Customer Reviews

'S Wonderful

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It's hard to believe but around 1960 Ray Conniff was considered pretty cool. This is his first album, released in 1956. It was a big seller -- which surprised everyone as the big band era was over and the big bands were all broken up. S'Wonderful is full of big band standards, but Ray Conniff's sound was different. A wordless chorus sang doos and daas and do-wops as instuments in the orchestra; the brass was loud and bright; and the beat was a heavy, but light-hearted shuffle.

He never changed his successful formula and a song arranged by Ray Conniff and played by his orchestra is instantly recognizable. All the factors of his success are on 'S Wonderful -- except that this album predated the invention of stereo. It still sounds good, but I miss the feeling of music coming to you from every direction that Conniff achieved in all his later albums.

I loved his music and so did lots of other people and for the next 40 years Conniff sold piles of records. To the detriment of his artistic reputation, he became a favorite of retail stores piping in music to put customers in the mood to buy, buy, buy. The happy air of Conniff music must be good for commerce. If you want to sample only one Ray Conniff album to see if you like him, perhaps "Memories are Made of This" is the best. but 'S Wonderful is also well worth a listen.

Smallchief

This is the album that started it all for Ray Conniff,his orchestra and chorus. It introduced the listening audience to how voices and instruments can blend together. From there the rest is history. From his arrangements of Broadway, the movies,the classics and Christmas, Ray Conniff was a master showman with music. The title track,"S'Wonderful" lives up to its name. Other melodies receiving first class treatment by Ray include "September Song","Wagon Wheels",and "That Old Black Magic". I just wish there were more artists today that can relive the music that Ray Conniff shared. This is a C.D. that is a must for Ray Conniff fans!

Ray Conniff's very first album more than proved his talent for arranging fine musical numbers including a chorus that just couldn't be beat! These wordless vocals are indeed a type of musical instrument that works so well for these numbers; it's no wonder why this was only the beginning of a long string of excellent albums by Ray Conniff. In addition, the quality of the sound is excellent and I like that the artwork incorporates the original record album artwork.

The title track gets a very upbeat treatment by the musicians and the chorus harmonizes to perfection--and beyond! The percussion, brass and more all combine to make this number snazzy! "Dancing in the Dark" slows down the pace and it's a very romantic flavored tune that's great for dancing in your living room all alone late at night with your sweetheart. "Speak Low" and "Wagon Wheels" are very well done; this music is all THAT good! Listen also for "Sentimental Journey;" this has a fine treatment and they never skip a beat.

"Begin the Beguine" shines in the capable hands of these wonderful artists--and how's about that brass? "September Song" is a perfect example of their strong ability to handle complex tempo and key changes like pros; and "I Get a Kick Out Of You" sounds fresh and new even in our times. The singers' vocals blend with the musical instruments so perfectly that "I Get a Kick Out Of You" and other numbers on this album are completely enchanting.

"Stardust" charms with its natural beauty mixed with that signature Ray Conniff touch; and there's yet another gem in "I'm An Old Cow Hand" which has these people harmonizing, playing music and putting so much heart and soul into it that "I'm An Old Cow Hand" becomes music that I could never tire of hearing. "Sometimes I'm Happy" is easy on the ear, to say the least; and the CD closes with "That Old Black Magic." "That Old Black Magic" gets nothing short of the royal treatment by Ray Conniff and that's grand.

Ray Conniff always made such beautiful music together with his orchestra and chorus; this is truly a must-have for his fans. It's also a very good selection for anyone who enjoys easy listening music from the mid 20th century.

Excellent, arrived in A-One condition. Has all the melodies as I remember. A real memory jogger. Sound quality is excellent.

Here, on the very first Ray Conniff album, we find Ray absolutely at the top of his form. If you think of the release date of the album, 1956, and all that was going on in popular music at the time, including the rise of Elvis Presley, this album becomes not just wonderful music but also a fascinating glimpse into the musical culture of that era. For instance, the arrangement of Stardust includes a strong R 'n B vamp, something Hoagy Carmichael never could have forecast. The arrangement of September Song is uncharacteristically brassy and aggressive sounding, the song not having been diluted by decades of sentimental covers. The playing on the album is absolutely brilliant, featuring such great session men as trumpeter Billy Butterfield and guitarist Tony Mottola. Unfortunately, Columbia had not switched to stereo in its recording sessions by this time, so the sound is clear but slightly constricted monaural. Nevertheless, the Ray Conniff who had already been around for years and who arranged for Artie Shaw put his best foot forward with this initial release, and the results are a classic of light music.

This is the first of many great albums from the man who was the master of "easy listening sound"; Ray Conniff himself improved the marvelous use of the chorus voices like instruments, in their "da-da" style, making more creative melodies and wonderful albums; and this was the FIRST. The songs are from romantic melodies like "Dancing in The Dark", "Stardust", "Speak Low" and "Sentimental Journey", to great dancing ones like "Begin The Beguine", "S Wonderful", "Wagon Wheels" and "That Old BLack Magic"; If you are a Ray Connif fan or you like the instrumental music, you have to get this cd!!!