Customer Reviews

Disney Standards

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

 

 

Disney Standards is a great album by Steve Tyrell honoring some of the very best of the music from Disney movies. WE get great songs on this album; and Steve's voice is just perfect for these numbers. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very smart--good job on that artwork!

The album begins with Steve Tyrell and Chris Botti performing "When You Wish Upon A Star" from Pinocchio. "When You Wish Upon A Star" always stuns me with its beauty and the child in me loves this song--and I always will love this song because of that child in me. Steve sings this with lots of feeling and panache; and it makes a strong beginning for this album that is still very pretty. "Kiss The Girl" from The Little Mermaid is a more recent Disney tune; and Steve does an equally bright job on this terrific, electric number. Those people who work for Disney never seem to fail at writing strong tunes and Steve delivers this with an upbeat, positive style that is absolutely infectious.

"You've Got A Friend In Me" features Dr. John singing with Steve Tyrell; this tune from Toy Story is a more recent tune as well--but its' one of my all time Disney favorites. I love the theme of loyalty and friendship and Dr. John and Steve Tyrell work well together; their voice are just right to make this duet memorable. "Beauty And The Beast" is a splendid song that gets the royal treatment from Steve Tyrell; and that piano arrangement couldn't be better. The percussion helps to mark the beat and the music goes well with Steve Tyrell as he sings this marvelous tune. "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" is another tune that appeals to the child in me; and Steve Tyrell gives me the sense that he's singing just to me---fabulous! The piano yet again sounds great on "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes;" and Steve delivers this flawlessly.

"The Bare Necessities" is a great number from The Jungle Book; and when Steve sings it I begin to honestly believe that no other artist would sing this as well as Steve can! "The Bare Necessities" is easily a major highlight of this album and I think you will enjoy it. "Cruella De Vil" comes from 101 Dalmatians; and Steve sings this with all his might--and it works well, too!

As if all this weren't enough for the price of admission to be ridiculously low, we also get a bonus video of "Bella Notte" from Lady And The Tramp. The quality of the print is very good and I know you'll like this scene in which the two dogs, Tramp and Lady, begin to eat the same piece of spaghetti which results in them having a kiss! It's very sweet and it's a scene you'll probably recognize.

Overall, Disney Standards showcases Steve Tyrell's ability to sing some of the best Disney songs ever and come out smelling like a rose. Steve's fans will like this and people who like Disney tunes may want to give this CD a chance. People who like classic pop vocals may like this album as well.

Today (February 28) was the release day for the "50th anniversary edition" of my all-time favorite Walt Disney animated movie, "Lady and the Tramp." After driving over to the mall tonight, to pick up my reserved copy of this "all-new, digitally restored, 2-Disc, Platinum Edition DVD" . . . something gave me a nudge to go next door to check out the latest musical CDs in the jazz section: Lo and behold! (if I didn't know better I'd say What a coincidence!) there was a single copy of this `just released' -- "Disney Standards" CD from my new favorite male singer, Steve Tyrell.

Sure enough, the liner notes promote the new "Lady and the Tramp 50th Anniversary DVD" - complete with a picture of Steve and Mickey Mouse exchanging smiles! And that's what I've just done for the last 47 minutes of listening to this CD --- I haven't stopped smiling!

The 14 tracks include a "bonus music video" of "Bella Notte." For fifty years (until this night) I'd wondered who had composed the words and music to "Bella Notte" -- my favorite song from that most wonderful scene (I believe) in all of the Disney canon - Remember the one? Tramp is nudging the last remaining "meat-a-ball" over to Lady, as the two `lovers' are serenaded by mandolin and accordion, and restaurant owner "Tony" croons in bel canto . . .

"This is the night / It's a beautiful night / And we call it `bella notte' / Look at the skies, they have stars in their eyes / On this lovely bella notte"

The camera pans upward to a view of the moon partly obscured by washing, strung out to dry above the narrow street on dozens of clothes lines - a poignant reminder of the day-to-day `reality' that follows inevitably in the wake of human romance.

When we first saw that scene as youngsters (in my case, 50 years ago at the movies) it didn't make me laugh and cry all at once, as it does now. And who can forget the moment when Tramp and Lady - attempting to concentrate even a little upon Tony's singing, begin to suck upon the same strand of spaghetti, that pulls them to an inadvertent kiss! You loved that scene too - didn't you? Well . . . so it seems did Steve Tyrell - a man after our own hearts!

And if you're a kindred spirit `on a night such as this' . . . then get ready to delight in a most perfect selection of "Disney Standards."

