Customer Reviews

The Tender Touch

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With only a few of Nelson Riddle's gorgeous works from the heydays at Capitol still unreleased, this one is a welcome addition to the growing stack at my house (and will be at your place, too). Nelson takes these standards and a little something he wrote himself and puts his stamp on them in that inimitable way he did everything. With perfection, class, and sheer appreciation for the music AND the listener. This is one of his earlier works for Capitol as the headliner, when he wasn't busy writing charts for Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, Dean Martin or any other of the Capitol Records recording stars (often times as a ghost writer, not getting credit in many cases). The standout here, in my opinion, is the slow burning flame that is I WAS LUCKY. Riddle opens with strings and woodwinds, and builds to a beautiful climax. YOU'RE MINE, YOU! is another great song on this album, and features Riddle's "favorite" instrument, the trombone in the spotlight. (Riddle being a trombone player when he broke into the business). AS YOU DESIRE ME is a sultry ballad, and LOVE LETTERS is taken a little slower than usual here for effect and comes off wonderfully. I had not heard this album until it was released on CD, being a "generation X"-er and having long since parted with my turntable. Riddle's own title track features a female vocalist on the lyrics (the only song that features a vocalist on this album) and comes off well, but became forgettable. Why Riddle never scored with his own works more often still remains one of the great musical mysteries of all time. Records like this sold only fairly well, until he took the TV watchers by storm with his Route 66 theme...but before all that, Capitol afforded him this type of assignment. Fiercely loyal to musicians he used, this album (like the majority of his others) boasts some of then Hollywood's very best studio musicians. While the liner notes are very limited, the replica LP style packaging and painstaking remastering job really puts a wonderful touch on THE TENDER TOUCH.

With all the music out there sometimes you might like to sit back and savor some of the old standard ballades done in lush romantic orchestrations. This Nelson Riddle CD is perfect for the act of "listening." If you remember and love the ballads of the Great American Songbook you will not be disppointed with this CD.

Nelson Riddle's arrangements are first-rate and his choice of selections will bring back a host of memories. So many songs will remind you of his work with well known performers such as Frank Sinatra. The tempos and simplicity of the arrangements will remind you of the landmark recordings of the Jackie Gleason Orchestra which have become classics.

A very nice touch is in the packaging. The cover art is the same as the original LP and the CD is a mimic of an LP Record with the center hole and graphics and a plastic slipcase. In all it is geared to bring back wonderful memories.

Thomas Lee Randleman

This album features some standout examples of nelson's string writing. The trombone feature "You're Mine You" and the clarinet feature on "Please Be Kind" (at ballad tempo) are worth the purchase alone.

Agreeing with the other reviewers. Yes, this is a masterpiece. Yes, you need to get a copy. Yes, you will be happy and delighted for many days ahead. It's lovely beyond words.