Customer Reviews

Stardust Melody: Beloved & Rare Songs

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

 

 

What convinced me to buy this CD is its inclusion of "rare songs" by this composer. I was actually hesitant at first since I already have the 2 volumes of "Hoagy's Children" - again, a tribute album by the same interpreters composed of the aptly titled sibling trinity of Barbara Lea, Bob Dorough and Jim Ferguson. I thought this was culled as something of the "Best of..." from those albums but it was entirely new and different. Different it was and honestly a more beloved treatment, a more intimate one.

Hoagy's unofficial anthem, "Stardust," is almost given a seven-minute treatment. I would say this is the one of the best interpretations of this sacrosanct selection from the Great American Popular Songs pantheon with the 3 singers doing it separately and with Dan Levison's silky sax joining in. It is utterly sublime listening to it!

Now it makes sense to me the song "Can't Get Indiana off My Mind" not only with the literature inserted explaining Hoagy's nostalgic yearning of his childhood memories in Bloomington, Indiana after that Stalinist-like exodus to Montana by his father of a sudden rush to move for his family's economic survival. Barbara's rendition makes it more haunting as the title suggest.

And yes, the rare songs were sung in a manner that can really raised them to a "standards" level and I wont be surprised if a number of crooners will be including it in their repertoire much like the proliferation of songs like "You're Nearer" and "Young and Foolish" quite recently. I hope "Moonburn" would be sung more often since it deserves to be among his best.

It's unfortunate that the other reviewer graded this work with so few stars merely because the songs were not performed by Hoagy. It's also unfortunate that he or she, like so many others, had never heard of Barbara Lea or Bob Dorough or Jim Ferguson before purchasing this album. Ms. Lea is one of the finest interpreters of American song, in a league with her idol and influence, Lee Wiley. Bob Dorough is, of course, one of the voices behind the classic songs on Schoolhouse Rock (along with Blossom Dearie!) and Jim Ferguson, although a lesser known talent, is an exceptional musician. Hoagy would have been proud...and would likely have given five stars as well!

These songs represent a good selection of Hoagy's work. However, I would point out that they ARE NOT performed by Hoagy. The description does not point out that they are "interpreted" by other performers - none of which I had heard of before reading the back of the CD. It may well be that I don't listen to their genre, but I think mentioning the performers might have been a reasonable expectation. Hoagy is always good, but I was looking or should I say listening for Mr. Carmichael.