In his liner notes the singer writes, "This album is dedicated to the memory of my late wife Steph and to moms and children of all ages . . . I was amazed by how much importance these songs had for my daughters Tina and Lauryn. They would scream out with joy and excitement: `Oh Dad! Mom and I watched that scene a hundred times!' And my wife would tell them how she and HER Mom loved these songs just as much . . . and how they would share them together when she was young."

The singer notes that, after having spent the last decade devoting most of his musical energy to the Great American Songbook, (he has co-produced Rod Stewart's latest tribute to that golden era of songwriting) he "jumped at the chance to record this album of Disney songs. Just as the timeless songs of Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Rodgers and Hart and the other great composers of the 30s, 40s and 50s have touched the hearts of generation after generation, so have these fantastic Disney classics."

Highlights? Well every track is a delight - and every arrangement is different! Tyrell has surrounded himself with some of the best of today's very best orchestrators - Alan Broadbent, Paul Buckmaster, Bob Mann, Gene Amato and Kenny Ascher.

There are delightful duets - "You've Got a Friend in Me" (with Dr. John), "When You Wish Upon a Star" (featuring a Chris Botti trumpet solo), and the more recent Phil Collins composition "You'll Be in My Heart" (featuring L.A. radio host and saxophonist Dave Koz).

But my favorites are the two written by Peggy Lee and Sonny Burke in 1952 for "Lady and the Tramp," especially the swingingest version of "He's a Tramp" since Peggy's original in the movie.

Closing my eyes again and feeling my heart melt on this lovely "Bella Notte" this version recorded as a medium-tempo dance tune - performed here with a romantic bed of mandolins from arranger-guitarist Bob Mann -- who provides, on this song, the most beautiful guitar solo since one he performed with Nelson Riddle's orchestra on Linda Ronstadt's classic version of "You Go to My Head" (my nomination as the best guitar solo `bridge' ever played on ANY song in the history of popular music).

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How Peggy Lee would love to have heard Steve Tyrell caress her best musical composition - arguably the best of these "Disney Standards."

"So take the love of your loved one / You'll need it about this time / To keep from falling like a star when you make that dizzy climb / For THIS is the night and the heavens are right / On this lovely bella notte."

I knew of Steve Tyrell from a recently-deceased radio station in the Los Angeles area, but I wasn't really a fan of his until I got my hands on this CD. I purchased it on impulse, hoping to like one or two of the songs, but over the last several weeks, I've been listening to all fourteen tracks non-stop during my commute. Tyrell's jazzy interpretations of some of the lesser-known songs, "Cruella De Vil" and "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat," are a treat. The ballads, especially "When She Loved Me" and "Bella Notte," are handled with finesse and grace. I'll be purchasing more of Tyrell's CDs in the future, and if I could rate this CD higher than five stars, I would.

I love this album. It is outstanding, original, and after two or three listens you even forget that these are songs from Disney movies. They just seem exactly what Steve is trying to demonstrate that these songs are "beautiful Standards". My favorite is 'When she loved me" It brings a tear to my eye at the end. Every single song is so fanatasically done. Steve sings as wonderful as always, with his own special style that makes this album as great as it is. Of course the instrumentalist and the arrangements are top notch and perfect. The whole album is a joy to listen to, heartwarming, and of course fun. I was septical about whether I would like the more child oriented songs like "Cruella DeVille"," Everybody wants to be a Cat" and "He's a Tramp", but those ended up to me some of my favorites. The whole album is cool.. Let's have a Volume 2 very soon Steve.

March 2 was the day my order from Amazon.com arrived: Steve Tyrell: The Disney Standards. I learned from Steve Tyrell's website that February 28 was the date the cd would be released. As I watched the video of "Bella Notte" on his web site, I knew I had to add this cd to my collection. I have been a fan of Steve Tyrell for many years and own all his cd's. I am a devoted fan of the Great American Songbook and am proud to admit that Steve Tyrell is my favorite male vocalist and interpretator of these songs.

I kept my mind open as to whether this cd would "woo" me as his other cd's have as I was used to Kern, Hammerstein, Berlin, Rogers and Hart, and other composers of the Great American Songbook.

I played all fourteen tracks instantly and knew that this was another winner for Tyrell and his associates; namely, Bob Mann, co-producer and arranger and guitarist, Bill Schnee, mixer, Alan Broadbent, arranger of the strings (sweeteners) and arrangers, Gene Amato, and Kenny Archer with guest artists.

There are fourteen tracks in the cd and a bonus music video of "Belle Notte." As I watched Tramp and the Lady sharing their spaghetti while Steve Tyrell was singing accompanied by the background of the mandolin and accordion, tears welled in my eyes. It was too beautiful for words. Steve sings part of this song in Italian, which adds a degree of authenticity to the video. Sonny Burke and Peggy Lee share the honors on this composition.

