Customer Reviews

In Hollywood

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In Hollywood (1933-1935) is an excellent CD of many of the best of Dick Powell's songs from the years he worked in Hollywood. The sound of the recordings is pretty good considering the age of these recordings; and the artwork is very nicely done as well.

The CD starts with Dick Powell singing "The Gold Diggers' Song (We're In The Money);" this rousing number features Dick singing beautifully and it's no wonder so many people enjoyed his songs! "The Gold Diggers' Song (We're In The Money)" is a classic pop vocal and it's also a highlight of this album. "Pettin' In The Park" is from the soundtrack of one of Dick Powell's films; and he sings this to perfection--and beyond! "Shadow Waltz" has a beautiful melody and Dick doesn't waste a minute's time--he takes this tune and makes it into a masterpiece with his incredible sense of timing and his voice is in excellent form.

"By A Waterfall" is probably one of the most beautiful love songs I've heard--ever; and when Dick Powell sings this it never sounded better--even with the slight surface noise on this disc! Dick really knew how to sing out a song and have it work just right. In addition, "Honeymoon Hotel" is a cute number with lots of positive energy that I predict you'll enjoy if you haven't heard this tune before.

"I'll String Along With You" is definitely another major highlight of this CD; and Dick delivers this with so much feeling I am truly impressed. Dick never sings a superfluous note and this absolutely amazes me. "Mr. And Mrs. Is The Name" is yet another peppy little tune that Dick infuses with lots of energy as he sings this flawlessly. The music that accompanies Dick as he sings is really great--and it never drowns him out either!

"Lullaby Of Broadway" is one of the best musical numbers Dick Powell ever sang; and he polishes the lyrics with such finesse it's terrific. "Lullaby Of Broadway" is another tune that I consider to be a classic and if you haven't heard this one you will enjoy it. "Lulu's Back In Town" features Dick Powell squarely front and center; and that's quite all right by me! Dick sounds great and "Lulu's Back In Town" has a jazzy rendition that makes it catchy and irresistible.

The CD also ends very strong with Dick Powell performing "The Rose In Her Hair." "The Rose In Her Hair" gets the royal treatment from Dick and this number leaves you wanting more--great!

Dick Powell fans will like this; and this is also great for people who love the old classic movies from the early part of the golden era of Hollywood. People who enjoy classic pop vocals will also want this CD.

It was a very good sounding soundtrack. Dick Powell had a great voice for thos 30's sty;e Hollywood musicals. These were taken from soundtracks. Such nostalgia! Ziggy

Arkansas born Dick Powell had a phenomenally successful career as an actor both in the movies (including starring roles in top musicals of the day), and on the radio (where he played a detective, among other roles). But before he became a movie and radio star, Dick was a first-rate singer in bands. This collection is loaded with charted hits that he performed in some of his movies, and the sound restoration is just great. If you want to hear a first rate singer from the early and mid 1930s, this disc is definitely worth having. It's a treasure trove of Depression Era popular music. All selections are clean mono transfers from the original masters.

I bought this CD on the strength of others I'd purchased in the Art Deco Series, and because the tracklist featured some classic songs from the golden age of movie musicals. It's well-produced in an attractive package with a good discography and liner note, but I regret that I cannot work up any great enthusiasm for it. Because most of these songs were so well-known some have become standards, so the yardstick is set pretty high. It's not that it's bad, rather that by comparison it's just not good enough. These songs need a sense of dynamism, timing and swing, and regrettably Dick Powell fails to deliver under any of those headings.

It starts off promisingly, indeed the best accompaniments are those provided by the anonymous studio orchestra for the May 1933 sessions, the four titles from which were released on the Conqueror label. But after the sixth track it hits a fallow patch, beginning with "The Road Is Open Again", a patriotic song in march time with male chorus. Although I persevered, hoping things would improve, it failed to live up to my expectations.

Dick Powell is now a largely forgotten performer and his contribution in movies and his subsequent recordings given short shrift.But this was a very talented individual who deserves a better place in entertainment history than has so far been given him.
Dick took singing lessons when young and in later years finally landed a job as a vocalist in a dance band.After many attempts he finally landed film work and it was after the release of this seventh film that his fortunes finally began to ascend,that film was 42nd Street.He and Ruby Keeler were to become musical icons of the 1930s right along with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.The plots in these films were pretty simple but all hung on some wonderful songs from the likes of Kahal and Fain and especially Dubin and Warren.They filled the rooms of many a theatre during some of the darkest days of the depression and briefly lifted the spirits of those expectant patrons.
When the depression ended Powell's career like many others declined.However after WW2 Powell reinvented himself in some fine film noir movies.He also had become a staple on radio and when TV came onto the scene he happily entered that arena and did very well.
In 1963 he prematurely passed away after a long battle with cancer,his wife June Allyson at his side.
When his name is mentioned today,if at all,it is usually in conjunction with some of his 30s musicals,the other aspects of his career given little or no mention whatsoever.This CD of some of his greatest records released is a fine contribution by Sony to shed some long overdue light on his highly successful recording career.They have done a wonderful job in transferring these masters and digitalizing them as they sound better than ever.
There are some great gems in this collection that give plenty of evidence to the fact that Powell did indeed have an excellent voice,songs like "Beauty must be Loved" and "The Words are in my Heart" are stand outs.Songs like "I'll String along with You" and "Lonely Lane" are perfect examples of songs I remembered well but forgot Powells' great versions.And of course his essentials like"By a Waterfall","We're in the Money","Lulu's back in Town" and "Lullaby of Broadway" are all here.
A CD I have played again and again always getting some great musical kicks out of each and every time.The arrangements can be typical of the time but they never drag the songs down and Powell's pleasing vocals of course keep things rolling along quite nicely.If you're like me you'll also find yourself singing along which was what the tunesmiths had in mind when they wrote these songs.They still work today and I highly recommend this CD to you.An important piece of musical history from a very talented and underrated performer.

Dick Powell had an incredible voice, similar to that of Bing Crosby. However, Powell's name does not have the staying power that Crosby's does. Because of this, very few Powell recordings are available on CD, despite his immense popularity on radio and as a movie crooner. This compilation is not perfect, but it does feature many songs from his films. Thankfully for fans of those films, the recordings are often slightly different, so you won't get sick of listening to them.

James Cagney remembered Powell in his autobiography. At parties with the Cagneys, Powell would sing "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" slightly off-key to get a laugh. Cagney noted that it takes a truly talented performer to be able to detect such a slight change, and Powell was that kind of a performer. His talent is obvious in these recordings.

Most of the songs on this CD are rather slow, which is funny since Powell was in so many upbeat musicals, but the songs are romantic and beautifully done.

With his aw-shucks charm and winning tenor, Dick Powell hugely secured Busby Berkeley's success at Warner Bros., and inevitably he had to record. This disc, part of Columbia/Legacy's "Art Deco" series, has twenty Brunswick sides, mostly Warren and Dubin. But Powell's fine vocals stand foursquare against the drab arrangements typical of early Depression commercial music, performed by uncredited or little-known orchestras, all in the dull muted sound of old 78s (Legacy's excellent remastering notwithstanding); while he goes one way the rest of these recordings go another. Powell's fans (and fans of thirties movie music) will certainly like this collection; nonetheless for the definitive musical take on Berkeley I'd recommend John McGlinn's superb EMI recreation. Alas, it's deleted.