Customer Reviews

Lush Life

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All three of the Linda Ronstadt/Nelson Riddle collaborations are wonderful, but this is my favorite. IMO, these versions of Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark" and Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" - two extraordinarily difficult songs to sing - are the equal of ANYONE else's attempts at these songs. (I have yet to listen to the harmonica on Skylark without getting chills.)

To me, it doesn't matter that Linda's voice is not ideally suited to this material. Or that the success of these efforts is probably more the result of Nelson Riddle's arrangements and taste in material. The more important matter is that Ronstadt GETS IT. Whether she intuitively understood what makes these songs "tick," or whether she merely followed Nelson Riddle's road map, she deserves the highest praise for richly capturing the mini-drama contained in each song.

The recent failed attempt by Rod Stewart and Phil Ramone to capture the same magic, proves my point. I am an admirer of both men's other work, but it is obvious to me that Stewart has none of Linda Ronstadt's understanding of what he is singing.

If you have any heart at all for this kind of music, buy this CD. Or better yet, pass this one by and buy the three-CD collection "Round Midnight" which includes this CD.

LUSH LIFE follows in the footsteps of WHAT'S NEW, more post WWII standards and jazz classics. The CD is worth the price alone for her captivating performance, and one of the best versions I've heard of "Skylark". LUSH LIFE once again shows Ronstadt as the interpreter, she ranges from playful and sassy to romantic. LUSH LIFE has more uptempo numbers than WHAT'S NEW did, but she sounds at ease with the material here, joined beautifully by Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra. She also does a nice simple version of "When I Fall In Love". Other highlights include "Mean To me", "You Took Advantage of me", "I'm A Fool To Want You" and "Lush Life". Go out and get it!

the oldies performed with penache and a clear voice that is a must

For someone who is so strongly moved by the beauty of music, its melodies and lyrics as well as its arrangements and performances, I find this CD one of the most beautiful recordings of all-time. Once again and as always, the great Nelson Riddle showed off his trademark of excellence in orchestrating and conducting a dozen of ageless standards from the Great American Songbook. This CD will take us to a musical journey as we relish the timeless beauty of this sentimental music.

With the superb instrumental skills of pianist Don Grolnick, drummer John Guerin, bassist Bob Magnusson, guitarist Bob Mann (who also played fabulously on Rod Stewart and Steve Tyrell's recordings) and the creative flair of concertmaster David Frisina, this CD offers some of the glowing moments of Ms. Ronstadt's musical career. "Lush Life," "What's New?" and "For Sentimental Reasons" are three of the greatest and most beautiful albums of standards ever recorded.

Nobody sounded more expressive than Ms. Ronstadt singing "When I Fall In Love," a song lamenting that love has ended even before it has begun. You can hear that beguiling guitar accompaniment by a fine guitarist, Bob Mann, complementing Ms. Ronstadt's exquisite voice. Likewise, nobody sounded so excruciatingly poignant with her moving rendition of "When Your Lover Has Gone."

"What lonely hours
The evening shadows bring
What lonely hours
With memories lingering
Like faded flowers
Life can't mean anything . . ."

In "Skylark," the singer made a mark on this song with her heartfelt rendition as she brings new life to this Johnny Mercer/Hoagy Carmichael classic. She also left a lasting impression to one of Sinatra's signature songs "I'm A Fool To Want You," just like Ol' Blue Eyes did with his meaningful interpretation. They both did the best versions for male and female vocals, respectively.

She swings lightly on Rodgers & Hart's gem "You Took Advantage Of Me," then she takes it slower in Mills/Parish/Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady." And picks up the light swing tempo again on "Can't We Be Friends?"

"Sophisticated lady I know
You miss the love you had long ago
And when nobody is nigh
You cry. . . you cry."

If you're a lover of standards like me and an admirer of beauty in all its forms, you should have this CD in your collection and take pleasure in listening to its endless beauty.

Here's to the magic of beautiful music!

LUSH LIFE is a collection of 12 classic "pop" songs performed by Linda Ronstadt with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra.

LUSH LIFE is one out of the three Ronstadt forays into the world of jazz standards and WWII-era pop numbers. Like its companions WHAT'S NEW and FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS, it captures the multi-faceted soprano buoyed by Nelson Riddle's big band stylings. Riddle, the former Frank Sinatra arranger, employs such luminaries as Louie Bellson, Peter Asher and Don Grolnick to aid Ronstadt along the journey. Ronstadt's interpretations range from the delightful and playful to sassy and romantic. At times the orchestration can get a little too sweet, but Ronstadt sings such faves as "When I Fall In Love," "Skylark," "Sophisticated Lady," "Falling In Love Again," "Lush Life" and "You Took Advantage Of Me" with enough charm and grace to overshadow some of Riddle's overly ambitious arrangements.

While Linda Rondstadt's material has not appealed to myself, her voice was always admirable. She transcends all boundaries with her skills on this and two other related albums. Each song is a time capsule representing the greatest loves and losses of the World War II era. The human need to express emotion has been the highest motivater for songwriters. People separated by world crisis and the lonliness that follows is captured in these Nelson Riddle arrangements. This is the sort of music that binds all ages and backgrounds.

I was not a big fan of big band music or Linda Ronstadt. To be honest, I don't know why I bought this cassette in 1984 when I was in college, but it became one of my favorite albums ever. I believe she was on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and sang Skylark (I think) on the show. I was bowled over. Great songs, great vocals from Ronstadt, excellent arrangements, ... just a near perfect album. From a hard rock n roll fan, this was a major leap for me, but I could listen to this album all day long!

This is one of the finest album of American Songbook covers ever. In addition, the vinyl LP (unlike the CD and Audio Cassette) features one of the best designed album covers in the history of recorded music! Truly a joy.

BUYER ADVISORY:
If you can, buy BOTH the CD and the vinyl LP. But if you have to choose between the two, buy the LP! You'll understand why once you see the beautiful die-cut cover and credit art.

I've always liked Linda especially on " Heart Like a Wheel" but now that I'm more into jazz and the old standards, I realize what a great job she does on these songs which I passed over many years ago. " Skylark " is the best version I have ever heard, a difficult song to sing with an unusual and haunting bridge by Old Hoagy C. " My Old Flame " !! What a song for Linda to sing with all the attention she must have had over her career. The lady has impeccably perfect pitch and her voice had reached the maturity beyond those earlier R & R sqeals. This and its companions LUSH LIFE & FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS should be in the collections of anyone who enjoys the female voice.

This method of finding available music definitely beats culling through music store displays or dealing with some kid whose first recollection of music is from Barney and Friends show. A great value and convenient.