Customer Reviews

Les Paul & Mary Ford - All-Time Greatest Hits

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a huge fan of Les Paul and after reviewing the track list on this CD, I don't see how anyone in their right mind could call it an "all time greatest hits" collection.

While tracks such as "Mockin' Bird Hill", "The World is Waiting for the Sunrise", and "Vaya Con Dios" among the duo's best loved and best known songs, I find the omission of "How High the Moon", one the their biggest hits, to be unforgiveable. Equally astonishing is why "Dry My Tears", the theme song of Les & Mary's 50s radio show, and "Cryin'", arguably the best song Mary Ford has ever sung, were excluded. I would much rather have had those tracks included in the disc than the cover version of Patti Page's "Tennessee Waltz", and the ersatz "Meet Mr. Callaghan". It's also hard to understand why the only Les Paul solo instrumental track on this disc is "Bye Bye Blues". "Lover", the song that propelled Les into the spotlight, and "Nola", a song that enjoyed worldwide popularity, were inexplicably left out.

While this is a decent collection of the work of Les Paul and Mary Ford, it is definitely NOT their all time greatest hits. The record label ought to be sued for false advertising.

This collection, which came out in 1990, is typical of early CD releases: 12 selections and either minimal liner notes or none at all. In this instance, however, there is a single page of text on the reverse of the cover photo providing some interesting background.

A much better bet is "The Best Of The Capitol Masters" as it contains all the same selections save one, plus eight more. Here, however, you do get the wonderful and hard-to-find Mary Ford interpretation of Smoke Rings which made it to # 14 in the summer of 1952 b/w In The Good Old Summertime [# 15].

And the price is certainly right.

I've just discovered this pair, and I'm so sorry I haven't heard them until now. Being a jazz vocalist, I'm always looking for challenging material. I have a few CDs in this genre, but the styling, and caliber of the musicians puts my other CDs to shame. I suspect k.d. lang has borrowed styling from the likes of Mary Ford, as their voices seem to lilt in the same fashion. Les Paul's ability makes me wonder if there are more than two or three guitars playing simultaneously. Many of these cuts are very subtle in their exhibition of complicated material. For those so inclined to listen, it's an auditory adventure.

I love the rhythms and lyrics of Les Paul and Mary Ford. But I didn't get the song I wanted, which was "How High the Moon." I assumed, stupid me, that "All Time Greatest Hits" would include that one. Why don't you list contents on your albums? Is there another way I could have found that song?

Every fan of Guitar music will appreciate this Album.
Les Paul is not only a great Guitarist he is an inventor of modern recording technology.
Dual track recording and his use of up to eight tracks made him an music industry icon.
Mary Ford's strong clear voice makes this duo complete.
A great Album!

This was a gift for my husband and he was thrilled with the CD. The music if Les Paul will linger on.

les paul and mary ford were a perfect team. they made beautiful music together and les made the first electric guitar. some of their songs were before my time but i enjoyed them anyway. anyone who enjoys beautiful music will enjoy this cd. marsha

Jeff Beck has released a great live CD in tribute to Les Paul with Imelda May doing a fine job replicating Mary Ford and her patented harmonies on several big hits the duo had in the 1950's. This should help revive interest in Les Paul, his recording techniques which revolutionized modern recording, his great guitar playing, and the sultry beautiful voice of Mary Ford.
Unlike so many over emotional vocals we get from women vocalists any more, Mary Ford played it cool. Real cool. Her voice was soft, her harmonies beautiful, and she made a great partner for her then-husband Les, who punctuated the tunes with hot guitar but always in good taste and service to the tune. Mary Ford's voice is so smooth she could melt dry ice.
So, the reason for not having more stars is because whomever the dunderheads were who compiled this greatest hits didn't even think to include the biggest hit the duo ever made, "How High The Moon". That is tantamount to a greatest hits package by Led Zeppelin that doesn't have "Stairway To Heaven", or an Eagles greatest hits without "Hotel California". It's a glaring and very stupid omission. Plus, the disc doesn't even last 30 minutes. This is truly a sloppy way to treat a legend. Still, it's a start and the four stars are for the quality of the tunes that did make it. "Smoke Rings" just about makes me swoon, so sexy are the vocals. Who needs Beyonce when you can have Mary Ford?

If you enjoy their music you will love this collection! It was a well received gift for a friend!

I have every Les Paul and Mary Ford vinyl and this was my first CD....will not be the last CD....just wish the CD's had more selections and when they say greatest hits, they should be the greatest but always seems to be a lesser one tossed in....however, am not complaining....these two folks will forever live in our hearts of the best....