very appealing contradictions.
It's very easy to see why this was Holiday's personal favorite album. The well-documented liner notes only serve to make the album and the Lady all the more compelling. This one will haunt you...and you'll be glad.

I finally got it..
Writing an review for Billie Holidays "Lady in Satin"... Not an easy task.. Because you just can't explain this one... I could say that the lyrics are good (wich they are), or that the arrangments by Ray Ellis are beautifull (wich they are)... But it just won't do. This CD is pure magic, I absolutely love it.. To hear Billies voice so scarred, so.. for lack of a better word.. weak, a far cry from the once cornett-like instrument, is in itself a powerfull experience. But the raw emotion, passion, sorrow and heartache that she puts into theese performances.. It just makes you want to cry. Wich is exactly what I do each time I listen to this album. I just can't help it. If you know anything about Billies life, listen to the lyrics.. Lady Day really knows what she is singing about. It is one of those moments in life where life imitates art, or art imitates life, as the case may be. Listen to it.. Really listen, because it is one of the most powerfull albums you will ever hear..

Admittedly, this is not an "easy" album in anyway. Billies shaky voice does not make for easy listening. The first time I heard it, I did not se what all the fuss was about.. But then I tried listening to it again.. and again.. And the third time, I got it. I finally got it..

The Best Ever.
This is my first review on Amazon. I have never felt the need to do a review on Amazon before. Simply because someone would have always said all that I would have wanted to say.
56 people have reviewed this album before me. Pretty much every good reviewer has said what I am going to say. And yet I feel compelled to review this album. No one, I repeat no artist has ever sung from the depth of his/her heart like Billie Holiday in this album. The music pacifies you, and Lady Day's voice fills you with the deepest sorrow. And yet, in the end you emerge as if transformed by a divine experience.
Now, I will be fair. I had first heard this record 2 months back. And as it turned out, it was the first record of Billie Holliday that I had heard. Naturally, I was surpried, as people who know their stuff regarded her as one of the greats, and this record of her's as the best of all. But I was disappointed.
Eventually, I went back and heard more of her earlier recordings, read about her life, and again came back to this record. And now I truly believe that no artist has ever sung from his/her heart like the way Billie Holiday did in this CD. This album is truly beautiful. And the beauty is hidden underneath a sratchy and haggard voice of a lady tormented by physical and emotional distress.
If you do not know much about Jazz don't buy it.
If you haven't heard Lady Day before, wait till you have heard some of her other stuff.
If you have heard her before and haven't heard this album, then you are missing out on something no words can describe.
And as a tip to those who do not "get" this album. Like Ray Ellis said it, hear it emotionally and not musically.

an essential classic ?
Having just read an article entitled the most essential jazz music of the past century I went and purchased ths Lady in Satin. This was an album that was professed to be one of the great ones. Powerfull and essential in Holiday's catalogue.
I placed it into the CD palyer with great anticipation, first was the orchestration, big full and accurate. Then the horrific, screatching, off key shaky voice of the singer.
I went onto the next track and more of the same. Fantastic big band orchestrations marred by this scared vioce. One track is an outtake and she speaks as if she was drunk ! I understand she had her hard times but at least the recording engineers could have taken the bottle out of her hands.
This was a horrible let down.

Altisimo nivel emocional
Es curioso la controversia que este disco despierta. Razonable porque la voz de Billie Holliday está ya muy deteriorada, como si tuviera 80 años. Pero para mi su interpretación es mejor que nunca, trasciende sus propias posibilidades vocales y la emoción desborda, el dolor empapa los deliciosos arreglos de Ray Ellis y los sentimientos se apoderan de un disco impagable e irrepetible.
Este disco aparece aproximadamente 1 año y medio antes de su muerte, y es su mejor legado, una colección de hermosas viñetas de amor y desamor, desgarrado pero no exento de un pequeño rayo de esperanza a veces (for heaven's sake).
Entre las canciones del disco, mis preferidas son I'm a Fool To Want You (entre las mejores de su repertorio), For Heaven's Sake, You Don't Know What Love Is, You've Changed o The End Of A Love Affair.
Disco especial e irrepetible, joya atemporal, testamento de una de las mejores y expresivas voces del universo jazz, pop. Este disco no merece menos de un 10. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

From the evocative cover painting to the impeccably chosen songs within, this 1965 album harkens back to Sinatra's great Capitol-era concept albums like In the Wee Small Hours and Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely. The theme revolves around a man approaching his 50s, looking back with a mixture of nostalgia, regret, and uncertainty; given Sinatra's age at the time (he was 49 when this was recorded) and the way he invests himself in the material, it's impossible to interpret the record as anything but autobiographical. Wistful numbers such as "Don't Wait Too Long," "It Was a Very Good Year," "September Song," and the title track all hit the emotional bull's-eye, but everything here is excellent. Unquestionably his finest Reprise-era achievement. --Dan Epstein ... Read more

