Spotlight on

Keely Smith | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 21, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00000DR4Q
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,709 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

20 tracks from her late-'50s sessions with Nelson Riddle and Billy May, emphasizing familiar standards like "There Will Never Be Another You," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Fools Rush In," and "Stormy Weather." -All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First rate singer, outstanding arrangements and sound, November 28, 2000

By 

Jon Warshawsky "Sinatra Guru" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spotlight on (Audio CD)

Keely Smith is one of my favorite female vocalists, and this excellent Capitol collection rates highly. Sound quality is typical Capitol in the 1950s -- which is superb, and the track list is generous.

More than most of her contemporaries, Smith's vocals have aged well and lack the overly sweet or naive character of some other talented women singers from the 1950s. She sings with power and a great sense of timing and phrasing, a bit of an accent ('ab-owt') that never quite ceases to call attention to itself but does not detract from the charm of the music. While most of the songs are a pleasure, Smith especially shines on the swinging numbers -- 'It's Been a Long Long Time' and others -- that showcase her vocal strength. 'Imagination' and others are also fine, but she comes into her own on numbers such as 'The Song Is You' and 'When Your Lover Has Gone'.

The best part of Keely Smith's library is that, unlike the gifted June Christy who recorded a lot of obscure material, Smith went with absolute top-notch arrangers and songs. Billy May and Nelson Riddle are about as good as it gets, and Smith's recordings of 'Stardust', 'The Song is You' and 'Don't Take Your Love from Me' (to cite three examples) are treasurable.

If you have not listened to Keely Smith before, I would strongly recommend this album as a first purchase. Music was simply better a half century ago, and the musicianship and inspired vocals here attest to that.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stylish songstress from the swank era!, November 29, 2001

By 

Mark Savary "moon_city" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spotlight on (Audio CD)

Up until a week or so ago, I had never heard of Keely Smith (or Louis Prima). I bought this disc on a whim, which sometimes I'll do should I have a few spare bucks. Rather than be a compulsive shopper, I can usually resist a whim that tells me to buy something. I didn't listen this time, because the CD looked interesting, and I knew many of the songs. Now I find myself wondering why I never noticed Keely Smith before!

One of my fellow reviewers compares her effortless style with Dean Martin. I have to agree upon several listens that Keely does indeed have a slightly Dino-like quality with her easygoing phrasing. This shouldn't be surprising, since apparently Keely and her husband were big in Vegas around the time the Rat Packers were in swingin', swank style there. However, while her style seems effortless, Keely can also pack a lot of power into a song ("When Your Lover Has Gone" comes to mind).

I like the arrangements, too. There's some cool changes in tempo from slow to swingin' and back again ("It's Magic", "Stardust"). Others quietly support in the background, peeking out only when called for ("Mr. Wonderful", "I'll Never Smile Again").

This is a top ten collection on my list. Twenty cuts that cover Keely's Capitol catalog fairly well, clear-as-a-bell processing, and all at a decent price.

If like me, you haven't heard of Keely before, you'll want to grab this album to start with. I for one am glad I listened to that whim which got me to buy the disc. If you pick this one up, I think you'll be glad, too!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice Capitol Spotlight Series with Keely's Top Effort., January 18, 2002

By 

S. Henkels (Devon, Pa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spotlight on (Audio CD)

The entire Capitol SPOTLIGHT SERIES is among the finest reissues of the recent past. Every one I've heard has some great 1950's-early 60's recordings that may not always have been the artists' best known. That is especially true of the Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, Margaret Whiting, and Keely Smith releases. Keely's was my first purchase, and still my favorite. Sure, all the songs are tried and true, but she sings crystal clear, every note perfect. Every song is outstanding. My favorites are swing versions of THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YOU, and DONT TAKE YOUR LOVE FROM ME. Another one I'LL GET BY is a neglected gem sounding perfect here too. Plus the arrangers are all top, including Nelson Riddle and Billy May, who famously worked with Nat Cole and Mr. Sinatra himself...BTW, Keely's very recent tribute to Frank shows she's still going strong, sounding as fine as ever, even at 70 or so. One more thing, you can find two Keely- Frank duets on Frank's sensational COME DANCE WITH ME, recorded way back in 1958!