Customer Reviews

The Songs of Sam Coslow: Cocktails for Two

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Compared to the Golden Age of Song reputations of Irving Berlin, Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter and the Gershwin's and their identifiable popular catalogues, Sam Coslow's song-writing status has somewhat faded into the mists of time and he is now recalled as somewhat second league. However, Coslow was a prodigious contributor to Hollywood's early musicals and provided TRUE BLUE LOU, IF YOU CAN'T SING IT, YOU'LL HAVE TO SWING IT (MR PAGANINI) and I'M IN LOVE WITH THE HONORABLE MR SO-AND-SO as enduring songs. Surprisingly, he failed to crack the Broadway stage musical/revue to any extent and generally provided numerous popular hits until the 50's when he moved to London to undertake a similar movie function before he died in 1982.

Therefore this excellent collection serves as a pleasant reminder of Coslow's extensive body of work which with his collaborators included songs which became early hits for the upcoming Bing Crosby who naturally provides JUST ONE MORE CHANCE, LEARN TO CROON, THANKS and THE DAY YOU CAME ALONG for this collection. Covering the years 1928-1947, it's a joy to hear crisp and clear recordings by largely forgotten names like Annette Hanshaw (MOON SONG), Valaida Snow (SING YOU SINNERS) and Carl Brisson (COCKTAILS FOR TWO) with that latter number perhaps not surviving it's 1944 parody slaughter by Spike Jones and his City Slickers. Familiar vocalists - amongst them Dick Haymes (JE VOUS AIME), Margaret Whiting (BEWARE MY HEART), Maurice Chevalier (SWEEPIN' THE CLOUDS AWAY), Connee Boswell (IN THE MIDDLE OF A KISS) and last but not least Noel Coward (FARE THEE WELL) also contribute unfamiliar numbers with sometime singer Coslow himself providing the vocals for LAY YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDER, DEAR.

Revealing many surprises, it can be argued this overview is well worth its weight in nostalgic musical gold considering the somewhat neglected standing of Sam Coslow and with excellent remastering, informative notes and discography adding quality, this compilation is highly recommended.

It's quite a feat to be able to present a songwriter's portfolio using the original singers who recorded the songs.