Reviews (32)

One of Sinatra's finest hours
September of My Years is a perfectly arranged selection of songs recorded as Sinatra neared his 50th birthday (1965). It is outstanding, in that the 13 songs absolutely belong together on this collection, perfectly realized by Sinatra's mellow voice of the 1960s. It is especially stunning to compare songs like 'Hello, Young Lovers' to the early Columbia recordings, which are also first rate but lack the sincerity derived from five decades of living.

From the Gordon Jenkins-arranged introduction to the title track to the closing September Song, the music (with Jenkins signature strings) provides the right wistful, reflective backdrop to a Sinatra whose voice has aged like wine.

'It was a Very Good Year' is probably the standout, and the kind of magic even FS could not have recorded when he was starting out in the late 1930s. Here it is evocative, heartfelt and very moving. 'Man in the Looking Glass' is remarkable, as is 'Once Upon a Time.'

I agree with Dan Epstein's review: this is essential Sinatra, certainly the best concept album on Reprise. The listener can feel that Sinatra is singing part of his autobiography here, and for those of us still moved by his passing it takes on an even greater significance.

Very highly recommended.

gentle, poignant Sinatra
When I was 20 you couldn't have convinced me I'd ever own a Frank Sinatra album, but a few weeks ago I found myself humming these songs that I'd heard my mother playing years ago. The arrangements sound a little dated but their virtue is unchanged -- they leave Sinatra's voice far forward -- and some of his greatest performances are here, bookended by two masterpieces -- "The September of My Years" and "September Song". The songs selected flawlessly support the album's concept of the singer looking back from his approaching 50th birthday, and Sinatra doesn't hit a wrong note anywhere. When you think of everything it meant to be Frank Sinatra -- what a life to be looking back on! -- the chance to listen in is irresistible. You can't help but bring the ol' math brain out of mothballs to figure out what month your life is in; if you're getting older and have September in common with Ol' Blue Eyes, it doesn't seem so bad; if you're still in the early days, it adds some perspective to your thoughts and feelings about aging.

"The September of My Years" -- Not the first version recorded by Sinatra, but the definitive version. His voice is perfection, as smooth as Scotch, and his tone one of reflection without bitterness. The dip when he sings 'A-a-and I find ....' is lovely and restrained.

So often Sinatra could have descended into melancholy, but didn't -- "How Old Am I?" has not a trace of self-pity and "Don't Wait Too Long" is never churlish.

"It Gets Lonely Early" -- Good lyrics and superb phrasing propel this tearjerker to a higher plane.

Some of the songs have sub-par lyrics and arrangements -- "This Is All I Ask" and "I See It Now" -- but Sinatra's phrasing pulls them out of the hat.

Other masterpieces include "Last Night When We Were Young", with an arrangement as timeless as the vocalization, and "The Man in the Looking Glass" -- quintessential Sinatra -- quietly passionate and more than a little irreverent without ever being clownish.

"It Was a Very Good Year" -- Hey, I'm as cynical as the next person, and I enjoy irony, but you can't listen to this song without thinking it might be nice to hold a world-view that didn't reject romance and hope as passe. And what woman wouldn't want to be remembered as the singer of "Once Upon a Time" remembers his long-ago sweetheart?

"When the Wind Was Green" -- an evocative arrangement with Sinatra's smooth-as-silk delivery.

"Hello Young Lovers" is a terrific song, and can you hear it without believing Frank is thinking of Ava Gardner. The song reaches out to the young without condemnation or condescension -- a trick most adults of the '60s couldn't pull off.

"September Song" -- 'When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame, one hasn't got time for the waiting game' .... 'And these few precious day,s I'll spend with you'. Such a great song so perfectly sung.

Even if you're not a diehard fan, you can't help but enjoy hearing Sinatra at the top of his form on this breathtakingly beautiful album.

