Customer Reviews

We Are In Love

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I, like most Connick fans, "discovered" him through hearing his music on the soundtrack to the Meg Ryan/Billy Crystal movie WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (ASIN B0000026V6). At the tender age of 20, I bought the CD to accompany it and loved it. I had the rare opportunity to judge these time-tested tunes with an unjaundiced ear of naivete: Grandma and Grandpa had some good tunes AFTER all. When his 2nd disc (this one) came out, I hurried to purchase it and was underwhelmed at the time outside of a couple tunes I felt were pretty catchy (Recipe for Love and It's Alright with Me). In all fairness it's difficult for ANY composer to stand alongside the likes of "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" or "It Had to Be You". As time went on, I discovered more of the big band era singers and performers' original versions and adjusted my estimation of the WHMS disc downward a bit (in comparison with folks like Sinatra, Crosby, and Cole...Nat, not Natalie).

But a curious thing happened when I revisited this disc recently: I played it again. And again...and again...and again. Perhaps some of it is the novelty of hearing new "oldies" but quite a few of these tunes are holding up for me, particularly with my more mature ears these days.

HIGHLIGHTS:
"We are in Love" is the confirmed bachelor's surrender: "I do..could it be that's the phrase you thought never would phase you/Well baby, you'd better hold on tight/'Cause I'm the one/who's supposed to kneel down and propose/well alright/I might, I might". "Recipe for Love" follows a similar theme with a novelty approach. ("It doesn't need an oven 'cause it's got a lot of heat/Just add a dash of kisses to make it all complete..") Love is fading in "Drifting" as the song's hero faces facts. ("Though you say your heart isn't drifting, drifting/The words simply don't ring true/You're drifting and I'm losing you") It's easy to envision a Disney character waltzing to the tune and singing to the offscreen lover (meaning it feels timeless, not schmaltzy) "Forever, for Now" has perhaps the most unlikely arrangement in that in incorporates a twangy bass that almost resembles 50's surf guitar at times along with cheesy, "film noir detective flick" muted trumpet and it actually WORKS. "It's Alright with Me" is the sole non-original that qualifies as a gem here. Connick turns in an irresistible cover of the Cole Porter classic.

LOWS:
Connick usually falters when he forgets that "ballad" doesn't equate to "wimpy". "Buried in Blue" betrays some truly poetic lyrics ("You can report a missing person/But not a stolen heart/And I'm missing a person/to whom stealing was an art") with wake-me-when-it's-over pacing that drags on for nearly 7 minutes. "Only 'Cause I Don't Have You" similarly feels leaden thanks to its molasses melody. Same for "Just a Boy" but it adds the extra bogging down of a pretentious lyric about growing up that wants to be "deep" but just comes off as silly. ("Now that we're tall and all grown/A house, a car, lives of our own/We put off but we can't postpone/The way we become men")

BOTTOM LINE:
This is 2nd only to RED LIGHT, BLUE LIGHT as my favourite Connick effort. It's aging well. Recommended.

I am in love with this wonderful album. I have owned this particular work for 7 years, and it is still just as wonderful as the day I received it. Each piece, rather it is slow or upbeat, has a timeless appeal. Harry Connick Jr. has mastered the ability to capture a feeling with words.

Harrys's 'WE Are In Love " c.d. is a great one! I first heard his music when I was at my fiancees apartment and fell in love with the songs Recipe of Love and A Nightengale Sang.... This album will always remind me of the times I was just friends with my fiancee and will always remind me of Winter. It is a magical cd that I own and cherish.

I think this is my favorite because it was my first HCJ purchase. I played it so much it fell apart. A modern but smooth voice manages to escape those somewhat over-sized and clumsy lips, and still, he remains enchantlingly charming and reachable! And then there's his piano playing, and what he can act too?
I love the songs on this CD, my favorites being A Nightingale Sang In Berkely Square and We Are in Love. His voice and demeanor never fail to cheer me. For anyone who likes standards and jazz, this is a great CD.

I've been a Harry Conick fan for some time now. I've enjoyed his voice, wonderful jazz piano styles and the fabulous arrangements. For awhile though I thought he was really moving in the wrong direction. I'm happy to say however, that he is back doing the type of songs he is really great at: some old, some new, but always lyrical and singable. "Recipe For Love" is a great uptempo song, and is a great contrast to the the equally stirring ballads like "Drifting". You will not be disappointed!

This album to me is just amazing. This album followed the success from his album for the motion picture "When Harry Met Sally" which i also suggest purchasing if not already purchased. This album has many of my favorites which im sure youll like. Harry has such a knack for singing his voice is so natural, it brings you to relax and think of some ofthe past singers like dean martin, sammy davis jr, frank sinatra tony bennet, and so on. He just sings from the heart. Spotlight songs on this album include "We are in Love" which has an incredible beat and is very uniquely sung. "A Nightengale sang in Berkley Spuare" is another one with a great tune and just fun to listen to. The whole album is great i give it my highest recommendation. This album surely is a must have.

My mom used to listen to this CD when I was little and I never really liked it, but later when I started to fall in love with jazz it became one of my favorites. I love Harry Connick Jr.'s style, voice, and music selection, and could listen to him forever. I especially like "I'll Dream of You Again," and "It's All Right With Me."

The first time I saw or heard Harry was on a television special. I was so taken by his velvet voice and bigband style that I fell instantly in love. I was in highschool, and I suppose I was just like those teenage girls who swooned over Frank Sinatra way back when. I bought the album, after quite a bit of searching, and was blown away. "We are in Love" was my first taste of big band jazz music, and my first taste of Harry. He showed me a new genre of music that I've come to love. Thankyou Harry, when it comes to you.. I AM in love.

Harry's breakthrough was the soundtrack to the movie"When Harry Met Sally" but this is the album that established him as a true musician and entertainer. The songs on this album are foot tapping and heart tugging a perfect blend and the jazz and arrangements are outstanding. Harry's singing is often described as "Sinatra-like" but I think he has his own style and tone that was influenced by Sinatra and others from his New Orleans background. Outstanding work and the place to start if you don't have any of his albums.

Harry at his best... to sell you on this albumn, all you need to do is listen to the last 7 seconds on the CD. His voice is perfect, the instruments are balaced perfectly. Harry is DA MAN!