Jonathan and Darlene's Greatest Hits Volume II

Jonathan & Darlene Edwards | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Corinthian Records
• ASIN: B0000010KD
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,423 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #20 in Music > Miscellaneous > Comedy > Comedic Music > General
  • #34 in Music > Miscellaneous > Comedy > Comedic Music > Novelty Music

Editorial Reviews

Only Jo Stafford could sing off-key so precisely! Jo and her husband Paul Weston's butchering of pop standards remains among the most side-splitting musical parody ever recorded, and here are 14 more of their conspiratorial concoctions: Cocktails for Two; Tiptoe Through the Tulips with Me; Ain't Misbehavin'; I'm Beginning to See the Light; It's Magic; La Vie en Rose; Sophisticated Lady; Paris in the Spring , and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars hilarious send up of traditional hits, November 24, 1998

By 

Robert Vargo (Youngstown, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jonathan and Darlene's Greatest Hits Volume II (Audio CD)

Jonathan and Darlene Edwards are pseudonymns for legendary big band director and arranger Paul Weston and his singing icon wife, Jo Stafford. The two decided to release a series of LPs during the 50's which featured their slaughtered renditions of pop standards. The ablums set the industry on its ear and became hilarious musts for every party and get together where serious music lovers appreciated the difficulty of the task at hand. This is only the second of several LPs to find its way to CD. Notably, "I Love Paris" and "Sing Along With Jonathan and Darlene Edwards" still remain to be published in the new format (hint,hint!). Mere words cannot describe the hilarious effect this album will have on anyone who hears it for the first time and in my case, each time I rediscover the musical mastery of this duo. Mr. Weston plays wrong notes, bad chords and misses entrances and savages tempi with the self-confidence of a Toscannini. Ms. Stafford (Darlene), sings just flat (or sharp) enough to be hilarious. She never quite hits the notes or makes all her musical entrances but her comic sense of timing and musical "ability" are impressive! If you don't enjoy this album and its predecessor....there is little hope for your redemption!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, Too Much Fun for Words!, January 7, 2002

By 

Brimpls (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jonathan and Darlene's Greatest Hits Volume II (Audio CD)

Jonathan and Darlene (Paul Weston and Jo Stafford) are the most hilarious, brilliant comic team ever to record these songs. The liner notes are a hoot, too! This is such a treasure. You won't regret buying it. In our family, all the generations adore Jonathan and Darlene. My son grew up hearing us play the albums and he even indoctrinates his young friends by playing selections for them. Really the most hilarious listening experience you can imagine! I love every second of it and wish there were ten volumes rather than just the two.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute MADNESS, July 11, 2001

By 

Nicholas McWhirter "redblank" (Dallas, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jonathan and Darlene's Greatest Hits Volume II (Audio CD)

In addition to the so eloquent aforementioned explanation of the contents this disk, may I submit the following :

I have played this recording at various parties just to see who notices the sour notes and rythmic blunders. Some people "get it" and others just wonder what's so funny about it. If you're somebody who appreciates parody and you aren't tone deaf - you are sure to like this silliness (and, be sure, it rates HIGHLY on the Silly Scale).

If you don't meet the above suggestions... then don't waste your time.

ps. it's A LOT more entertaining after a drink or two...