Great Songs of George Gershwin [Original recording remastered]

Benny Goodman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 17, 1998)
• Original Release Date: November 17, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000FC7G
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #194,558 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "By George... He's Great!", November 21, 2004

By 

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Great Songs of George Gershwin (Audio CD)

According to Will Friedwald on liner notes, "Gershwin songs are everything you want them to be." Mr. Friedwald is absolutely right and I certainly agree with him. From "Rhapsody In Blue" and "Fascinating Rhythm" to "Love Walked In" and "Love Is Here To Stay," his compositions are the most beloved not only by artists and musicians but music aficionados and listeners as well. For somebody who has never attended a formal music conservatory, he's truly a musical genius gifted with special talent in making melodious music that are so pleasant to the ears.

The year Gershwin wrote his first song was the same year my late father was born. Little did my father know that someday he would be a huge fan of this extraordinary composer and would collect all Gershwin-related records. My recollection on Gershwin music was when I first heard "Rhapsody In Blue" from one of my father's records. I thought it sounded so good with its erratic tempo, the clarinet solo, the orchestra and the way it was played by the composer himself. I like everything about this piece of classic in the Modern era. From that moment on, I became interested in his music.

This one gem of a CD offers eighteen of the best songs composed by the great Gershwin Brothers as interpreted by the finest performers, the likes of Benny Goodman, Fred Astaire, Doris Day, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Jo Stafford, Mel Torme, Johnny Mathis and George Benson, among others.

Highlights, in my opinion, are the performances of Doris Day in "But Not For Me," Andy Williams' "Our Love Is Here To Stay," Johnny Mathis' "Love Walked In," Mel Torme's "Isn't It A Pity," Mildred Bailey and Her Orchestra's "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and a jazzy rendition of "A Foggy Day" by George Benson.

This is one of my absolute favorite CDs. Great CD. Great Performers. Great Songs. Great team of Gershwin Brothers. Greatly recommended!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great CD for Any Occasion, September 25, 2003

By 

Brooke E. Smith (DeLand, Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great Songs of George Gershwin (Audio CD)

This is a great cd with a variety of performers doing their renditions of Gershwin's songs. The mood is upbeat & jazzy, but strangely relaxing. I drive to work listening to it a great deal & feel not only a little more cultured, but refreshed. A great cd if you're looking for a good spectrum of old showtune-type songs! :)

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Poor recording quality, July 14, 2000

By 

Cory (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Songs of George Gershwin (Audio CD)

These are popular arrangements of Gershwin's music, more jazz-club style than broadway. They are original recordings sung by the stars of the era. While there is some remastering, there remains noticeable extra sounds, so be forewarned that these are not 'pristine' CD-quality recordings, understandably.