Customer Reviews

Ol' Yellow Eyes Is Back

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Many people's comments show they don't appear to 'get' the vocal style Spiner used here. I haven't heard the enrtire album so my rating only applies to "It's a sin to tell a lie", heard on April Winchell's radio show. Spiner is affecting a singing voice style that I don't know the real name for, but I've heard called "Irish tenor". It's a style associated with the '20s and '30s. Sometimes the guys in this period even sang though a megaphone, not because it was necessary, but because they liked how it sounded. This also explains the excess vibrato, very much part of the style. Eddie Cantor and Cole Porter provided many examples of this type of singing (check out Porter's "Let's Misbehave", the theme music from Woodly Allen's "Everything You always Wanted to Know About Sex"). For another example, see W.C. Fields' "The Old Fashioned Way", with a couple of solos sung by Joe Morrison in the same style.

A beautiful collection of oldies preformed by Brent Spiner. His singing on the show is nothing compared to the mellow tones put forth on this album. I've included a track listing for those who haven't heard any more about it... in order:

Time After Time
The Very Thought Of You
More Than You Know
Toot Toot Tootsie
Embraceable You
It's A Sin (To Tell A Lie)
Long, Long Time
Carolina In The Morning
Marie
Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart
When I Fall In Love
Goodnight, Sweetheart

Only one song is even slightly annoying, and it's not due to Spiner. "It's A Sin (To Tell a Lie)" features a monologue by Captain Jean-Luc Picard actor Patrick Stewart. It's total cheese, but the song is lovely.

Great music for a romantic evening by the fire, playing around on the computer, or driving on a rainy night. Not the terribly trashy stuff of former Star Trek albums, but a very nice collection of remade oldies. I'd like to hear more from Brent.

For the record, Brent Spiner was a Broadway star long before he joined the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He had a featured role in Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George in 1984, and replaced Rene Auberjonois (another Trek alum who can sing) in Big River in 1985.

I agree that this is a mediocre album - the very title tells you that it's a gimmick. The arrangements are lackluster, and I've heard Brent sound much better (on the cast albums of the aforementioned Sunday and his starring role as John Adams in the 1997 revival of 1776). He was clearly leaning on his Star Trek connections to sell the album.

Yes, this album is by "Data" of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Brent sings mostly standards here, with the exception of one recent song by Randy Newman. Brent has a decent tenor voice, but he can't really sustain a note. Any time he tries to hold a note, there is quite a bit of vibrato. Not Tiny Tim level, to be sure, but still a bit distracting. The main fault with the album is that arrangements by Dennis McCarthy are rather dull and unimaginative. The two songs here that were arranged by John McKinney, on the other hand, are lively and fun. Too bad he didn't arrange the whole album. This album will appeal to Star Trek fans only. Trekkies will be especially interested in "It's a Sin (To Tell a Lie)", which features back-up vocals by LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes and Patrick Stewart, plus a recitation by Stewart. The songs are:

1. Time After Time
2. The Very Thought of You
3. More Than You Know
4. Toot Toot Tootsie
5. Embraceable You
6. It's a Sin (To Tell a Lie)
7. Long, Long Time
8. Carolina in the Morning
9. Marie
10. Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart
11. When I Fall in Love
12. Goodnight, Sweetheart

First of all, if you are looking for a goofy album to laugh at, this isn't it. Buy one of Leonard Nemoy or William Shatners' many albums for singing so appalling it's actually funny. This is a serious tribute to some beautiful older standards. Some are fun and lively ("Toot, toot, tootsie"), some are slow and romantic, ("The Very Thought of You"). These are great songs and Mr. Spiner sings very well. All technichalities about his limited range or overdone vibrato aside, his voice is pleasant and nice to listen too. I wouldn't say that this album is worth the price, but it deserves at least four stars! Good job Brent, for breaking out of the cheese-ball tradition of bad albums by ex-Star Trek stars. I hope Brent will someday put out another album and release his rendition of "Blue Skies" from "Nemesis"!

What a beautiful voice! A Trekkie friend lent the album to me because he knows that I'm a fan of classic tunes. I couldn't have imagined what an amazing experience it would be to hear Brent Spiner's renditions of these wonderful songs. I'm presently listening to Time After Time, and every note is clear and pitch-perfect to my ear. This album is definitely one I'll listen to again and again. Pity he didn't record another.

Having just heard these selections for the first time, I find myself wondering if there's anything Brent Spiner can't do. His style and dialects are fantastic, and the inherent 'corniness' to our ears of the music from the period is brilliantly executed. Mr Spiner is indeed an adept singer, and while his vibrato is often broad at times, it's stylistically enjoyable and has nothing to do with talent, as demonstrated by the fact that he easily reigns it in where appropriate. His transitions between firm chest-voice and floating falsetto are seamless.

Overall, a fantastic find, and great fun for anyone who loves Mr Spiner as much as I do. This album deserves an anniversary re-release.

Brent Spiner is phenomenal as Data on Star Trek: TNG. However, the same can also be said for this cd, which he came out with. The songs that he sings came out in the 40's decade or so, and Brent performs them with love and feeling. From the sweet, slow melodies such as, Time After Time, Marie, and The Very Thought of You, to quicker paced Toot! Toot! Tootsie Goodbye!, his cd is definitely worth every penny! And if you're a Star Trek: TNG fan as I am (hey, I was born in the 80's!), then you'll be happy to know that Patrick Stewart, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, and Jonathan Frakes also make an appearance on the cd! They sing the backup for his song, 'It's a Sin (To Tell a Lie), and they call themselves the "Sunspots". I am definitely happy to add this cd to my collection. Get this cd! You won't regret it.

This disc is a lot of fun; I love especially the track, "It's a Sin To Tell A Lie". FWIW, if you're wanting this disc but can't afford it here, it can often be had for under $20 on eBay. Here's hoping for a re-issue!

Brent Spiner's voice on this album is fantasic, as are the terrific arrangements. Although some of the other reviews claim that Brent doesn't have full control of his voice, I completely disagree. His expansive vibrato during sustained passages is flawlessly executed, in accordance with the style of this music. Bravo!