Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mostly good news for Bill Evans fans., March 25, 2008
When Verve issued "The Complete Bill Evans on Verve" in 1997 they elected not to include this album even though all the other Evans MGM releases had been. Peter Pettinger's excellent bio of the pianist reveals Evans had mixed feelings about the romantic, commercial sound of the album, so perhaps Verve initially wanted to keep these mostly non-jazz tracks off the 18-CD set. But now here they are as part of Verve's "Originals" series, with a reproduction of the front and back of the LP as part of the packaging. The master tapes have suffered some deterioration over the years, but it is good to have this missing link in the Evans/Verve discography back in circulation.
That's the good news. Now for the bad. Even though it has been documented elsewhere, nowhere in the release is Claus Ogerman's name mentioned except as co-author (with Evans) of the track "Hollywood." The legendary arranger-conductor fulfilled those roles on this album but is uncreditited (as he was on the LP). But the worst news for Evans completists is that the one track recorded at these sessions but not included on the orginal LP but released on a 45 rpm single and on 33 rpm as part of the soundtrack "Twilight of Honor" (MGM SE 4195) is not part of this new CD. "55 Days in Peking" by Dimitri Tiomkin lasts only 2:36 and could have easily fit.
If you enjoy movie themes with a light-Latin flavored accompaniment as was typical of the easy listening Bossa Nova-infused '60s, then this CD is for you.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Commercial Pablum, April 15, 2008
If you are expecting another masterpiece along the lines of the Bill Evans Trio: With Symphony Orchestra or Symbiosis, this, unfortunately, is not it. Rather, this is Bill's foray into commercial pablum. Disappointing!
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1.0 out of 5 stars
Evans as Lounge Lizard, November 22, 2008
As stated in another review,this is Bill Evans unashamed foray into commercial instrumental pop,circa 1963. Till buying this CD,I had only heard one track,"Sweet September". West Coast pianist Pete Jolly had a fair sized hit with this song at the same time. Jolly's interpretation of that song was a joyful,quick tempoed attack(that held up even better without strings),while Evans(and Claus Ogerman)use a leaden approach trying to channel Oliver Nelson and Jimmy Smith's "Walk On the Wild Side". Records like this were used at MOR radio in the 1960s, with a DJ grabbing the first available instrumental that fit the time leading up to news broadcasts. It didn't matter whose "Sweet September",as long as it ended on time.
The rest of the album has that movie/TV theme sound with nameless piano player and nameless arranger you would find on one of those "Living Strings" albums Ethel Gabriel churned out for RCA's budget label,Camden. What a hilarious "Blindfold Test" is would have made. Bright moments hidden between the schmalz is the lone original,"Hollywood" and the first thrity seconds of "Laura". On "Laura",you can hear Evans slowly deconstructing the melody and one hopes that it could go on longer till he found that moment of heartbreak. Unfortunately,Claus takes over from there and all is lost.
I own the "Complete Verve"recordings and have wondered why they kept this album off the box. Now I know. One wonders how this album made it to CD,especially in these mp3 days where Universal has kept many a true jazz gem only available as a download.
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