Singin & Swingin: Best of

Earl Grant | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Original Release Date: October 20, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B00000AF0X
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,455 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #50 in Music > Pop > Easy Listening > Lounge

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Earl Grant - The Jack of All Trades, June 24, 2004

By 

Brian H. Williams (Manteca, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Singin & Swingin: Best of (Audio CD)

Earl Grant is now a faded memory in the music scene. For several decades, his music had been out of print. When this cd was released in 1997, I shelled out premium bucks for it. It was worth it. I was hoping for more Grant material in the near future, but alas, none has surfaced. So, Grant fans must purchase this one. But, one Earl Grant cd is better than nothing, which was what we had for years. This is a compilations of his material he recorded in the 50's and 60's. This release has outstanding liner notes by Joesph Laredo, which tells of his beginnings, up to his tragic death in a car accident in 1970 at age 39. All the big hits are here, The End, Ebb Tide, Spanish Eyes, Stand By Me and many others. It's utterly amazing how Earl navigates his way through the music singing and playing both the organ and piano all at the same time. Singing and playing was something that even the great Nat King Cole couldn't do! Yes! Many people don't notice it, but you only hear Nat's piano when he's NOT singing. He adds little fills at the end of his phrases, but he doesn't do full blown accompaniment the way Grant does! If you are unfamiliar with this musician, get to know him by buying this release.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST "BEST OF CD" I'VE HEARD IN A LONG TIME, July 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Singin & Swingin: Best of (Audio CD)

"THE BEST OF EARL GRANT" I purchased the CD last October when it first came out, played it and filed it away, being overwhelmed at the time by too many incoming Bear Family box sets. Well, I finally got around to the CD this week, and I find it to be, not only a pleasant surprise, and not only a gem, but perhaps the best new "best of" that I've heard in a long time! First the CD covers the requirement of any "best of" collection by including all the hits, and they all speak eloquently and positively for themselves. And in terms of the hits, with Earl Grant everything starts and ends with the most wonderful of recordings, "THE END" (7-October 58), but I was surprised and delighted the he also included in this CD his unreleased Italian language version. After all this time, almost 41 years, to hear this new, but original version, is a real music highlight of this year. His Italian version of "The End" was appropriate for the time period, the fall of 1958, because "Volare" (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu) (1(6)-Aug/Sept. 58) another Italian language song by Dominico Modugno was dominating the pop charts. In this CD he also records "VOLARE", and his version is a little faster, more irreverent and more swinging, but a decidedly welcome rendition. After getting The McGuire Sisters version of "Volare" just last week, in their new double anthology CD, this now gives me a fourth version, along with Dean Martin's secondary hit., and it is very much appreciated! His November 1956 recording of "GODNIGHT MY LOVE (PLEASANT DREAMS)" is a solid version of the McGuire Sisters and Jesse Belvin hit (23-January 57) and is typical of the sounds of that time period. It has such a great original, but dated, rock 'n roll sound with the pronounced big beat, the piano triplets, and the do-wah-wah background singers. "The End" was such a pop masterpiece that I thought it was impossible for him to ever approach matching it with a follow-up recording, impossible until now, until I heard for the first time his exquisite version of Della Reeses' hit "NOT ONE MINUTE MORE" (16-January 60). I just don't have adequate words to describe the wonderful poetry of the lyrics, the orchestration and vocal styling. Another new highlight for the year or any period! I also loved a great deal, the flip-side of "SWEET SIXTEEN BARS" (55-Oct. 62), his recording of Frank Sinatra's "LEARNIN' THE BLUES" (2(5)-July/Aug. 55). His swinging, big voice, big band version of the song is reminiscent of how Sammy Davis would have performed it. Another gem and another surprise! His up-beat jazz-vocal of "UNDER PARIS SKIES" reminded me of a 1940's Nat King Cole, and his pop version of the DeCastro Sisters' "TEACH ME TONIGHT (2(1)-December 54) reminded me of early 50's vocal stylists. His piano, sax, organ instrumental of "THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU" and his piano intro, double sax solos, Ben E. King-kind-of-rhythm of "STAND BY ME" , and his Ray Charles-piano-style of Ray Charles' "Sweet Sixteen Bars" were highlights. Also his instrumental recordings of Frank Chacksfield's "EBB TIDE" (3-November 53) and Errol Garner's 1954 classic "MISTY" were very good. His 1967 and 1968 versions of contemporary hits "SPANISH EYES" (15-January 66 by Al Martino) and "THE LOOK OF LOVE" (4-July 68 by Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66) were solid efforts to remain relevant into the late 1960's. In conclusion, I think that the total range and depth of Earl Grant's displayed talent on this disk is remarkable and unparalleled, and deserves only the highest of ratings (5 of 5 stars).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE ONE AND ONLY, November 5, 2006

By 

Henry Erlenwein "Staten Island" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Singin & Swingin: Best of (Audio CD)

Earl Grant was a regular guest on The Ed Sullivan Show. That was long ago. The first time I heard him I was hooked. The smooth melodic voice combined with his mastery of the organ was haunting and wonderful. Mr. Grant had a style all his own. Original and never duplicated. This album has it all. His signature cut "House of Bamboo". A simply lovely rendition of the Sarah Vaughn hit "Sermonette". A comic "Volare". And more. All Grant. All great.

It's a shame that Mr. Grant was taken away from us at the age of 37 in a tragic accident. But we have this album.

Truly "Singin' & Swingin'".