Customer Reviews

Golden Classics

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

 

 

I had no intention of reviewing this particular album/CD by Gloria Lynne. I had included it on one of my 'Listmania' compilations as a classic buy (grab it while you can!) and then read the totally negative review from Robert Hanks.

Please...trust me...this Gloria Lynne album by a jazz artist of UNQUESTIONABLE credentials, is a masterpiece. Period. Nothin' more to be said.....but, OK, I'll say more.

First of all, COLLECTABLE CD's are a god-send, helping us to preserve the Best of the Best from past musical history. They do excellent work, very professional, totally First Class. If Bobby Hanks ended up with a 'scratchy CD' he must have run his nails over it when he tore it out of the box & into the player!

And as for Gloria Lynne's interpretations of some classic ballads, well, just grab a little Tia Maria, curl up in front of a fireplace, and listen to this sultry songstress deliver...Full Force..."I Wish You Love," "The Folks Who Live On The Hill," "I'm Glad There Is You," "I Should Care," "Try A Little Tenderness"....I could name each & every song on the CD, but you get the idea. They are all Perfect. They are all Glamorous, Glorious Gloria at her Grandest....and it doesn't get better than that!

This is some of Gloria Lynne's absolutely best work very poorly recorded on the Collectable label out of Pennsylvania. BEWARE! If it were not for Amazon's policy for not accepting return CD's opened, I would have delivered it to them by hand. This is a tragedy. The company even recorded some of these great songs off a scratchy LP, with no filtering whatsoever. Really low rent approach...

The recordings on this CD sound better than they did on the radio where I first heard them. I gave mine to my sister and am purchasing another for myself. The music is still fresh. I absolutely love it!! The ballads are smooth and mellow and make you feel good while you're listening. If anyone is on the fence about buying this CD, don't be.

If you have never heard of Gloria Lynn and you like easy listening music, you will never regret purchasing this CD. If you have any relatives who grew up during the 50s and 60s and you want to give them something special, buy this one. They will love you for it.

I agree 100% with meskb's review. My copy of the CD is not the least bit scratchy either.
Every time I heard "Stella By Starlight" on DMX, I would stop to see who it was that was singing? The vocalist that made me stop to listen was always Gloria. She has such a clear voice and a great style that's all her own. "Love I've Found You" is another gem on that CD.
So now I'm reading where that great voice came from -- her autobiography, "I Wish You Love." Its 5 stars, too.

In Britain, "I Wish You Love" is perhaps mostly associated with legendary belter Shirley Bassey, but it was Gloria's version that made it a standard. The name Gloria Lynne may not sound terrible familiar to a lot of people outside the US, but in her hey day she was a tour de force, tackling everything from the blues to traditional pop music. Originally a gospel singer, Gloria's voice was full-bodied, but gentle at the same time. Her only big hit and Top 40 entry is of course "I Wish You Love", which peaked at number #28 in 1963. Like many incredibly talented African American women (namely Nancy Wilson and Carmen McRae), she struggled to break into the Billboard Hot 100, only managing to break through with a handful of songs: "Tower of Strength" (#100), "Be Anything" (#88), "Don't Take Your Love from Me" (#76) and of course "I'm Glad There Is You". That being said, Gloria was an incredibly talented singer, who was often overlooked.

Highlights: "I Wish You Love", "The Folks Who Live on the Hill", "Serenade in Blue" and "I Should Care".