Hoagy Sings Carmichael

Hoagy Carmichael | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 29, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000008E11
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,205 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In 1956, 57-year-old Hoagy Carmichael, a giant of American songsmiths, recorded this album for Hollywood's progressive Pacific Jazz label. Johnny Mandel's swinging, uncluttered arrangements placed Carmichael, a product of the 1920s Jazz Age, in an unadulterated modern-jazz setting true to both his past and the current scene. Representing the latter were several top exponents of the West Coast school that the label helped nurture, most notably the principal soloist: alto sax giant Art Pepper. Mandel's arrangements and Pepper's cool, rich eloquence clearly forced normally amiable, laid-back Carmichael to alter his usual approach somewhat. A subtle yet discernable edge permeated his interpretations of "Georgia on My Mind" and "Rockin' Chair" and rendered his vocal on the bluesy "Baltimore Oriole" unusually raw. Two lesser-known ballads, "Winter Moon" and "Ballad in Blue," are beautifully presented, and Mandel's joyously explosive, Basie-esque "Lazy River" unleashed Carmichael's playful side. While his songs are timeless, hearing a man then pushing 60 having a ball with musicians old enough to be his kids is always both exhilarating and inspirational. --Rich Kienzle

Product Description

This outstanding digipak edition contains one of song master Hoagy Carmichael's best albums ever: the 1956 LP Hoagy Sings Carmichael, featuring the vocalist backed by such modern Jazzmen as Harry Edison, Art Pepper and Jimmy Rowles, and with splendid arrangements by Johnny Mandel. In addition to the complete album Hoagy Sings Carmichael, this release also boasts a second complete LP, The Stardust Road from 1946. As was often the case in the early days of the LP, no new music was recorded for this album, as it was a compilation of selections first issued as 78 rpm discs during previous years. The Stardust Road, in particular, contains recordings made from 1939 to 1947. Hoagy can be heard here again singing his own songs and playing the piano on some tunes, as he was a very special pianist. 21 tracks total. Definitive. 2007 --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Ten albums of alltime, March 5, 2000

By 

P. Zimmelman "Zmaven" (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hoagy Sings Carmichael (Audio CD)

A must buy. Out of print for sometime. Winter Moon will knock you out. The album is high fidelity recorded live to two-track tape. The disc is a mirror copy of that tape. A desert island pick. True lost gem. Buy it now. You have been warned!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back in Print!, March 14, 2000

By 

David Dye (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hoagy Sings Carmichael (Audio CD)

Mine is the same old story about the lost LP that then went out of print..Been waiting for this re-release for about a year. Nothing to fault here: Carmichael's songs are wonderful his relaxed singing style is perfectly complemented by exquisite arrangements and....Art Pepper!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it buy it buy it!, May 5, 2000

By 

Skeezix (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hoagy Sings Carmichael (Audio CD)

Believe the other reviews and this one too. Truly one of the most enjoyable CD's I have. Hoagy's singing style will knock you out! And Art Pepper, well, what else do I have to say? This is one of those too good to be true albums. You just couldn't make it better if you tried.