Great American Songbook [Live]

Carmen McRae | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Atlantic
• ASIN: B000002I3X
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,355 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Perhaps the title is a bit off the mark: This set, recorded at Donte's in Los Angeles in 1972, isn't some sort of comprehensive catalog of the greatest American songs. After all, it's possible to find more enduring standards than "Close to You" (Bacharach/David) or "A Song for You" (Leon Russell) or "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life" (Legrand/Bergman/Bergman). And while Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and Johnny Mercer are represented (by "Satin Doll," "At Long Last Love," and "I Thought About You," respectively), there's no Gershwin or Berlin or Kern. But that's not really the point, is it? The great McRae make's 'em all sound like classic American songs in a recording that's as close as you'll ever get to seeing her in the intimacy of a small club. The laughter, sighs, and applause of the audience, tinkling cocktail glasses and spoken intros (most of which have been cut for the CD release) put you right there with McRae and the four-piece band, including Joe Pass on guitar and Jimmy Rowles on piano. Maybe it should just have been called Great American Singing. --Jim Emerson

Product Description

Remastered reissue packaged in a digipak. Warner Jazz. 2004. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Search for the vinyl lp version, February 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Great American Songbook (Audio CD)

Listening to this live outing on CD, with most of Carmen's spoken introductions cut out, is a frustrating experience. I had bought the CD a while back, but couldn't really get into it. Then I ran across the old vinyl double album in a used-record store, so I bought it to find out what I had been missing. And let me tell you, Carmen's witty and brash banter makes all the difference in establishing this album as a true listening experience. She cuts up for two and a half minutes alone before launching into "The Ballad of Thelonious Monk." Hearing Carmen speak to the audience does a lot to establish a sense of the room in which she was performing, the jovial mood she was in, and the spirit of that night in Donte's. And you know what, the sound even seems a bit richer on the old vinyl.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CARMEN MCRAE DAZZLES, September 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Great American Songbook (Audio CD)

in this excellent re-issue of concert dates at Donte's. While the domestic single CD version of this album is great, this staggering double disc (in the new, less frustrating, "flip" jewel case) is an absolute "MUST-HAVE" for any Carmen fan. Known and loved not only for her unmistakeable delivery of phrases in song, but her dark and sometimes raunchy sense of humor, the "whole picture" is displayed here in 38 incredible tracks. The domestic version was edited for timing purposes, however the bulk of Carmen's segues between songs have been captured here for us to finally enjoy. (her speech about Thelonious Monk prior to singing "THE BALLAD OF THELONIOUS MONK" will make you appreciate both Carmen and the song itself all the more now) Everything else thats on the domestic version is here, including what I believe to be Carmen's greatest live vocal (and self accompaniment on piano) "THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS LOVE".(Carmen's reading of "LOOK AT THAT FACE" on the ALIVE! album is equally as beautiful...something about Carmen and Anthony Newley songs I guess!) After a brief ad lib we also hear a fine medley of songs (EASY LIVING/DAYS OF WINE & ROSES/IT'S IMPOSSIBLE) Bonus tracks a-plenty: "EAST OF THE SUN", "GLAD TO BE UNHAPPY", among others, and a swinging "I'LL REMEMBER APRIL" are on disc #2, which closes with superb readings of "BODY AND SOUL" and a faux pass by Ms. Mcrae during her still seamless version of "SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN". Backed by Joe Pass on guitar (one of the best guitarists ever) and Jimmy Rowles on piano (when Ms. Mcrae was not playing piano herself), Chuck Domanico on drums and Chuck Flores on bass, this was truly THE concert to see. Donte's in L.A. may have never been so lucky to have such a monumental album recorded there. Lucky for us, we can be just as fortunate to own said album!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, August 20, 2002

By 

mako (SF Bay Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great American Songbook (Audio CD)

I'm lucky to have a great jazz station in my area (KCSM 91.9), and when they played a few of the tracks from the "At Ratso's" CD, I was intrigued. I found this CD at the local library, strangely enough.

Carmen McRae is an excellent vocalist, and she shines in this live, intimate setting, backed by a great rhythym section. She can really put inflection and attitude, not to mention emotion, into her voice.

The title of this album is rather misleading, and something like "Live at Donte's" would be more appropriate. I'm a bit disappointed that they had to cut the spoken introductions, and I'll keep a lookout for those LPs (even though I have no record player...heh).

Live jazz is like nothing else, pick up this CD.