Best of the Reprise years.
This is without a doubt, and almost by leaps and bounds, the best Sinatra effort of the Reprise record label years. This cd holds it's own with the classics In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning(which is my personel favorite) and Frank Sinatra sings for Only the Lonely. Outside of those two sets, it may be better than any other of his Capital work, which is a very bold statement. Sadly, the only other dics which are on the Reprise label that are almost as good as this one are Ring a Ding Ding and Ol Blue Eyes is Back. If you can get these three dics on Reprise and then buy the Reprise Colection box set, then you will have all the Reprise you need. The Columbia Years box set is great if you enjoy really dated, but beautiful music. Almost anything from the Capital years is essential.

pop music as beautiful art
perhaps his greatest hour. a beautiful, honest statement upon approaching fifty. the pangs of mortality and regret are throughout without being showy (as it would later be in works like trilogy).
the selections here were shrewdly and brilliantly chosen to evok a definite, underlining concept.
one could write on and on about each piece, but it is sufficiant enough to say that there isnt a false note in the whole of the album.
whoever would have thought that depression could be so intoxicating?
this is popular music at its most vital.

Completes the trilogy of melancholy masterpieces...
If you, as I do, heartily like Frank's "In the Wee Small Hours" and "Only the Lonely" albums, then add this one to your shelf as soon as you can. There are wee differences among the three discs, and each is fine. Here, Frank is older, wiser, less devastated by love gone wrong, although still wistful. Definitely NOT for only the lonely, this CD can be enjoyed even if you are in a good relationship. Nobody has done these kind of lyrics and moods better than Sinatra. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Sweet songs
I love to hear these two sing oldies...it is interesting to hear them sing gospel..so refreshing.

It just lifts your spirit
When I was growing up, we listened to Country. Now as an adult, and life is getting me down, I sit and listen to this Cd and I feel loved and happy with the world. The contentment I get into after listening to this Cd reaches deep in-side of me and lifts my spirit closer to God, who takes away all the bad feelings I just had. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

One of the Greatest Movies of the Late 60's
Hello Dolly is one of my favorite films. It's one of those movies that I have seen time and time again and never tire of watching. The score is beautifully sung by all involved (yes, even Michael Crawford with his nasal, but pleasant, singing voice). Streisand steals the show as Dolly, of course. And no, she does not seem too young for the role ... The film would be at a loss without her beautiful, flawless singing voice. I also have the Carol Channing 1964 original cast album. Sorry to say it, die-hard-Carol-Channing-fans, but I have a hard time visualizing her as Dolly in the film (although she is great on the album). Her voice is unique and charming, but the score is really better done by someone who can sing!

I have to hold back from giving 5 stars, though, due to the sound quality of the disc and incompleteness of this recording. The sound quality on several parts of the disc has much to be desired. The sound is somewhat distorted and tinny during the louder sequences. The disc is also incomplete. While the music contained herein would have been quite sufficient for the limited playing time of vinyl records, an effort should be made to expand the CD to include additional material. Missing from the disc are the "Call on Dolly" chants which open the film, the wonderful OVERTURE, additional material in DANCING and BEFORE THE PARADE PASSES BY, the entire Waiters' Dance in the Harmonia Garden sequence, as well as the chase music which closes that sequence. Wasn't there Exit Music too? There is also a lot of underscoring that accompanies the Harmonia sequence that we would like to see released. Perhaps 20th Century-Fox will put out a RESTORED and EXPANDED soundtrack album when this film comes out on DVD (whenever that happens; hopefully soon!).

Even with its FEW flaws, I highly recommend this soundtrack. And see the movie if you get a chance, too. The VHS is out of print and not yet released on DVD. It airs on the Fox Movie Channel from time to time. Oh to see this spectacle in the movie house, in W I D E S C R E E N and 6 track STEREO! When it comes out on DVD I'll be the first in line to get a copy!

Hello, Barbra!
Ok, Barbra was too young for the part. Many of her films require a suspension of disbelief. So what? She sounds great here and Lennie Hayton's arrangements are terrific. The big highlight is Barbra's duet with Louis Armstrong. I don't particularly want to sit in my living room and listen to Walter Matthau sing, nor do I enjoy the whiny vocal stylings of the rest of the high school production caliber cast, but that is why I have programming capability on my CD player. This CD issue replicates the original LP version, but really should have included the entire score in its complete, unedited form.

A Great Musical
This musical score is awesome, except for Walter Matteau's singing, which is terrible. I would also like to have had the incidental music included here, not just the songs.... however, the CD is still wonderful and very well mastered. Streisand is superb, but note that Marianne McAndrew is marvelous (not sure if she did her own singing, but it's first rate), not to mention the late Louis Armstrong, brief as his performance is.

A Great Soundtrack!
I enjoy this version a little more than the broadway version. Barbra does an excellent job. Walter Matthau also did a fair job. Micheal Crawford does okay, but he is mu ch better in "Phantom". This is a must for any Striesand fan.

