Customer Reviews

Magic World of Gordon Jenkins: In a Tender Mood

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This new collection of Gordon Jenkins tracks is something I've been waiting for ever since CDs first appeared. One of my most treasured Jenkins vinyls is a 10" disc of Gordon's own compositions...and here they are, back and sparkling new again..on CD. After more than 35 years I can once again listen to his own songs as he wanted them to sound:"When a Man Loves a Woman","Goodbye" "Blue Prelude", "Homesick, That's All", "P.S I Love You", "You have taken my heart"...with strings,vocalists and the chorus in excellent form. Add to this Jenkins' own distinctive touch in evergreen classics such as "Stella by Starlight", "Begin the Beguine"..and , of course, Gordie's own musical and lyrical mini-masterpiece, the near-autobiographical "This Is AllI Ask". An all-round treasure chest of never-to-be-forgotten arrangements, presentation and sheer artistry in Gordon Jenkins' very own, distinctive style. He would have loved this re-issue...and so will every Jenkins fan.

I grew up on Gordon Jenkins. It seems he has been lost in music history until these new releases. What music! what arrangements! what a musician. Mellow and meaningful.
I have the original set of Seven Dreams on 45 rpm&box. I hope this lost masterpiece of Gordon Jenkin's will be remastered also!

Amazon sampler plays Gordon Jenkins's recording of I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles with Artie Shaw playing solo clarinet, then playing in unison with Gordon Jenkins's one-finger style. This is how I remember the boxed 45-rpm album in 1954. It is the reason I oedered the reissue CD. But when the CD came, there was no Artie Shaw--only a mixed chorus of voices.It was a disappointment that does not ease, and it relegates the CD to the unplayed, unwanted stack. What Amazon offers is not what Amazon delivers. I wonder if Billy Butterfield gets the same treatment in Stardust--or even Artie Shaw on Begin the Beguine.

I need not add my feelings about the music of Gordon Jenkins. He had and has no equal. His music defined "soul" as it was meant to be defined, and rarely has been in the past 50 years.
But that isn't my reason for writing this.
I've been searching for Mr.Jenkins' "Seven Dreams" for the past 25 years. Does anyone know if it is available and, if so, where?
I,too, had it on 45 rpm when I was a teen-ager back in the 50's. but I lost it somewhere and haven't heard any of that wonderfhl, creative music since.
I long to hear again "The Cocktail Party", "The Pink Houseboat", "The Caretaker", "The Nightmare" and the other dreams.
Anyone?.............
Please.