Customer Reviews

Moments Like These

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

 

 

Dinah Shore was probably America's most admired female singer during the Forties and into the early Fifties with many hits to her credit. After a brief movie career, Dinah found television provided a more sustained showcase for her cheery personality and sincere approach to songs via her regular shows that emphasised a wholesome family image which bolstered her reputation as an entertainment icon until her death in 1994.

Dinah recorded fewer albums than hoped, but this Flare Records reissue of her 1958 MOMENTS LIKE THESE is certainly one of her greatest triumphs with a softly romantic set of ballads ideally geared to function in any late-night atmosphere. With the sympathetic orchestral backing of Harry Zimmerman, it's hard to resist Dinah's sincere insight into the lyrics of WHEN THE WORLD WAS YOUNG, I'LL REMEMBER APRIL, THESE FOOLISH THINGS, I CAN DREAM CAN'T I? and I FALL IN LOVE TOO EASILY. The lightly Latin approach to the title number is beautifully conceived but never overstated and WHAT'S NEW? is tinged with certain regret in a concept collection which celebrates love in its many forms with songs that have supremely survived the decades since written. In other words, a classic album, recorded in early stereo, that has also survived the years to a stunning degree.

Fourteen added tracks helpfully trawl Dinah's mid-Fifties singles catalogue when the hits were no longer a sure thing. However, the much-recorded I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT was a lively newly minted delight from MY FAIR LADY when Dinah recorded it in 1956 and TILL has also weathered the years together with that durable annual survivor HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS. UNTIL (aka HOW WONDERFUL TO KNOW) and WHAT A HEAVENLY NIGHT FOR LOVE (aka NARCISSUS/A LOAD OF HAY) have familiar melodies with different lyrics to examples shown within brackets.

However in the longevity stakes these are exceptions to the rule and chorus-driven WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS is an old-fashioned country waltz; HEY BABE HEY!, PRETTY MANDOLIN, DEALIN' THE BLUES and atmospheric THE SCENE OF THE CRIME notable novelties, leaving TEMPTING, STOWAWAY, THE WHISTLING TREE and I NEVER LEFT YOUR ARMS as likeable ballads. These songs, though hardly remembered, come up fresh and alive in Dinah's versions and add their rarity value to the ballad album.

Excellent remastering, attractive art-work, effusive notes plus a two-page spread of Dinah's poses make this a recommended release.

THOUGH NOT THE ORIGINAL ALBUM PICTURE (I HATE WHEN THEY DO THAT) THE QUALITY IS GREAT AND IN STEREO WITH ADDITIONAL TRACKS.

This is Dinah's best RCA album, though like all her RCA albums the concept is vague or invisible and a few of the song selections don't seem to fit. At least it sounds like an album rather than a collection of scattered tracks and the string-honeyed arrangements are beautiful. Dinah is in top form and "I Loved Him" is one of her best recordings. This was RCA's attempt at giving Dinah Capitol Records quality packaging right down to a sketch on the back cover with Capitol-style notes but, next to the six albums Dinah subsequently actually did for Capitol, this is strictly blah city. Thank heavens she WENT to Capitol (encouraged by Mr. Sinatra to do so) as all of her albums there are splendid.