Customer Reviews

Talkin Verve

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

 

 

excellent material, with a great performance by buddy, but the disc has too much hiss and distortion, this 5 star performance deserved a better transfer to cd.

These are some of Buddy Greco's recordings for the Kapp and Coral label about 1955. Buddy seems to be at his very best in trio settings. Listen to his handling of Playing The Field- Cuba- Yes Sir That's My Baby. I never heard better interpretations. I own all Buddy's old LP's and I hope Verve will issue all other Kapp and Coral stuff as soon as possible!

i was apprehensive when buying this CD. I am very familiar with Mr Greco's work, & was hoping it would be in his vintage period of 50's to mid 60's. When I put in on , I was GASSED ! I listen to many singers of standards/show tunes : Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Mel Torme, Steve Lawrence, Frankie Randall, Tony Bennett, June Christy, Ella, Sassie, all who are superb , but at his best, NOBODY , & I mean NOBODY can touch Buddy Greco ! To say he swings is such an understatement : his songs, at whatever tempo, SMOULDER, SIZZLE,TRANSFORM THe AIR AROUND ONE. He has been critizied for his excesses ('quasi-operatic vibrato" 'smarmy', 'schmaltzy, ) but for someone who knows about the drama conection between song & lyric, WHO CARES ! His renditions of TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT, ALL OF YOU , IT'S ALRIGHT WITH ME, just to mention a few are MASTERPIECES.He, at his best, is THE textbook example of EVERYTHING a singer needs to fill a lounge, or a large room, & then some.
His approach to a tune in small groups like these differs somewhat from his Big Band & orchestral settings : one hears a delicate rendering that BUILDS, using a comprehensive array of singer-like trills, curls, changes in dynamics, & the ESSENCE of a tune that, in other singer's hands, pales significatnly. His larger group albums are equally good, though the emphasis is more on his own brand of operatics.

This album is a GEM !

Despite what I read elsewhere here I think this disc sounds great. I will note several of the tracks do contain some background noise, but considering these are live tracks recorded in the 1950's I'm not overly surprised. The studio tracks sound remarkably clean.

And the music itself is timeless!

The Cd arrived is good conditon, promt & am satisfied with the qaulity of the sound.