Meets Cole Porter / At the Crescendo [Import]

Jeri Southern | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Capitol / EMI Imports
• ASIN: B0000073ZN
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,705 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love Jeri's piano playing..., October 12, 1999

By 

bossa_nova (Kent) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meets Cole Porter / At the Crescendo (Audio CD)

I got this album in England, and it seems that Jeri is more popular here than in America. Maybe because her singing is understated, which we like. Jeri is cool. I especially like her piano playing - her breaks on 'Nice work if you can get it' and 'When I fall in love' are just fabulous. This is a reissue of two LPs, a format I favour because you get the continuity of the original concept. The Cole Porter LP has wonderful arrangements by Billy May and a most unusual choice of songs; my favourites are 'Get out of town' and 'After you, who?'. The Crescendo LP is a live performance and Jeri plays piano on 4 tracks, with a small group backing her on the others. She performs her great hit 'You better go now' most beautifully. The only flaw is that she takes some songs very slowly indeed, which doesn't always suit them - on 'It's all right with me' she seems to be going at half the tempo of May's arrangement! Even so, this is one of my favourite CDs. The live performance has a special magic.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two excellent albums from 1959, January 12, 2005

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Meets Cole Porter / At the Crescendo (Audio CD)

I have said elsewhere that Jeri Southern is my favorite torch singer and while these two albums are not my favorites of hers (I prefer her earlier, more sparsely backed, music recorded for Decca), they are of an incredibly high standard. Jeri's performance cannot be faulted - she knows her limitations and stays within them. The first album is a set of Cole Porter compositions, mostly avoiding the obvious songs. Indeed, the most famous Cole Porter to be found on this twofer is on the second album, a live set recorded at the Crescendo in Hollywood.

On the first album, Jeri sticks faithfully to the original lyrics, the arrangements are sometimes different to the way Cole Porter intended. The song I am most familiar with is It's all right with me, a song that I first came across via Crystal Gayle's 1977 cover. Jeri's version is much slower but equally brilliant. Other highlights include Don't look at me that way, Looking at you, I concentrate on you and It's bad for me - but every track here is wonderful. Billy May arranged and conducted the orchestra, which sometimes gets a little busy (mostly when Jeri is not actually singing) but is generally restrained and supports Jeri superbly.

The second album, although it features some clapping, does not feature any narrative. Jeri let her music speak for her. Here, you will find some familiar songs including I get a kick out of you (the only Cole Porter song on this set), When I fall in love, Nice work if you can get it, Dancing on the ceiling and You better go now. The music marks a return to the sparser backing of her Decca years, with just piano (played by Jeri), bass, drums and cello supporting Jeri's lovely singing. On some tracks, Jeri is left alone with her piano - now that's how I like Jeri best.

If you are a fan of Jeri's music, you will love this twofer.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ULTRA PIZZAZZ!!, May 13, 2001

By 

Patricia B. Sims - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meets Cole Porter / At the Crescendo (Audio CD)

Out of all the really great female "saloon singers", no other can even approach the way Jeri puts over a song! Her interpretation grabs you in the gut -- especially one that seems to have been written and performed exclusively for you. I have added this to my shopping cart. My original album of Jeri Southern at the Crescendo at 33 1/3 was not only worn out, but stolen. This is a Mother's Day gift from myself to me. Thanks. Pat Sims