Cocktail Hour: Ethel Merman [Original recording remastered]

Cocktail Hour (Series), Ethel Merman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Columbia River Ent.
• ASIN: B00004SAZO
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #461,894 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. I Got Rhythm

2. Heat Wave

3. Eadie Was a Lady

4. You're the Top

5. How Deep Is the Ocean?

6. An Earful of Music

7. Blow, Gabriel, Blow

8. You're a Builder Upper

9. I Get a Kick Out of You

10. It's the Animal in Me

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. It's De-Lovely

2. Ridin' High

3. Red, Hot and Blue

4. Doin' What Comes Natur'lly

5. You Can't Get a Man with a Gun

6. Make It Another Old-Fashioned, Please

7. I'll Pay the Check

8. Down in the Depths

9. I Got the Sun in the Morning

10. They Say It's Wonderful

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Satisfactory, but not great, January 2, 2001

By 

Matthew G. Fick "bakerbear" (SINKING SPRING, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cocktail Hour: Ethel Merman (Audio CD)

Overall, this set is a little disappointing. This "Cocktail Hour" series has a look similar to the "UltraLounge" series as they both use the retro-lounge theme to package old classics from the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Sadly, they are not the same or even comparable. These songs have not been remastered or otherwise enhanced as the Ultralounge ones have. As a result, the sound quality is mediocre. Frankly, I expected more. If you're going to create a series of this scope and depth (the "Cocktail" catalog is quite extensive), why not clean the sound up a little? The sheer power of Ms. Merman's voice carries these CDs. Another problem is the liner notes, or lack thereof. There is nothing: no history of Ms. Merman's career, her life, or even the recording history. Also her famous "There's No Business Like Show Business" is not included in this collection. I give it 3 out of 5 stars becuase it is a good introduction to Ethel Merman's talent and repertoire. But if you're looking for high quality recordings, look elsewhere.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Missed opportunity, September 24, 2001

By 

Tom Illgen (Napa, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cocktail Hour: Ethel Merman (Audio CD)

The great Ethel Merman recorded many of these songs several times. Her legacy of recordings is a gem in the history of the American musical theater. Unfortunately, there isn't a word of annotation with this set, rendering it fairly useless to any person with an interest in the dates, locations, personnel, etc. A shame. I purchased several of these "Cocktail Hour" sets at the same time. The Merman was the only one I opened. The others will be returned.