Customer Reviews

Singin With the Big Bands

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As I listen again and again to this cd that I recently discovered in a 2nd hand store, I can't help but wonder how I missed it for 8 years. I'm sure my age has a lot to do with my enjoyment of this music, but these classics are presented in such a nostalgic manner by what appears to be a superb studio orchestra using original arrangements of former big band greats such as Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Harry James, Duke Ellington and Les Brown that, for me, this is a must for any big band collector or anyone who remembers and enjoys music from the 40's. The sound is clean and refreshing and Manilow is superb. Rosemary clooney drops by for Jimmy Dorsey's "Green Eyes". This is one is definately worth a listen.

Before this recording, I had never heard the words to "Moonlight Serenade." Barry's done it again, and again, and again! From the man who charmed our socks off in the 70s to a sentimental journey-kinda dude, Manilow has given another breath of fresh air to some of the greatest songs in American history. I remember when he premiered this recording on "Larry King Live" several years ago, and I not only bought a CD for myself, but as Christmas gifts for others that year! The opening song, "Singing with the Big Bands" is catchy, lyrical, singable, and most of all, historical in the way it sets the "mood" for the rest of the recording. "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," are favorites from the Glenn Miller/Nat King Cole era, and Barry has helped to bring them back to a culturally-bereft generation, who desperately needs to hear this music. From the man who can sing anything and make it sound wonderful, Barry Manilow has definitely outdone himself this time!

This is one of my favorite Big Band music from my collection. Barry Manilow did an excellent job in this recording singing sixteen great songs of all-time re-arranged based on the original arrangements from The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Benny Goodman Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Harry James Orchestra and Les Brown and His Band of Renown. Mr. Manilow's interpretations of the songs in this wonderful CD are simply superb. I truly enjoyed listening to the entire CD and the sequence of tracks are just perfect, alternating swingy and upbeat tunes with the sweet and dreamy songs. There are touches of nostalgia in my all-time favorite gems and the best tracks from this compilation, Mitchell Parish/Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Serenade" and George Bassman/Ned Washington's "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You."

"Things you say and do . . .
Just thrill me through and through
I'm getting sentimental over you."

One of the standouts is "Green Eyes," re-arranged and conducted by Mike Melvoin based on the original Jimmy Dorsey arrangement and featuring one of the most distinguished female vocalists, Rosemary Clooney.

As you listen to this terrific CD, let Barry Manilow take you to a "sentimental journey" and "be with you in apple blossom time." He will sit with you "under the apple tree" "on a sunny side of the street." "And the angels sing" . . .

~ And The Angels Sing ~
Words & Music by Johnny Mercer & Ziggy Elman

"We meet and the angels sing
The angels sing the sweetest song I ever heard
You speak and the angels sing
Or am I breathing music into every word? . . .

. . . You smile and the angels sing
And though it's just a gentle murmur at the start
We kiss and the angels sing
And leave their music ringing in my heart."

This, in my opinion, is the very best Barry Manilow recording and if you love the sound of the Big Bands, you should have this in your collection. It's purely classic and timeless. I congratulate Mr. Manilow and all the musicians in this project for paying tribute to the beauty of Big Band music.

Greatly recommended. You'll love it!

Real Good Collection from Barry Manilow.His Voice truly fits really well with this Classics.it's a nice balance of tempo&Groove here."I'll Never Smile again","Don't get around Much anymore" showcase Barry's range.Barry is a Versatile Artist.

I have always loved swing music, especially Glenn Miller. But I was not a fan or even a listener of Barry Manilow until I heard this masterpiece. His voice is smooth as glass on classics like "Sentimental Journey" and "I should care". The title track which Barry co-wrote absolutely blows me away. No wonder this guy is so successful. Other stand-outs include: "I can't get started", "And the Angels Sing" and "Moonlight Serenade". Also check out "Manilow sings Sinatra", another brilliant CD. Perfect 'mood' music to relax to or take on a road trip.

I guess I'm weird but I've always loved the Big Band sound--even when I was a little kid growing up in the late '50s and Big Bands were just a memory. Plain and simple--if Miller, Dorsey, and James' music makes you misty-eyed, you''ll love this CD. Barry has never sounded better, the backup singers are superb, and the Big Band sound is awesome. I love this CD so much that I've stored the original and play a copy. OK so I'm a little weird!

I enjoy playing this CD when having a small dinner party. Even the Barry Manilow haters seem to like this wonderful compilation of Big Band songs. Worth adding to your music collection.

I'm so happy Barry decided to do this Big Band CD. I hope this CD is the start of some more good arrangements on his future CD's. My favorite is "Moonlight Serenades", and nobody realizes that there were lyrics to this wonderful gem! I like how he incorporates and mixes his original songs with some of the old classics. I think Barry's right on track! Linda Eder does this with some of her husbands material(Frank Wildhorn), and most recently I've found a similar style and combination with, "Silver Screen Serenades" from a new L.A. 'Big Band/Cabaret' crooner, Michael Poss. I would love to see all three of these talented singers perform on one stage, belting out some of their hip, Big Band songs! It's nice to see and hear these young vocalist really get into the music I grew up with!

Yes, and they sing with you, Barry--cause this album is Heaven! I LOVE it. One of my all-time favorites. These are the big band classics by Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey, Harry James, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Les Brown, and Duke Ellington, and all with Barry singing them. It just don't get any better than that! This is swooning music from the master crooner! I hope Barry makes a 2nd one of these albums.

Brings back many memories of the music played in my home when I was a child, and the music I practiced with when I learned to play music. Songs like "Moonlight Serenade" and "All or Nothing at All" almost make me wish I had been old enough to dance to them, too. "I'll Never Smile Again" and "The Angels Sing" are just too beautiful, not to mention snapping-your-fingers to Chattanooga Choo Choo and others.

If you love the Big Band sounds of the late 30s to early 40s, don't pass this one by. Barry also adds 2 songs of his own from 1994, "Singing With the Big Bands" and Where Does the Time Go," both beautiful and written in sync with the rest of the album. If I could transport myself back in time, I think I would go to the late 30s/early 40s, just so I could dance to this music. God, I LOVE it!

Update: I actually thought Barry had dubbed his voice into the songs somehow, but recently heard him say at a concert that he tracked these bands down and recorded them. My apologies for thinking even for a minute that the Master Showman had taken the easy way out.

Update June 07: I got a co-worker hooked on this CD, so he ordered it from Amazon. He was all set to plug it into the car and found out his wife had appropriated it for her car. She did finally give it back though. Then he told me they had to take a grouchy relative somewhere. They put the CD on in the car before he could start grumping, and HE WAS QUIET THE WHOLE TRIP! He sat back and enjoyed the Barry musik. (I thought that was cute.) See! I TOLD you Barry musik makes you feel good. Now maybe you'll believe me :-)

Actually we purchased this CD for our two parakeets. WE found that when we played Barry Manilow's music our parakeets would chirp and sing along with him. But both my wife and I love his music also.