'S Marvelous

Ray Conniff | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000024QI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,287 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Conniff's second -- and one of his best, December 12, 2005

By 

Smallchief - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: 'S Marvelous (Audio CD)

'S Marvelous, recorded in 1957, followed 'S Wonderful, and was like its predecessor a top ten selling album. It was the first of Conniff's albums to go "gold" -- which back in those days was a rare distinction. I would rate 'S Marvelous as one of Conniff's all time best -- which is saying something because he recorded about 100 over a 45 year period. These early albums may be his best because he was able to cherry-pick the big-band songs that best fit his unique style.

That unique style is instantly recognizable, consisting of a bold, bright, brassy sound, a heavy shuffle beat, and a wordless chorus that doos and daas along with -- and sometimes in place of -- the horns. 'S Marvelous also demonstrates Conniff's skill as a pioneer in the use of the new stereo sound to create the feel that music is coming at you from every direction.

Compared to 'S Wonderful, this collection gives a more prominent role to the piano especially on "As Time Goes By." Perhaps my favorite of the tunes here is "Where or When" in which Conniff's genius for arrangement makes a ponderous song into a whimsey. A great CD!

Smallchief

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars S' Fantastic!, May 8, 2006

By 

Dr. Glenn W. Briggs "MusicDr" (KSC, Florida & Chengdu, China) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 'S Marvelous (Audio CD)

It is no wonder that Ray's LPs, "S'Wonderful," "S'Marvellous," and "S'Awful Nice" have been reissued as a boxed set! This LP/CD continued the standard for musical innovation that Ray set and maintained for about a half-century, even in times of change. In other words, "The 'beat' goes on!"

In terms of quality, true listenability, and inspired interpretations of popular songs of the forties and fifties, several songs stand out on this CD, such as "In the Still of the Night," "Moonlight Serenade," and the classic "As Time goes By." One of the all-time great examples of the Conniff sound is the opening number, "You Do Something to Me."

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'SIMPLY THE BEST" Norm from South Aussie, February 2, 2005

By 

N. Tkearney (SOUTH AUSTRALIA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 'S Marvelous (Audio CD)

This album was one of the first Conniff ones i owned on Vinyl I still go back to it & find it one of my favourites.Brilliant use of voices without the Conniff chorus .Rich,mellow,soul stirring music; to me that i can completely lose myself in.I consider myself so lucky to be in Mr.Conniff music era.My favourite tracks would be "The way you look tonight & I've Told every Star