20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection [Original recording remastered]

Maureen McGovern | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 24, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B0009IW9TS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,115 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb! Very Wecomed for Maureen Fans Indeed!, May 24, 2005

By 

W. Budris (Rosedale, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Audio CD)

Maureen McGovern fans have been heard! This is the first US Release of Maureen's 20th Century sessions from 1972-1975. Though only 12 tracks from three albums and a few post-album single tracks, this new collection is a gem indeed. Being a vinylist that wants to convert as much to CD as possible, I played with the computer putting my Maureen tracks to CD and cleaning them up. Trust me, no comparison. This remaster job is superb! The highs and vocals are crystal clear, and there are some string passages I've never heard so beautifully before. On vinyl, they didn't stand out.

Maureen's premiere years as a recording artist include the infamous disaster film themes of "The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure, and "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno; both Oscar winners. Other standout tracks include the two single tracks from 1974 and 1975, respectively "Even Better Than I Know Myself" and "Love Songs Are Getting Harder To Sing", both making their Maureen album debut in the US since their initial release. "Even Better..." was only issued on album in Japan, with the album intended for "Love Songs..." still remaining unreleased.

I'm so glad that Universal Chronicles took the time to look into Maureen's beginnings, and the fans can only hope that there is more to follow.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very good--as far as it goes, that is..., April 5, 2009

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Audio CD)

The Best of Maureen McGovern is yet another entry in the CD series entitled 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection. While this album has some incredible hits and ballads by Maureen McGovern, it omits a number of songs from her other albums that should have been included here. There is nothing from her album entitled State Of The Heart; and I don't see much work that she did with Mike Renzi, either. This may be because 20th Century Masters couldn't get the rights to add them here; but it diminishes the value of this CD anyway. We also miss "Can You Read My Mind," the love theme from "Superman;" and we don't get "Different Worlds" from a television series called "Angie." That's a shame. However, what we do get is choice material and that's a good thing. The quality of the sound on this CD is very good; and the artwork is good even if it is somewhat standard for this budget conscious CD series.

The album starts with one of Maureen's biggest hits ever, "The Morning After" from the movie The Poseidon Adventure. "The Morning After" always moved me with its beauty and Maureen does great justice to this ballad; it truly is her territory and she does this one up right! "Where Did We Go Wrong" features Maureen squarely front and center for this emotional number; she never falters and that's grand. Maureen McGovern's star really shines on tracks like "Where Did We Go Wrong" and these two opening songs are more than worth the price of admission alone!

"We May Never Love Like This Again" gets a most sensitive treatment from Maureen who sings this practically giving blood to make her indelible mark on this ballad. I really like "We May Never Love Like This Again;" it's another great tune on this album. "Everybody Wants To Call You Sweetheart" has subtle changes between major and minor keys for a great effect; and listen for "Love Songs Are Getting Harder To Sing." This pop tune comes off as an instant classic when Maureen McGovern sings it to perfection--and beyond! Her excellent diction enhances the ballad even more; I love it.

Maureen belts out "Even Better Than I Know Myself" with panache; and "Give Me A Reason To Be Gone" has a full musical arrangement although the musicians never steal the spotlight away from Maureen--great! "I Won't Last A Day Without You" charms me with its beauty. I first heard this tune performed by Karen and Richard Carpenter; and I would like to think they would have been proud of Maureen's rendition of this awesome number! The album ends strong with Maureen McGovern performing "Like A Sunday Morning." "Like A Sunday Morning" gets the royal treatment from Maureen; she delivers this with panache and that's grand. It leaves you wanting more, too.

Maureen McGovern never falters when she performs; and we are so much better off for Maureen McGovern sharing her talents with us. Although the material on this album is truly wonderful; it skips so much that it can't truly be considered a "best of" album. I give this a generous four stars because even though these songs are great and the album is budget priced, too much of Maureen's artistry has been omitted.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Underappreciated Talent, October 19, 2008

By 

Keith E. Donnelly (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection (Audio CD)

Most people only know Maureen McGovern as the singer of popular disaster movie themes, but there is so much more to this elegant lady. While I am a big fan of her later cabaret work, these early recordings, very hard to find on CD prior to this release, are amazing. Her crystal clear, powerful vocals leave the listener waiting for more and there are songs by such notable tunesmiths as Randy Edelman, John Williams, Paul Williams and Roger Nichols on this collection. Very highly recommended.