Customer Reviews

American Legend: George Gershwin

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DELTA LASERLIGHT's American Legends series was produced in 1996 by Rod McKuen. Cover art is of US commemorative stamps issued ten years earlier.


My favorite recording on the Gershwin edition of this series, Al Jolson's late-40s DECCA remake of "Swanee" has added echo and seems a bit congested. Paul Whiteman's "Rhapsody in Blue" is the famous 1920s waxing with Gershwin at the keyboard. This LP dub is easy to adjust to despite limited frequency range. It's the historic highlight of the collection, along with Gershwin's equally-limited-in-tone solo "Three Preludes."

Sorry Mr. McKuen, but you should stick to reciting poetry set to music. Your vocal on "Our Love Is Here To Stay" is pretty dire!

Jo Stafford's "Embraceable You" has the tinny blurriness of a multi-generation copy of a broadcast soundcheck, and Crosby/Dorsey's "Lady Be Good" isn't any better. AM radio frequency range here.

The absolute finest track however easily makes up for any above inadequacies. A marvelous 16.5 minute stereo recording by the Warner Bros. orchestra brings "An American In Paris" to full brassy life! It's an album saver, actually.

Equally interesting, although not full range or stereo are Oscar Levant's 9 minute "Variations on I Got Rhythm."

The balance are monaural album tracks (probably from the '50s) of decent audio quality.


That Warner piece and the oldest sides make this set a worthwhile addition for any Gershwin fan.

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 61:57