Customer Reviews

Sings Rodgers Hart & Hammerstein

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

 

 

Rosemary Clooney continues her series of songwriter tributes with a set devoted to arguably the greatest melodist in American song, Richard Rodgers, and hsi respective lyricists Oscar Hammerstein and Larry Hart. It's actually quite a novel approach to feature Hart and Hammerstein lyrics on one CD, as most singers tend to focus on one or the other, but it's an idea that works well for Clooney, who has the measure of both lyrcists' styles.

The novelty on this record is the contribution of the LA Jazz Choir, a setup which will appeal to some listeners but leave others cold. They are, of course, an expert vocal group, but their appearances do somewhat distract from the Clooney sound. For me, however, it all works well, and on tracks such as "My Romance", where the motherly Clooney tone is suddenly succeeded by the whole choir, the effect is really lovely.

The other guest on this disc is trumpeter/singer Jack Sheldon, a forthright horn player in the Louis tradition who for my money seems less welcome than the Choir. His vocal efforts, while entertaining, seem somewhat brash when stacked up against Clooney's wonderful subtlety, and I can skip these tracks quite happily. Needless to say, the other regular Clooney/Concord guys play with all the finesse and beauty we have come to expect.

What makes the album an essential purchase for Clooney's fans is that it includes her interpretations of some of the very best songs ever written, and no great song ever suffered for having Clooney turn her voice to it. "It Might As Well be Spring" is a jewel of a song and Rosie is the perfect instrument for it, as is the case with "Little Girl Blue" and other ballads. She also makes a fine job of a lesser-known Rodgers/Hammerstein swinger "The Gentleman is a Dope", whose sardonic lyric finds its ideal interpreter in this particular vocalist (the more I listen to Clooney the more I feel she is a wonderfully witty singer, able to mine dry humour simply by the inflection of her voice - it's a rare gift).

Altogether, then, this may be an album somewhat flawed in execution, but I would still pay good money for the chance to hear one of the top singers of this repertoire put her stamp on these Rodgers masterworks.

I must say all of Rosemary Clooney's concord cd's arw her finest efforts(though her best is love songs). This cd is great, it features jazz all stars and an orchestra that really swings(you'd have to have no class and be a mean old fart to give this one star). This is a great cd and well worth picking up. Get one today! Rosie didn't record a dud.

Rosey, bless her heart, tried to offer to much to us on this cd. She tried to sing to us with the backing of a jazz choir and a regular choir. The concept for this project was good, but it some how failed. I think it would best for Rosie to stick to what has worked for her, for most of her career, to sing her songs with a good band backing her. Rosie, i still love you!

Rosemary Clooney is past her prime on this one; but it's worth having for the L.A. Jazz Choir. The Choir's back up on "I Could Write A Book" is heavenly, and is the highlight of this album. Everything they do here enhances the overall quality of the album. It's a shame they disbanded....

Her vocals are absolutely charming here, particularly the duets with trupeter Jack Sheldon. Great swing set, great singer.

Rosemary Clooney recorded many fine cd's for Concord records from 1977-2002, all of them have marrit(only Mothers & Daughters, ins's essential, unless your a moher or daughter). This set finds Clooney with Jack Sheldon on trumpet, and a load of jazz allstars, she sounds great throughout. You will enjoy this fine jazz set, as I have. And hey if I'm 17 and can enjoy this, I'm sure you can too.

This is a wonderful record. Despite the four or so tracks with the LA Jazz Choir. who sound fairly silly most of the time, this record is one of my favorites and deserves reissue. Jack Sheldon on trumpet and Scott Hamilton on tenor are in particularly fine form, and Rosie's treatment of "It Might As Well Be Spring" will break your heart. Sheldon's vocal duet on "People Will Think We're in Love" is both charming and musically meaty. Likewise, Rosie's version of "The Lady is a Tramp" beats Ella's and there are many other pleasures here as well. Don't miss them!