Customer Reviews

The Very Best of Marilyn Monroe

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Marilyn Monroe, as an actress, I can only stand in small doses. Her movies are excellent, all of them have something worthwhile and redeeming - even the more mundane offerings like 'Bus Stop' and 'Niagra' are finely-crafted pieces of film - and the more sublime ones like 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' and 'Some Like It Hot' are honest-to-God classic examples of the comic genius of both 1950s Hollywood and Monroe herself.

For all that, however, I can still only watch the pink and fluffy Goddess for short bursts before I long for something that takes itself a little more seriously.

And that's when I turn to this!

Monroe as a singer I could listen to forever and a day. Worthy of a far higher degree of praise than popular culture has traditionally accorded her, Monroe's singing is a very rare experience indeed. Her range is impressive, and her style is actually quite thought-provoking - listen to the contrast between the bubblegum-light 'Down In The Meadow' and the melancholic, heavy 'River of no Return', and you'll appreciate the fact that, at least as a singer, Monroe was more than capable of shrugging off her Fantasy Gal image for a deeper and more developed means of communication.

This CD is particularly noteworthy for having all the classics, and also some rarer gems like 'I'm Gonna File My Claim' and 'After You Get What You Want, You Don't Want It', both great numbers that are so often omitted from Monroe anthologies and such. Her interpretation of 'A Fine Romance' is one of the best ever, and her pairing with the immaculate Jane Russel on 'Little Girl from Little Rock' is worth the price of the CD alone.

If you look at all of the most vocally revered female songstresses of this period - Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Judy Garland - all of them have very fine voices, and an unusual vocal 'hook' - Billie's high acid melancholia, Nina's deep bass ad-libbing, and Judy's rolling, emotional high notes - and Monroe is no different. Her quivery, quirky soprano is fascinating to listen to, and matches her public personality as well as Ms. Julie Andrews' voice matches hers. It brings great depth to what would otherwise have been a relatively ordinary voice - but that's an advantage true of all singers.

One to own and listen to again and again, 'The Very Best of Marilyn Monroe' is something anyone with an appreciation of female vocalists will absloutely treasure.

This a a very good collection of songs that Miss Monroe sang from circa 1953 - 1962. The clarity of this CD and variety of songs that span her tragically short career will be appreciated by those who enjoyed her highly artistic and vocal talents. I truly recommend buying this CD!

I've long been wanting to hear Marilyn Monroe's music since I'm only 22 but I'm familiar w/ her success story in Hollywood & I've never seen her movies & thank God I found her album here in Amazon. All the best songs from Ms. Monroe are compiled in this album... including the very famous "Happy Birthday, Mr. President". This is truly a collector's item & I'm glad I didn't miss this chance to own her music. I love Marilyn! Thank you Amazon.com for making it happen!

Though not particularly known for her musical attributes, this collection of sex symbol Marilyn Monroe's vocal abilities is pleasant. Sure, she's breathy and doesn't have much range, but her innate fire and talents as an actress give some of these tunes a real kick. "After You Get What You Want" from "There's No Business Like Show Business" may be the best song Monroe was ever offered; "I'm Gonna File My Claim" and "River of No Return" are equally impressive. Two songs noticeably missing are "Runnin' Wild" from "Some Like It Hot" and a charming version of "That Old Black Magic" from "Bus Stop", which Monroe recorded in character(with a hick-town twang). Otherwise, a first-rate package.

O.K. so Marilyn Monroe isn't Ella Fitzgerald, heck she aint even Dianh Shore(not to say Shore couldn't sing jazz when she wanted to, just try "Dinah Sing Some Blues With Red" Red Norvo, that is), however she is better then most of the talentless popular singers of the 50's like the awful Patti Page and Teresa Brewer. In fact on "A Fine Roamce"(included on this CD) if you close you're eyes and listen you'll swear you're listening to Daris Day(And I don't mean the Que Sera Sera Day, I mean the young and swingin' sentimental Journey Day(before she was a virgin). Marilyn Monroe always cited Ella Fitzgerald as being a big influence on her singing, and it clearly is on "A Fine Romance." Other songs(not included on this CD) taht proove Monroe was at least a good singer are "I'm Through With Love" where she shows signs of being a decent torch singer, and on "Runnin' Wild" she re-creates a sort of Annette Hanshaw 20's swinging flapper style. This CD is not the greatest but it will show taht Monroe might have been a good jazz influenced pop singer like Doris Day or Rosemary Clooney.

I love the cd. Sound is good, and it was a treat to hear Down in the meadow and her rendition of WHEN I FALL IN LOVE, shows Marilyn had a great range. Recomended.

I've been a Marilyn Monroe fan for 20+ years and the more i learn about her the more i appreciate her as a human being as well as an actress.I only found out a few years ago she had a recording contract with MCA.I must tell you she was one of the most underrated actress as well as a recording artist.I personally don't own this CD BUT i do have the songs on here and she was an amazing singer.Everytime i listen to her, i admire her even more then before.The ONE flaw on this cd is track 18 When I Fall In Love.This is NOT her voice.Ask any Marilyn fan, and they'll tell you the same thing.The vocalist that sang that song was and low pitched and had no emotion. Marilyn on the other hand, had emotion as well as melody.
So the only reason i'm giving it 4 instead of 5 is because of that song.

i adore marilyn monroe and so may be slightly prejudiced, but i think she's really gotten a bad rap through the years as far as her voice is concerned. it's really quite beautiful, and i don't understand why people are always making it out to be so awful. at any rate, this is really a magnificent CD, and a great compilation of her work. i highly recommend it.

I was really surprised to find out Marilyn Monroe had a cd. Marilyn does have a very pleasant voice and she definitely has her own style. I like listening to these songs because it takes you back in time to Hollywood's golden era days. I could definitely imagine riding down the road back in the 1950's in a old Cadillac cruising to these songs. Marilyn has a pretty voice and this is a enjoyable cd, especially if you are a fan of her movies.

i think this cd brings out the very best of marilyn and shows off her true talent. her is a wonderful artist and will always be. she is a strong women and will always be in the heart of america. this cd has all the classic song from her time period and i think every true monroe fan need this cd.