Customer Reviews

Let There Be Love

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When M-G-M Records gave Joni James the go-ahead for her first album after her first year as a record star with an incredible 12 sides placed in the top 20 charts, they also let her produce the project, since she had chosen all her single sides and basically produced them. "Let There Be Love" was the first album to tell a story in song with a beginning, middle and end through standards and unified arrangements (by the genius Lew Douglas, who also conducted). Recorded at Universal Studios in Chicago using mostly the topnotch radio orchestra musicians in the Windy City, it achieved a rich, buttery orchestral sound through an arrangement of musicians around the microphone which still is a secret (but will be revealed in an upcoming Joni James autobiography). The eight songs Joni selected are perfect, the vocal performances timeless and heartfelt and knowing, and the entire project utterly original. The singles added through the years to expanded versions of the album include "I Need You Now," recorded before Eddie Fisher's hit version and cancelled for release when his appeared. It's an unforgettable record. The miracle of "Let There be Love" is that it STILL sounds innovative, STILL tugs at the heart and Joni James STILL is a true original.

Joni James brings a delicacy and depth-of-feeling to the lyrics of this collection of mostly-standards that blend perfectly with the orchestrations. The arrangements are intimately lush; romantic and smooth but not over-orchestrated or syrupy, and they support her intimate, gentle voice perfectly. This CD contains the best version of "Our Love Is Here To Stay" that I have ever heard. Her renditions of "You're My Everything," "You're Nearer," "Let There Be Love," and "My Romance" are also wonderful. "Let There Be Love" is considered to be one of the first albums to tell a unified story in song. The original 10" album consisted of the first eight songs, with songs nine to twelve added when it was re-released a couple years later as a 12" album. The first eight songs do work as a whole, while the next four are fine accompaniments. The final three songs were added for the CD release. The last track, "Mira," from the Broadway musical "Carnival," is a great performance backed by the New York Pops, so it is easy to overlook the fact that it is not quite in keeping with the theme of the other songs. However, the other two, "Coming From You," and "We Know," while enjoyable, do not quite fit in with the rest of the songs in sophistication of lyrics and orchestration. But aside from these minor complaints, the original album is a classic and worthy of five stars.

This CD is made up from Joni's mid-50s discs that the liner notes refer to as "transcription discs" which have never before been released commercially. The sound quality is not quite on a par with some of her album releases for MGM. Some of the tracks were obviously live, however, whether in a studio or concert setting is not cited. The crowd on "Am I In Love" clap enthusiastically, sounding like a big crowd. The songwriters are not cited on the insert. "Purple Shades" sounds like a 40s-style rendition with Joni's lovely voice blending seamlessly with the strings. "Almost Always" that charted for Joni in 1953 is a lovely melody with a tango-flavored arrangement. "These Foolish Things" is a lovely melody with Joni's vocals playful and alluring. "That Old Feeling" creates a slow burn with Joni carrying a torch for a lost romance. "Let There Be Love" is a good disc for those seeking a complete canon; however, the technical sound quality is a bit under par. But Joni's always worth listening to with the live versions displaying particular charm. Enjoy!

Joni James has recorded many albums in her day, and this cd is the best one she has ever released. She also won a gold record for this album.
I strongly advise you to purchase this along with her "In the still of the night" cd.

This release takes a very distant second place to the Stardust Records issue "A PORTRAIT OF" which has so much more to offer.

Joni is the girl next door here, as always, but not overly coy or cute. Instead she is exceedingly adorable while exhibiting her artistry and craft. The relaxed accompaniment is delicately attuned to Joni's vocal purring.

Bought this used - but some songs won't play - CD looks to be in fine shape. :(

This is not the award winning 1956 album by the same name. A few of the song titles are the same but this is not the one folks. I have the 10" original album and the 12" album so I know. There is another CD that was released (but is now out of print) on Tarragon Records that WAS the original 1956 album. The Jasmine record is not the same.
The original album get 5 stars, this one gets 1.