The parade already passed by!
I actually would give this soundtrack recording two-and-a-half stars. Though the costly film was a box office disappointment (even though it was one of the year's biggest grossers, it failed to break even) and it's soundtrack counterpart flopped (it stalled at a dismal #46), this recording features enough good moments to make it worth getting for Streisand fans. Barbra's renditions of "Before The Parade Passes By," "So Long, Dearie," and the then-newly written "Love Is Only Love" are terrific, however the seven minute-plus reworking of the title song never really gets going despite the glorious midsection featuring Louis Armstrong. The rest of the cast (including future Phantom Michael Crawford) deliver performances that range from bland to unlistenable. Listen to Barbra's tracks, skip the others. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

In the Mood for Nat
This is great stuff. He does mangle the Spanish language, but even that seems appropriate considering when the recordings were made. The engineers did a great job capturing the acoustic instruments and the vocals. Reminds me of the high fidelity recordings by Esquivel that you can get on CD today.

Perfect background for an outdoor summer drinks party.

Soft, suave and Spanish Nat King Cole
Unlike most of the other reviewers of this disc who came by way of exposure to "In The Mood For Love" I can actually remember listening to these songs as a child. I was thrilled to see this compilation of Spanish songs featuring the underappreciated song stylings of Nat King Cole. He had a voice for the ages.This disc is based on two recordings on Capital that he did in Spanish. The superb recording and superior "Cole Espanol" was the first of two efforts and included some of the best offerings on the disc including "Quizas, Quizas,Quizas" where Cole croons at his best and in pretty good phrasing for a non-Spanish speaker, "Las Mananitas"(Mexican birthday song) and the tribute to the revolutionary, women soldiers of 1911 war torn Mexico, entitled "Adelita,"in which he is accompanied by mariachis for an authentic interpretation, "Acercate Mas" where he is accompanied by the Rivero Quartet, the unforgetable composition by Agustin Lara, "Noche de Ronda" where the marimabas chime in softly with the background chorus adding to the fine textures and 50's cha-cha- cha dance numbers like "Cachito" and "El Bodeguero."The original recordings mentioned were recorded in Havana, Cuba under one of the leading conductors in Cuba, Armando Romeau Jr. The result is a polished professional eclectic mix of Spanish songs reflecting the diversity of Latinos with songs from Mexico and South America. The orchestration and background vocals work wonderfully with the smooth voice of Nat King Cole. I would highly recommend his disc to those that like Nat King Cole and want to experience another view of this multi-facteted and talented musician or those that like nostalgia or romantic songs in Spanish. Whether your memories ae 50's backyard bbq's while your parents chuckled over the novelty of Nat in Espanol or the tenderness of his voice in the film you will not be dissapointed by this collection. You will probably use it as part of the soundtrack to your new memories for another generation. The only downer about this disc is the packaging, it is void of any information except the obligatory song titles and composers. Get this disc for another portrait of Nat King Cole that transcends international boundaries.

Ay, Cosita Linda!
This is just wonderful. Although Nat King Cole's accent in Spanish leaves something to be desired, he is such a wonderful singer that I can overlook this. His rendition of "Ay cosita linda" makes me want to get up and dance! A beautiful and varied selection of Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican music. The backup vocals are good -- and in unaccented Spanish. Every song is beautiful.

TAKE IT ON HOLIDAY
Take it on holiday - get in the mood - sing along! All velvety and sophisticated as you would expect with good arrangements.

You'll hear the same songs being played in some of the Spanish bars (go on impress the locals!) and you'll recognise English versions of others. Pretty simplistic Spanish accent, but its a delight.

Comadreja que cantar (that means Singing Weasel) - oh come on, get in the groove!!

A wonderful summer evening experience
I bought this after seeing In the Mood for Love but before the soundtrack had come out. I'm so glad I took a chance on it. Not only does it have Cole's songs from that film, but many others, some just as good. His voice is as silky smooth and romantic as ever, but listening to him in Spanish (for someone like me who doesn't know the language) is a wonderful way to focus on the pure musicality of Nat King Cole and his orchestra. The sound quality on this 1993 is just fine, as lush as it ought to be. It's worth having just to hear a different side of Nat King Cole aside from the obvious hits you usually hear. ... Read more

Amazon.com

More than a decade before starring as Catwoman to Adam West's Batman--years and years, in fact, before pop singers were referred to as "divas"--Eartha Kitt made herself in the image of a gold digger with a lust not just for cash, but for lust itself. This 22-track compilation is built around her signature '50s novelties ("Just an Old Fashioned Girl," "I Want to Be Evil," "C'est Si Bon," "Santa Baby"). A handful of ballad performances add variety, but even without them there's plenty of spice to be had here. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Miss Kitt is Purrfect
I had the pleasure of seeing Miss Kitt for the third time in Georgetown last week, and I must say that she never ceases to amaze me. I have several of her older albums on CD, but the vocal quality of this disc is far superior. I only wish there were a more comprehensive collection of her more recent work (aside from the 5-disc "Eartha-quake" box set covering her early work). Many people don't realize that she has continued to record throughout the 90's, but it is very difficult to track down these recordings. She performs several of these newer songs during her current performances; yet, there is nowhere for these recordings to be found. Still, "Purrfect Greatest Hits" is a great collection.

