It's De Lovely - The Authentic Cole Porter Collection [Extra tracks]

Cole Porter | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 22, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000294SIE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,223 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > Pop > Oldies > Tin Pan Alley
  • #64 in Music > Pop > Easy Listening > General AAS
  • #64 in Music > Pop > Easy Listening > General

Editorial Reviews

CD > POPULAR MUSIC > JAZZ

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

137 of 140 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional, August 9, 2004

By 

MovedbyMusic - See all my reviews

This review is from: It's De Lovely - The Authentic Cole Porter Collection (Audio CD)

With all the scrumptuous renditions of Cole Porter's music I'm not quite sure I understand why the "De-Lovely" movie soundtrack is doing so well on the charts. If you want a complete compilation of the best of Cole Porter get this one and "The Very Best of Cole Porter" or Frank Sinatra's "Cole Porter" because they are compliments to one another. Most of the songs are duplicated on each cd BUT the finest vocalists in the world love to sing Cole Porter's songs and each brings a different interpretation. For example - Artie Shaw's orchestra performs "Beguine the Beguine" on this cd - the clarinet is astounding. On "The Very Best of" cd Tony Bennett sings "Begin the Beguine". In either instance they are the same song but completely different and yet still leagues above Sheryl Crow's version on the "De-Lovely" movie soundtrack. The renditions here are magnificent. I still am completely amazed by how many gorgeous songs Cole Porter wrote through the years. The voices on this cd are worthy to sing these lovely songs. So if you saw the movie "De-Lovely" and didn't like the soundtrack (I didn't either) but are enamored by Cole Porter's wonderful music this one is a great find.

71 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely, December 28, 2004

By 

Poniplaizy (Mount Joy, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: It's De Lovely - The Authentic Cole Porter Collection (Audio CD)

I've always liked Cole Porter's songs, so of course I've heard them performed by many different singers. But what made this album for me was the recording of Porter himself singing "Anything Goes." Of course he doesn't have the voice of a Sinatra or a Mel Torme, but if you want to hear the definitive version of a song, you go to the composer himself, and this one is terrific. Porter sings with an urbane, knowing sophistication the others can't match, and in his own words--"God knows, anything goes," not the sanitized versions later singers used. It's fabulous, and the CD is worth the price for that track alone. But the rest of it's pretty easy on the ears too. Performances range from early jazz sounds to splashy big band arrangements to savvy vocals framed by swingy riffs. I like it better every time I listen to it. This is a worthy tribute to a great songwriter, and taken together with "The Very Best of Cole Porter" would be a great introduction to a suave, stylish kind of music that's sorely needed today, in this world of women singers groaning like cats in heat and men pumping out lyrics about bitches and hos. Let it roll--Cole's still tops.

55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A True Cole Porter Treat, December 24, 2004

By 

Danielle Bennignus - See all my reviews

This review is from: It's De Lovely - The Authentic Cole Porter Collection (Audio CD)

Okay - let's just get this out in the open: If you're looking for the real thing, skip the Delovely soundtrack that everyone's talking about. It'll leave those of us who know and love Porter's work sorely disappointed. However, there is a happy alternative, and you've found it.

This album, exploring many period interpretations of Porter's great songs, is a real delight. Although it does have some weak points (cough - Esquivel on track 19 - cough), overall it serves as a wonderful serving of musical hors d'oeuvres.

We start out with period Victor recordings of Porter's voice complemented by the great Vince Giordano & his Nighthawks - I'm a diehard fan of this band, and they've done nothing but justice to "Anything Goes", and raise "You're the Top" to a completely new level. I've come to believe in the musical mantra that Vince Giordano Can Do No Wrong, and these tracks are great examples of that.

Other high points include Lena Horne's "From This Moment On", Irving Aaronson's "Let's Misbehave" (by far the best version anywhere), Roy Rogers' "Don't Fence Me In" (a really addictive little tune - you'll catch yourself humming it when you least expect), Dinah Shore's lusty, swooning "You'd be So Nice to Come Home To", and, best of all, Fred Astaire's "Night and Day" - no one can touch his rendition of this great. The pieces interspersed amongst these are just grand, as well.

So, if you've just come to discover the wonders of Cole Porter thanks to the recently released film, please turn your attention to this album. This collection shines as an introduction to how his work really should sound, as opposed to the rather unfortunate attempts made by current pop stars. They're fine at what they do - but please, keep them away from this department. It takes a highly refined, trained and gifted sense to perform Porter correctly - a fact that this album proves effortlessly. Enjoy.