Torchy / Blue Moon [Import]

Carmen McRae | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 1, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Mca UK
• ASIN: B00002ZZ1M
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,111 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Last Night When We Were Young

2. Speak Low

3. But Beautiful

4. If You'd Stay The Way I Dream About You

5. Midnight Sun

6. My Future Just Passed

7. Yesterdays

8. We'll Be Together Again

9. I'm A Dreamer

10. Good Morning Heartache

11. Star Eyes

12. (I Don't Stand) A Ghost Of A Chance (With You)

13. Blue Moon

14. My Foolish Heart

15. I Was Doing All Right

16. Summer Is Gone

17. I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket

18. Nowhere

19. Until The Real Thing Comes Along

20. Lush Life

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Two of the late jazz vocalist/ pianist's original LPs for the Decca label together on one CD, 1955's 'Torchy' and 1956's 'Blue Moon'. Features the original cover art of both records and all of the songs from both, for a combined total of 24 digitally remastered tracks. Also features extensive liner notes. 1999 release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TWO GREAT CARMEN MCRAE ALBUMS ON ONE CD!, August 1, 2002

By 

Giovanni (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Torchy / Blue Moon (Audio CD)

Once again, the Universal Music Group comes up with this thrilling "two-fer", comprised of two great albums from the immortal Carmen Mcrae, one of jazz's greatest divas ever. These are mid-50's albums (each available as Japanese imports) that Carmen did on Decca. Her catalog varies where labels are concerned; she did a lot of recording on a lot of labels throughout her illustrious career, but it was at Decca where she gained the most momentum early on, despite being weighed down with lots of commercial stuff. There was no denying her vocal prowess, and I personally say she was one of the few vocalists whose voice always sounded the same, even in later years, and dare I say, got BETTER. These sides, mostly standards and some be-bop overtures, were arranged by the cream of the Decca bandleaders and freelancers of the time. Jack Pleis, an underappreciated master of the baton, led the orchestra on two of my favorites here, MY FUTURE JUST PASSED, a fine anthem that Carmen really conveys with sincerity without being too "mushy", and the swingin' I'M A DREAMER (Aren't We All?) in which Carmen really makes us ponder the rhetoric question in song. It's easy to dream with Carmen's voice and the great arrangement featuring clarinet on this chart leading the way! Ralph Burns, one of the greatest jazz arrangers EVER also did a few charts here, one of particular beauty is the Arlen / Harburg classic LAST NIGHT WHEN WE WERE YOUNG. As for the "be-bop refrains" I mentioned, STAR EYES was something of a hit for Carmen, and that version is included here; this one had them dancing in Birdland for years by anyone who ever covered it. NOWHERE is another swingin' tune that hearkens to the be-bop style and is handled just fine by Carmen. The touching ballad SUMMER IS GONE is wistful and pretty, and features some of Carmen's most heartfelt singing with a spectacular arrangement. This will bring countless hours of listening enjoyment for jazz fans everywhere. Two great albums from Carmen Mcrae; how can you miss? Excellent remastering and packaging with informative liner notes included.