Customer Reviews

Saloon

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

 

 

Ms. Loudon has a style all of her own and this selection of songs certainly allows her to show just how versatile she is. She can "belt" out a song as well as any of the red hot mamas of yesterday and yet be just as impressive with a softer more sensitve number. After you've listened to this album, whenever you see one of the song titles anywhere, you will hear her voice singing it in your brain. Play one of these songs in the morning and you'll find yourself humming it all day long. I only wish she had done more albums like this one.

I have been a fan of Ms. Loudon's ever since I was a kid, and most especially since she won that long awaited Tony Award 25 years ago, for "Annie." This CD is a gem, filled with the great old songs that harken back to a bygone era.

In this collection, Ms. Loudon is surrounded by great musicians, great songs, and great arrangements, including a few written by her late husband, Norman Paris. Bobby Short's wonderful liner notes rate a "10" in my book!...

Dorothy Loudon ate Life with a big spoon. On Broadway, she literally chewed scenery as the original Miss Hannigan in "Annie," the wacky star of "Noises Off," and Angela Lansbury's replacement in "Sweeney Todd." She ended her career as the loopy, gun-toting socialite in Clint Eastwood's film of "Midnight In The garden of Good & Evil." But before Broadway, she was a torch singer in New York's piano clubs, with her husband, pianist Norman Paris. Piano bars ruled in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Karaoke killed them in the 90's. But everyone knew the songs and everyone sang along. This album preserves "A Man Without A Woman," "Shanty In Old Shanty Town," and "Ace In The Hole," as well as the most heartbreaking ballads of the era. When Dorothy died, her casket was carried up 5th Avenue with a Dixieland band escorting. I'm sure she'd be pretty offended if you listened to this album without a stiff drink in your hand.