With My Lover Beside Me Music By Barry Manilow Lyrics By Johnny Mercer

Nancy Wilson (Jazz) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 16, 2009)
• Original Release Date: October 22, 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Columbia
• ASIN: B000002847
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,871 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still lost for words... after 15 years!, December 2, 2006

By 

Olukayode Balogun (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: With My Lover Beside Me Music By Barry Manilow Lyrics By Johnny Mercer (Audio CD)

Vocal stylist. Song crafter. Song interpreter. Singers' singer. These are just some of the phrases I've seen used to describe the phenomenon that is Nancy Wilson over the years. It's almost as if people are so much in awe of her vocal prowess, that they feel to describe her merely as a singer or a vocalist - even a great singer or great vocalist - would be an insult. If that is the case, well, I couldn't agree more.

This is the only Nancy Wilson CD I own. I remember back in 1991 when it was first brought to my attention by a good friend who thought I would like it. He mentioned the word "Manilow" and I balked. But then he told me she was singing Johnny Mercer songs. Now, one of my favourite albums of all time is Ella Fitzgerald's "The Johnny Mercer Songbook", what with utterly timeless songs like "Laura", "I Remember You", "Early Autumn" and "Single O", just to name a few. Sure, it's Ella singing and she can make anything sound good and the music is arranged and conducted by the great Nelson Riddle but as good as all that is, it's the lyrics of these songs that get to me every time I hear them. I was intrigued. The songs of Johnny Mercer and the music of Barry Manilow? Might be interesting. Just to be safe, I got it on cassette.

Needless to say, I was blown away. I had no idea Barry Manilow was this good. Granted, I'm yet to buy a single song by him but I have a huge amount of respect for him that I didn't have before. He took the lyrics of Johnny Mercer (one of the greatest lyricists of the 20th century) that no one had ever put music to and put music to them. He then got the great Eddie Arkin to arrange the songs and finally got Nancy to interpret them. It's magic. While most great singers can get you to feel something, Nancy Wilson is one singer who makes me feel everything. Every single word and phrase she utters, she brings it like she means it. Like she's living it.

After about two or three listens I got it on CD and have been playing it constantly ever since. I cannot recommend it enough. I love this album so much that, as I said, it is the only Nancy Wilson CD I own. I am so scared that I'll chance another one and be disappointed. If anyone knows of an album that even comes close to the perfection of this one, I'd be really grateful to hear about it. Otherwise, while it might be ridiculous to be such a huge fan of one artiste based on just one performance, I'll be quite happy to be called ridiculous.

The album features jazz greats like Fourplay man Harvey Mason (on drums), Abe Laboriel & Neil Stubenhaus (on bass), Paul Jackson, Jr (on guitar), Kirk Whalum (on saxophone), Jerry Hey (on trumpet) and Paulinho Da Costa (on percussion) and it often gets filed under jazz but you don't even have to like jazz to love this. You just need to like good music and flawless vocals. I simply cannot find the right words to convey how much I love it and how good I think it is - even after owning it for 15 years. Every song stands out, even the "Epilogue" duet with Barry Manilow himself. Highly recommended!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mercer, Manilow and Wilson...an absolutely gorgeous CD, December 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: With My Lover Beside Me Music By Barry Manilow Lyrics By Johnny Mercer (Audio CD)

As the liner notes will tell you, the lyrics of this CD are unfinished poems written by Johnny Mercer. These lyrics are just...beautiful. Innocent, sweet, charming - they give dignity to love and compassion and solitude and the privilege of loving another person. Barry Manilow took the lyrics and did an absolutely phenomenal job of arranging each piece to become memorable tunes. And Nancy Wilson herself - well, no one can sing like this. The voice is divine - aged, husky, provocative, what else can anyone say about Nancy? But what really stands out here is her phrasing - it is truly, truly remarkable. Buy this CD, and listen to "When October Goes" and see if it does not take your breath away. This is one of those albums that not only makes you happy to be alive, but happy that you have such damn good taste to appreciate a work as gorgeous as this.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breath of Ms Wilson's Magic, June 13, 2000

By 

richleen (singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: With My Lover Beside Me Music By Barry Manilow Lyrics By Johnny Mercer (Audio CD)

A breath of exquisite Wilson magic. This album is easily one of the most accomplished Nancy Wilson's work in recent time. The lady is enjoying herself, wrapped in the warmth of Arkin's arrangement, Manilow's melodies and the late Mercer's poetic splendour. Whether love is aplenty in your life, or lacking momentarily, this album leads you on thinking of the simplicity and purity of love. Wilson's vocal is flawless and her phrasing superbly delivered. A tribute that would move Mercer himself, if I dare say. It has been a long time since songs of this nature are born. Everyone needs to be reminded of love so do youself a favour.