"When You Wish Upon A Star," is probably my favorite track, if I had to choose a favorite, which is virtually impossible. Chris Botti lends his chops on a beautiful trumpet solo. Alan Broadbent gives us his signature arrangement of the string section as he has done on previous Tyrell cd's.

"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes," is beautifully orchestrated with strings arranged and conducted by Alan Broadbent. If you close your eyes and just listen to this song, you know that we all have dreams and pray they do come true. This is universal. Lee Musiker lends his skills in his beautiful piano accompaniment.

"Bare Necessities," is a fun song and a foot tapper with a great arrangement by Bob Mann with solos by Lou Soloff and Warren Leuning on trumpet. It was great hearing one of my favorite percussionists, Paulinho da Costa. This track will bring a smile to your face.

"He's A Tramp," was written by Peggy Lee and Sonny Burke in 1952. It is so much fun to listen to this track and think of Peggy Lee's original rendition from the movie, "Lady and the Tramp."

The duets include "You've Got a Friend in Me," Steve and guest, Dr. John, and "You'll Be in My Heart," with the wonderful saxophonist, Dave Koz.

Every track is unique and wonderful. As the tracks unravel, you visualize the scenes from the Disney movies where these songs were introduced. What makes a standard a standard? It is something that will withstand the test of time and live on forever. It is something that will be passed on from one generation to another. These "standards" from Disney definitely do that and will continue to do that. I thoroughly enjoyed this cd and loved the music video. Thank you, Steve Tyrell, for this opportunity to finally learn and appreciate the beauty of the Disney Standards.

This is a five star cd. Buy it and listen to it. Share it with your children, grandchildren, and your loved ones.

I love Steve's idea to record these wonderful Disney Tunes - Who knew I would love them all over again - and discover a few I had forgotten completely about. Just like the Sinatra CD - I have given this one away to my son who loves Steve's other CDs and who is a big Disney Fan as well as being a musician himself, I had to share with him how wonderful these recordings were. Thanks to Steve - this has become one of my all time favorite CD's. I hope he does another CD real soon.

It's no accident that Disney films have garnered so many oscar winning/nominated songs over the years as one of the key elements to compliment the visual is the audio. Steve Tyrell and his wonderful stylngs and arrangements have brought to the already successful musical offerings presented in the films from the Magic Kingdom a special new breath of life and interpretation. I love them all but gotta give Steve a push to put together a gritty, rythmical collection in the character of the great duet he shares with Dr. John in You've Got A Friend. Maybe a call to Hank Williams Jr. and a little blending with an old Louis Armstrong tune like Wonderful World for nostalgia. Baby of Mine is simply divine... you can feel the soft caresses of his gentle voice. I have every one of Steve's albums ...the texture of his voice is uniquely his own and he ALWAYS makes me feel so good. I love that he can be sentimental and tender without being saccharine. Steve you are special !

Steve has outdone himself! A fabulous collection of songs, masterfully arranged, recorded, and performed. My personal favorites are "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat", and "Cruella DeVille", arranged by Gene Amato, obviously and up and coming arranger.

Congratulations to Steve and to all who contributed to this superlative CD!

I am such a fan of Steve Tyrell, from the time my sister first introduced his music into my life, I can't get enough. She was in Borders and heard Mr. Tyrell's cd playing on the store's music system, asked who it was, and I am really thrilled she did.
Now it brings us a few years later, to this cd that could not be more perfect. There are so many Disney songs, that lets face it, since I am an empty nester with no grandchildren, I never get to hear. Every once in a while, I pull out Beauty and the Beast dvd, but this cd is heaven, a dream come true, a wish upon a star that came true, a cd that will be in my heart, my sister will always have a friend in me. Okay enough, I know, but i LOVE this cd.
Thanks Mr. Tyrell, I look forward to seeing what you will come up with next, you can be sure I will be on Amazon ordering it right away.

Steve has done it again in creating one of the best collections of songs on one CD! Disney was smart in asking this talented singer to record the songs from their classic movies/videos. His renditions of this music lets the listener envision their favorite scenes of the movies/videos that these songs represent and any great moments/memories of their life from when they saw these movies with their families, friends, etc. Steve has a very unique voice and I can't think of anyone else that could sing these great Disney classics as well as Steve. My favorite song on the CD is Bella Notte, and my most favorite Disney classic movie is Lady and the Tramp. What a great bonus to be able to see the Disney animation and Steve singing together on the video. I'm hoping this is the first of many more Disney/Tyrell collaborations - they'll all be loved by many!