It's Purr-fection
One Miss Eartha Kitt, she's definitely a unique vocalist in the history of popular song. A sultry character, she vamps her way through classic after classic on this hit collection. Some of the most noteable tunes would include "I Want To Be Evil", "Mink, Schmink", "Let's Do It", "Lilac Wine", and "My Heart Belongs To Daddy". Almost every track is a fun listen, especially her holiday classic, the notorious "Santa Baby". This is definitely a fun collection of songs. All wonderfully interpreted by the thrilling Eartha Kitt.

IRS97, 25354, 'Age'has many points, friends &defense 4 her
Talk about 'Bogus Stats', it wasn't until now that I caught you and your dual identities as being one and the same. Funny, how you've got your 'private reviews' from Chicago, your 25354 from San Diego and your IRS97 from Jasper. Obvious you are one and the same.
I also just read your (yet again) summing up of all liberals as being sexually handicapped snobs.
Well, perhaps I should have admitted in my review of Mulholland Drive, in responding to your incredibly asanine one, that I do indeed know 'Ageofanxiety'. 'Age' is not someone I see everyday, being many miles apart, but she is indeed a intellectual snob in the best way. Now she will dispute her intellectual qualities and merely calls herself an artist.
You did get one thing partially correct in your stereotypes. She is handicapped and terminally so and this is why she 'has so much time on her hands' She is a writer and considers her Amazon reviews her hobby. But this hardly makes her a bitter liberal. I find her full of optimism and the fact that she professionally writes and then writes here as a hobby shows just how much she loves writing.
But it was myself, who upon reading your garbage, that contacted several other artists and pointed both you and 'age' out. What happened afterwords is what it is.
But it wasn't 'Age' that went and gave you a ton of bad reviews or herself a ton of good ones.It was me and several others. But now that I know that you and 25354 are one and the same, oh, I'll just scan through your equally stupid alternative psuedonymn's reviews.
Another defense of 'age' is that she actually liked a couple of your reviews (like the Big Lebowski) and perplexed that you could be so idiotic in one area and so 'on it' in another. I disagree with her there. I found that review of yours just as stupid as any other one. And i don't get her (or your) fascination with the Cohn's either. Perhaps it's an American taste.
I also see that you have a ton of negatives as 25354 and I certainly didn't know of your 'second' Amazon Id until now. but, Oh, I do now.
Again, i reiterate it was myself who got the ball rolling on responding to your god awful reviews (and 'Age' did not ask me to do so). And, let's be honest. It was you that started going through and giving negatives to 'age' NOT the other way around. She only gave you a bad review on 'Mulholland' and 'Lost Highway' and gave you a positive one on 'Big Lebowski'.
Or I believe that to be the case, I don't know for sure. But, it's unlike her to whack at everything you write (and she's hardly still responding to you and recently said you and your reviews were so yesterday).
It's not unlike me however to continue to give you bad reviews and I may continue to do so on both of your Amazon Ids .
Now, regarding this cd. It is indeed charming. I saw Eartha here in London about 8 years ago and she puts on a heck of a show. She is a diva in the grand sense and deserves to be far better known than she is.

It's just like IRS97 and 25354 to trash it just because you hate 'ageofanxiety' for calling you out for the ignorant, bigoted, anti-art review you wrote.
Thanks, for those bearing with this silliness. I'll drop it,if this gentleman drops it.
But do indeed check out this cd. Actually, I doubt that he's ever heard Eartha Kitt.

WHEN AGEFOANXIETY REVIEWS I PUKE
Although this album is mediocre at best, I find that the reviewer "agofanxiety" has more time on thier hands than any person could possibly have. Thus the reviews are biased.The reviewer goes out of the way to make up "unknown" users and BASH other people's reviews. That same reviewer goes and creates bogus stats to make his or her reviews look good also. This is a sign of a good reviewer?Watch out for that person. She'll give you a ton of negative BOGUS votes on your own reviews if you cross him or her. Myself, I find it amusing if not laughable. You'd think people would have better things to do. LOL.Oh well, go ahead and go to my reviews and give me an