Customer Reviews

Naughty Baby: Maureen McGovern Sings Gershwin

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had the great pleasure of hearing and seeing Maureen McGovern sing some classic songs by Irving Berlin at a small gathering recently in New York City. I immediately ran out and bought some of her CD's. They are all first rate, but this Gershwin live performance is head and shoulders above the others. First of all, there are the songs: from the well-known "Embraceable You" & "Somebody Loves Me" & "I Got Rhythm" to the lesser-known "Stiff Upper Lip" and "A Corner of Heaven With You" every single song is a gem written by, arguably, the finest popular song writers America has ever produced. McGovern is, in turn, sweet, sulty, warm, cool, sophisticated and funny. She simply possesses one of the finest voices I've ever heard and in this album, especially, she not only understands the lyrics but makes them her own. This live concert is accompanied by a 1st class 5-man-band and the audience's pleasure is obvious. A big surprise was the way she beautifully sings the operatic "My Man's Gone Now" and "Porgy, I's Yo' Woman Now." These are not crossover, 'classical' performances by a pop singer: when she sings these arias, she IS a classical performer. And when she lets her hair down to sing some of the most popular songs ever written, she is never slumming...over-enunciating lyrics the way many "serious" singers do. This album is a treasure. I recommend it VERY HIGHLY.

This performance is just plain fun! If you like MM, you'll love this. Her voice is a fine, fine instrument and she plays it oh so well. Truly wonderful.

While I concur wholeheartedly with "Ohio Fan's" praise of this CD, he has erroneously lamented the "demise" of Ms. McGovern's career a bit prematurely. Maureen's voice is as astonishing as ever -- even more so with each passing year. Just as fine wine, she gets better with age. Ms. McGovern has recorded at least 5 CDs, each better than the last since the release of Naughty Baby. While it is true that she suffered a vocal cord injury in the early 80's, she has long since recovered. With each of her recordings, one marvels with more than a tinge of envy at her extraordinary vocal talent and yet, for me, Naughty Baby remains a sentimental favorite.

Maureen McGovern has NEVER been given the kudos she deserves for her voice, her instincts and her taste. For whatever reason, she never became a big star but buy this and go seek out all of her other CDs that she's recorded in the 90s and 2000s. She's got great style, impeccable timing and control over a voice that's powerful and well suited for the classic American Songbook. Her tribute albums to Harold Arlen, the Bergmans and others are all good. If you like Streisand or Linda Eder or Barbara Cook or Rosemary Clooney, give Maureen McGovern a try. You won't be disappointed.

How many Gershwin tributes have you heard? I run the risk to suggest you listen to this one more. It's a live album and I dont like live albums as a rule. Also I was not a fan of Ms.McGovern until this CD, strongly recommended by a friend. This was my first CD by Ms.McGovern and I love it deeply. A very efficient small group (piano-bass-drums-sax/flute) backs her under the touching and precise Mike Renzi direction. Creative arrangements, inspired singing on rare and well-known songs by Gershwin.

Some of Gershwin's most beautiful songs done simply and sensitively with only a piano accompaniement.

While I concur wholeheartedly with "Ohio Fan's" praise of this CD, he has erroneously lamented the "demise" of Ms. McGovern's career a bit prematurely. Maureen's voice is as astonishing as ever -- even more so with each passing year. Just as fine wine, she gets better with age. Ms. McGovern has recorded at least 5 CDs, each better than the last since the release of Naughty Baby. While it is true that she suffered a vocal cord injury in the early 80's, she has long since recovered. With each of her recordings, one marvels with more than a tinge of envy at her extraordinary vocal talent and yet, for me, Naughty Baby remains a sentimental favorite.

This is first-rate performance by a world-class singer. McGovern is technically superb, but not at the expense of emotion--her performance has plenty of soul. As a listener, I want to feel these songs, and when McGovern sings them, I do. Please do not miss "Naughty Baby!"

simply a great take on gershwin from beginning to end. A great CD, tastefully arranged, done live.

Her voice does not have the depth of a Fitzgerald or Streisand, but she does well with first class material.