Customer Reviews

Legendary Performers - Mabel Mercer

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This recording of live performances from the 1960's captures Mabel Mercer at her best, unlike some of the performances recorded toward the end of her career. It's great to hear excellent performances of both her special songs ("Lazy Afternoon", "Isn't He Adorable", etc.) as well as some which I've never heard on record, such as "Everybody's Lookin' Around For an Angel" and "After You, Who?"

The sound is crisp and clean, the piano accompaniments (mostly by Sam Hamilton and Cy Walter) stylish, timeless and unobtrusive, and the liner notes by Will Friedwald and Donald Smith extensive and interesting.

In my opinion, this CD captures the experience of Mabel Mercer in her natural habitat -- small clubs, with an audience -- better than any studio recording, and her voice is way better than on the wonderful, but slightly sad videos which are available.

These never-before-released 1960s live recordings are quintessential Mabel: a quixotic mixture of the familiar and the obscure. Those who know these "Mercer tunes" from her Atlantic albums and those who come newly to these renditions will be pleased differently, but very pleased indeed. The singular sound of Mabel's voice, her unique delivery, and the near-pristine transfers make this CD a great treasure. Hats off to the guys who put it together--and to Mabel. Treat yourself to these 23 tracks. As she sings on the last title--"More I Cannot Wish You."

A day without listening to Mable is just not possible for me. I've been a fan for over forty-five years. My acting teacher Herbert Berghof once said if you want to see honesty in art watch Fred Astair dance, look at Canzane's apples, and watch/listen to Mable Mercer sing. She was an influence on all the great pop singers. Sinatra said he learned to pharse from listening to her. Even opera singers saw her genius. I saw her in concert with Bobby Short at Town Hall her amazing technique or magic or whatever it was she had made me sure she was singing directly to me up there in the balcony. She had that power to cut through a crowd and sing to only you, telling you the most amazing stories of love and love lost. I then heard her three times at The DownStairs and the UpStairs. I never heard anyone speak, clink ice or even breath while she sang. On one particular rainy night the room was practically empty and she sat at a table with friends between sets. At the beginning of her last set there were no more than ten people in the room. She looked around and said "well we are the only ones left and we are all friends so you won't mind if I just sit here at the table for these last few songs" She then said she would take requests and I asked for Isn't It a Pity which she sang just for me and just to me. What a wonderful night. I realize you either "get" her or you don't but I feel that those who do not get her have not fully appreciated life. My partner and I have been together for thirty-one years and I have said I will never have another partner as I just don't have the energy to conduct another Mable Mercer appreciation course.
Oh, about the CD. She could do no wrong so how can I comment on perfection.

Although Mabel Mercer had a distinctive voice this collection of short songs -- most are less than 3 minutes--does not make for a worthwhile vehicle. She comes over at times like Margaret Dumont in the Marx Brothers films.