Customer Reviews

Complete Johnny Mercer Songbook

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All three discs are great, but the third (instrumental and jazzy)is outstanding. Old enough to be exposed to the popular Mercer tunes and understandingly biased regarding the commercialization of his stuff, I was thrilled to hear these renditions by the great artists selected for this disc. Worth the price for just the last disc-so consider the other two as bonuses.

Among Johnny Mercer's greatest songs are: "P.S. I Love You" (1934, Gordon Jenkins), "Goody Goody" (1936, Matt Melneck), "I'm An Old Cowhand" (1936, words and music), "Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)" (1937, Bernie Hanighen), "Too Marvelous For Words" (1937, Richard Whiting), "Jeepers Creepers" (1938, Harry Warren), "Hooray For Hollywood" (1938, Richard Whiting), "Day In--Day Out" (1939, Rube Bloom), "I Thought About You" (1939, Jimmy Van Heusen), "Fools Rush In" (1940, Rube Bloom), "Blues In The Night" (1941, Harold Arlen), "Skylark" (1941, Hoagy Carmichael), "I Remember You" (1942, Victor Schertzinger), "I'm Old Fashioned" (1942, Jerome Kern), "That Old Black Magic"(1942, Harold Arlen), "Hit The Road To Dreamland" (1942, Harold Arlen), "My Shining Hour" (1943, Harold Arlen), "One For My Baby" (1943, Harold Arlen), "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive" (1944, Harold Arlen), "Let's Take The Long Way Home"(1944, Harold Arlen), "G.I. Jive" (1944, words and music), "Laura" (1945, David Raskin), "Out Of This World" (1945, Harold Arlen), "Early Autumn" (1949, Woody Herman and Ralph Burns), "Autumn Leaves" (1950, English version of a French song, music by Joseph Kozma), "Here's To My Lady" (1951, Rube Bloom), "Something's Gotta Give" (1955, words and music), "Satin Doll" (1958, Duke Ellington), "Charade" (1963, Henry Mancini), "Summer Wind" (1965, Henry Mayer), and "How Do You Say Aug Wiedersehn?" (1967, Tony Scibetta).
This collection does not include them all but contains enough to show why he is considered one of the greatest lyricists popular American song ever produced.
One oddity with Mercer is that many of his greatest hits came from melodies, music which had been pre- produced and which he was asked to write the words for. So for instance the beautiful haunting 'Autumn Leaves' was given lyrics after it had come to America from France.
Mercer is also the only lyric writer to have been honored by an 'Ella Fitzergald Songbook' collection.

An excellent album. The best of Mercer performed by the best musicians and singers. The instrumental album is magnific, with names like Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz performing songs that sensibilize our reflections. An invitation for a dream.

What's not to like? Incredible songs that became vocal standards by great jazz and pop vocalists and great jazz musicians! A wonderful gift for friends who prefer the classic jazz sound over fusion.

This music is some of the best I have heard in years. I have listened to it many times which says to me that the music of this era is the very best. I am delighted to have purchased this songbook.

I gave this double CD set "The Complete Johnny Mercer Songbook" to my brother-in-law, blues legend Billy C Farlow, for Christmas. He LOVES the set, and he is not easy to please. I highly recommend the collection. Mercer songs done by the best of the best.

If you're a fan of classic popular song, this is a fantastic find. My interest in Johnny Mercer's songwriting was piqued by a special I watched on Turner Classic Movies. I searched for what I thought was a good representation of his songs and this box set was the best I found. It took Amazon a bit longer than usual to get it to me but it was worth the wait. This set includes some of Mercer's most recognizable songs along with many I've never heard before, performed by the best singers and musicians of the era - unfortunately - nothing by Frankie - but you can't have everything. Two CDs are vocals, the third is instrumental. With only a few exceptions, everything on them is great. The sound is also very good considering how old some of the performances are.
Buy this box set - it's too marvelous for words!

not so great. the vocal performers were somewhat lacking in my opinion. probably are beter choices available. wish I had read the description better.

With this collection. they have put together classic songs and classic singers i Just love this three cd collection if you love Johnny Mercer then you will Love this collection..

Although the misic on this set are just an nth of Johnny Mercer's great contributions to American Music the joy I get from these offerings by various artists is undescribable. Great !!!!!