No comments about Cocktail Hour with Dean Martin.

2 comments about The Girl With A Laugh In Her Voice.

1. It's odd how some really famous singers in one place became household names (in the US, at least) and others didn't depending upon what they recorded that became widespread, despite vast recording careers at home! Alma Cogan seems to fall in to that category for female British stars in company with others like Kathy Kirby, for example (another favorite of mine). But I'm glad another collector friend introduced me to more of her work than what I had (1 obscure track on the "Dream Babes 1" set). I can't begin to cover everything she did here on this 4-disc collection, but just to shortly say she was brilliant, capable and exceptionally talented both in her own recordings and the unique way she covered hits others had. Not only in vocal stylizing but arrangements (especially the Beatles hits)! Also, if some other singers had tried to do pop hits in other languages, they likely would have sounded ridiculous at times compared to what Alma could do with the tunes, IMO. Some of my favorites here too are of course the well-composed novelty tunes she did. Not just things cranked out to capture a momentary "fad", but some pretty clever spoofs her vocals skills gave a new lightness to. It's a shame "Couldn't Resist Her with Her Pocket Transistor" isn't available on sound byte above, because it has to go down in history as an all-time campy classic!! Also oddly enough not here, but on an EMI collection is "Lizzie Borden" - "...(her slain parents) they said `Lizzie, cut it out!' And that's exactly what she did...'Cause you can't chop your poppa up in Massachusetts...!" Along with these too - "Twenty Tiny Fingers", "Willie Can", "Tango With an Eskimo" and of course "In the Middle of the House" (...as in the railroad comes through - since the company bought the land...!)! Truly a delight to enjoy her recordings now along with some fabulous photographs in the accompanying book. A very long-lost Diva unfortunately cut down in her prime!



2. The Brit's beloved Alma Cogan gets the royal treatment in this lavish lavender box. The first two discs are comprised of
   Alma's 4 LPs, disc three has all her novelty song hits, and the last is full of rarities. Alma's vocal style has been likened to Doris Day, but doesn't quite measure up to Day's artistry.
   Still, she was a wonderful singer, and a great fun pop personality, and every aspect of her all-too-short career is covered here. From silly pop froth to great standard readings to mod swinging 60's groovers, Alma did it all like the pro she was -- a very glamorous & hip chick.

2 comments about Complete Helen Merrill on Mercury (1954-1958).

1. Here she is in all her 1950's glory--the complete Emarcy recordings remastered for CD. While the sonics can't compare with original deep-groove vinyl pressings, they are really pretty good. All the LPs are here and the singles as well.

   Helen Merrill has the kind of voice that makes men go weak in the knees, but with real jazz chops to back it up. The players on these dates read like of "who's who" of 1950's session work. For those who love the great post-Charlie Parker vocalists, this is an indespesible box set.

   And, as an aside, Helen Merrill is still making great records today!




2. Heard this woman's voice for the first time last night at a small dinner party in Portland, Maine. The experience was riveting. Listen for yourself - her tones and nuances are stunning.

No comments about Ella Fitzgerald: Portrait.

5 comments about The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song.

1. This is a three disc box set of Disney music. The first two discs feature music from Disney cartoons, or live action films that featured animated sequences. The third disc features music from Disney live action films, television shows and theme parks. The songs from before the mid 1950s include whatever sound effects or dialogue that appeared in the film while the song was playing, sometimes to the detriment of the song. There are songs from almost every Disney animated film up to 1991, including the films the didn't have any good songs. But most of the songs are quite good, or at least fun to listen to for nostalgia's sake. If you are a Disney fan, you will enjoy this a lot.



2. I have this collection on cassette and I plan to buy the CD's. I love this set because it spans the history of Disney's wonderful songbook of music. Where else can you hear the Swamp Fox theme or Sean Connery singing Pretty Irish Girl? I am a total Disney fan and I would recommend this set to anyone who loves Disney or wants to show their kids Disney's amazing history in song. The one drawback is that it does not include the music from the last decade or so...but, that's okay because there are several good Disney CD's out there that do. Ultimate Disney volumes 1-3 actually. I think that is what it is called...Anyway, such a great variety of music here.



3. Not exactly what I expected. Nice for adult rememberance, it is the sound track for most of Disney movies. But, not really to entertain children.



4. This expansive and detailed collection of Disney music is the best out there. I've had mine since it came out in 1991, and I can't tell you how many times I've played each of it's three CD's!

