16 Most Requested Songs

Sarah Vaughan

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 13, 1993)
• Original Release Date: July 13, 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000294I
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #133,832 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Newark, New Jersey native Sarah Vaughan possessed one of the greatest voices in jazz, an instrument of operatic range. A child prodigy, she was featured singer and organist in Newark's Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She won the amateur night contest at the Apollo Theater in Harlem in 1942, and was singing with the Billy Eckstine band by 1943. Vaughan recorded with Dizzy Gillespie in 1946. By the end of the decade she was famous; 16 Most Requested Songs reflects Columbia's efforts to package her as a pop act. The best moments, such as "Black Coffee" and "The Nearness of You," are mixed in with a program of show-tunes highlighted by "That Lucky Old Sun" and "Summertime." --John Swenson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Out Of This World, March 13, 2001

By	Barbara Moorman "barbaramoorman" (Lindenwold, New Jersey USA)) - See all my reviews

Let me tell you. If ever god made anything better than this cd, hemust have kept it for himself, because this is the cream of the crop. If only one of Sarah`s cds, let it be this one. You`ll never get tired of hearing it and eachsong seems to be made to be fitfor her style. This recording is absolutely beautiful. This is a must have cd. Any collection of jazz wouldn`t be complete without it. I have heard these songs performed by many other artists but I like her versions best of all. This recording is truly magnificent!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must For Any Sarah Vaughan fan, best place to start, January 8, 2001

By	Alex (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This CD is an amazing compilation of Sarah Vaughan's best interpretations of classics like Summertime, It Might As Well Be Spring, The Nearness Of You. Personally, the lady does the best cover of Black Coffee compared to a lot of jazz singers. She is definitely one of the most amazing jazz singers we have ever seen in a lifetime and I would say, she is in the top three for the century.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Come rain or come shine, Sarah NEVER disappoints !!!, April 3, 2008

By	Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Sixteen (16) Most Requested Songs is a fine album by the immortal Sarah Vaughn. This is a great starter CD for newcomers to Sarah's artistry; I think many diehard Sarah Vaughn fans will already have most if not all of these songs in their collections. The quality of the sound is quite good; and the artwork is terrific!

"Black Coffee" starts the track set with Sarah Vaughn singing her very best; her voice is strong, warm and very vibrant. Sarah's incredible ability to use her voice to convey every subtle nuance of the lyrics to any song is clearly displayed here. "That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)" is a song I first heard when ray Charles sang it; but Sarah takes this song and makes it her own with her wonderful timing and diction. "That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)" shines like silver and gold when Sarah sings this to perfection--and beyond! The strings are also used to great advantage on "That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)."

"Summertime," from Porgy And Bess, gets a fine treatment from the great Sarah Vaughn. She sings this with all her heart and soul; I believe that Sarah's rendition is certainly THE definitive rendition of "Summertime." "The Nearness Of You" sparkles when Sarah Vaughn sings it; I love it!

"It Might As Well Be Spring" features Sarah singing like the songbird she always was; and the horn arrangement complements her singing just right. Listen also for "Come Rain Or Come Shine;" Sarah aces this easily and she makes this sound so fresh and new with her passionate delivery of "Come Rain Or Come Shine." "Pinky" again features Sarah at her very best; she shows off the operatic qualities of her voice and this all works very well.

"My Tormented Heart" is a marvelous torch song that Sarah delivers with panache, heart and soul; and the CD ends nicely with Sarah performing "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year." "Spring Will Be A Little Late This year" moves me with its beauty and it's also the perfect ending for this CD.

Sarah Vaughn was easily one of the best female vocalists of the entire twentieth century. This CD proves it. This is a CD geared toward casual fans and newcomers; diehard Sarah Vaughn fans will already have these songs in their collections. People who enjoy sublime renditions of classic pop vocals will also love this album.