Collector's Series

Johnny Mercer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 26, 1989)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00000DR9Z
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,804 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #13 in Music > Pop > Oldies > Tin Pan Alley

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Johnny Mercer was one of the founders of Capitol Records, so it's fitting that this entry in the label's Collectors Series is such a well-compiled and -designed package. Comprised of 20 key sides made between 1942 and 1949, it captures the Savannah-born singer/songwriter's lazy, bluesy delivery on both his own tunes ("Blues in the Night," "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive," "One for My Baby") and others' (Frank Loesser's "Baby It's Cold Outside," which Mercer and Margaret Whiting made into a No. 1 hit). Mercer was a major figure in American popular music; this CD makes clear that he was also a highly entertaining performer. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The highest praise from a Johnny-come-lately Mercer fan, June 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Collector's Series (Audio CD)

Amazing that a lyrics fanatic like me, who grew up on Hammerstein, Hart, Harburg, Harnick, Gershwin, et al., only discovered Johnny Mercer in 1999. But thanks to this CD, I am making up for lost time. Johnny Mercer was not only a brilliant lyricist, he was an outstanding vocalist and a charming performer. This CD showcases all three aspects of his glorious contribution to American music.

Every song on this disc is a gem, but if I had to pick my absolute favorites, they'd be: "G. I. Jive," "On the Atcheson, Topeka and the Santa Fe," "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive," "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and "Surprise Party."

Treat yourself to this superb CD!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love it, May 13, 2005

By 

Charles Evans "Call me Kevin" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Collector's Series (Audio CD)

I was born in 1975... a full 35 years after most of these songs were recorded ... and I will admit... I am completely surpised. I am surprised at how much I enjoy this entire CD! It really is amazing... I find myself singing along with songs like "G.I Jive" and "Strip Polka" and I NEVER sing along to music. Everything has such catchy tunes, with crazy little quirks, and such genuine good-natured humor. Really, I find myself laughing everytime I hear put this cd in.

Why this Johnny Mercer CD? Honestly this is the only one that I own, so I don't know if this is any better than the others. However, I do know that has turned into the CD that I listen to on my way home from work (It is especially awesome when I am havign a bad day... "Zippy Do Dah" alway brings a smile to my face!)

My recommedation - even if you don't think that you will like it (I only bought to see if we should use it for dinner music at my wedding!) try it. You may be as amazed as I was.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic '40s recordings by one of America's best, July 21, 2002

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Collector's Series (Audio CD)

Songwriter Johnny Mercer had considerable success in Hollywood before co-founding Capitol Records in 1942. The maverick Los Angeles-based label had some of the hugest hits of the wartime era, starting with Ella Mae Morse's "Cow Cow Boogie," and continuing on through a slew of other great artists. Mercer himself recorded prolifically, and though his own versions of his songs tended to sell less spectacularly than versions cut by various popular bandleaders, he did alright as a singer, too. Mercer's bluesy, hepcat vocal style is a little hokey, but fun nonetheless, and no expense was spared on the punchy big band arrangements. This disc is packed with great Mercer originals, such as "G.I. Jive," with its goofy Slim Gaillard-style scatting, "Ac-Cent-Chu-Ate The Positive," "Glow Worm" and "The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe." Mercer also did fine versions of songs by other standards writers, such as "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah," and Frank Loesser's "Baby It's Cold Outside." Backing him up throughout are Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers, top talent of the time. The Capitol studios had a great, readily identifiable production style -- clean, punchy, solid arrangements, pointing to a new "vocal" style that would redefine pop music in the wake of the big band era. And there was Johnny Mercer, right at the heart of it all. This is a great collection, well worth checking out.