   CD 1 starts off with the first Disney song in a cartoon, 'Turkey in the Straw' from Steamboat Willie and travels through the years (and 27 tracks) to The Sword and the Stone with 'Higitus Figitus'. Along the way films such as Pinocchio, Fantasia, Melody Time, Song of the South, Treasure Island and Sleeping Beauty are covered.

   CD 2 picks things up in 1962 with 'Supercalifraglisticexpialidocious', and runs through 20 tracks to 1991's 'Beauty and the Beast'. No rare songs are included on this disc, but a song or two from each animated film made in this time period is nothing to balk at.

   CD 3 heads in a new direction (that of live action, cartoon series and the Theme Parks) and serves up many gems and rarely heard recordings. Some of the 31 tracks included are; 'Enjoy It', 'The Ballad of Davy Crockett', 'Mister Piano Man' sung by Annette Funicello, the 'DuckTales Theme', 'Meet Me Down on Main Street', and the entire score for the 'Main Street Electrical Light Parade'!

   This set goes one step further by including a 60-page book that illustrates with words, and many full color pictures, Disney's musical legacy and packs it in a record sized keep-sake box. Much of the information in the book is enlightening and it does a superb job of giving backstory to the creation of the songs included. I've refrenced it many times and have always found it helpful.

   Yes, this set doesn't include songs from Toy Story, Tarzan or any of the more recent Disney offerings, but remember it was made in 1991. No matter though, over 10 years later, it's still the best and most comprehensive collection to date and believe me, I have enough Disney recordings to know! It's IMPOSSIBLE to be disappointed by this collection!




5. I take a trip to DIsney World Florida every year and before this latest trip I got this CD set. It is great!! I LOVE IT!!

   Jess

No comments about The Jazz Collector Edition, Vol. 6 - 10 (Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller).

No comments about G.I. Jukebox: Original Hits from Swing Era.

No comments about At the Drop of Another Hat.

No comments about Chanter la Vie.

2 comments about Golden Greats.

1. This 3-disk set has 77 Andrews Sisters songs, and pretty good choices. However, it comes from a Dutch label called "Disky" and was mastered by a London company called "Ideal Mastering," and the sound quality just isn't great. It's not unlistenable, but it could definitely be better. This may be a good starter set for someone who wants to explore the music of the Andrews Sisters without spending much, but if you want an Andrews Sisters album for sheer listening pleasure, I'd recommend something from a known label.



2. This European budget release has no booklet but the sound quality is fine for the age of the recordings. So there are no liner notes but the tracks (with songwriters) are listed on the back of the jewel case.
   
   Some people say that the Andrews sisters' songs all sound the same but I disagree. Their swinging, upbeat songs (with a few ballads but not many) come from a wide variety of sources, both within America and from other countries and the wide difference in styles is apparent even though the sisters always stamped their identity on whatever they recorded. You wouldn't mistake their sound for anybody else's - there was nobody like them at the time and hasn't been since.
   
   Despite being only a budget collection, the vast majority of their big American hits are here including their duets with Bing Crosby. By the time record sales charts started in Britain (November 1952), their hit-making days were over but they clearly have plenty of UK fans wanting to buy their music.
   
   Among the big hits to be found here (without Bing Crosby) are Bei mir bist du schoen, Hold tight hold tight, Beer barrel polka (better known as Roll out the barrel), Well all right, Say si si, Woodpecker song, Ferryboat serenade, Boogie woogie bugle boy (revived by Bette Midler in the seventies), I'll be with you in apple blossom (their finest ballad), Strip polka, Shoo-shoo baby, Straighten up and fly right, Rum and Coca Cola, Rumors are flying (with Les Paul), Near you, Civilization (with Danny Kaye), You call everybody darling, I can dream can't I and I wanna be loved.
   
   Bing Crosby joins the sisters on Yodelling jive, Pistol packing Mama, Is you or is you ain't ma baby, Don't fence me in, Ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive, Along the Navajo trail and South America take it away.
   
   There are a few omissions, notably A hot town in the town of Berlin (with Bing Crosby) but this is a budget release and it comes closer to being a definitive hits collection than some full-priced compilations.
   
   Apart from the many hits of their own, this set includes their own versions of other people's hits. Glenn Miller is well-represented via covers of I've got a guy (gal) in Kalamazoo, Chattanooga choo-choo, Pennsylvania 6-5000 and Don't sit under the apple tree - the last-named song was a minor hit for the sisters but a much bigger hit for Glenn.
   
   As an introduction to the music of the Andrews sisters this is brilliant despite the absence of liner notes. If you've already got some of their music but want more, you will surely find some tracks you haven't already got among the 77 here.