Swing Music

Bille Holiday is a Fantastic Singer who left us much too soon.
I enjoyed this CD and play it everyday.
Her voice is like no other.

Sixteen (16) Most Requested Songs is a Billie Holiday sampler CD that allows newcomers and casual fans to hear some of Billie's great recordings and then decide for themselves if they want to delve further and buy more CDs by this immortal artist. The sound quality is excellent; and the artwork is very nicely done.

The CD starts with Billie singing "Miss Brown To You." This number features Billie at her best in the 1930s. Billie sings very well and she never misses a note! Billie's excellent diction and timing enhance her performance; you will know you are truly listening to a master when this CD starts! "If You Were Mine" features a magnificent piano arrangement; "If You Were Mine" is another great highlight of this album.

"The Way You Look Tonight" has a great horn solo; and when Billie sings this it truly takes flight! Billie sings this with panache, heart and soul. "Pennies From Heaven" is a classic pop vocal that again showcases Billie's fine vocal talents---what a pleasure it is to hear these old songs by Billie! Moreover, there's Billie doing her best on "I Can't Give You Anything But Love;" she easily aces this and the piano arrangement is extremely elegant.

"I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" has Billie wailing this out like the pro she always was! Billie sounds great and the slight surface noise on some of these tracks never distracts you from the words and music--these numbers are all that good. "Why Was I Born?" also features Billie singing the blues like no one else ever could!

"My Man" gets the royal treatment from Billie who sings this with all her heart and soul. I never heard "My Man" sound better than when Billie Holiday was singing it! She truly takes this classic pop vocal and makes it her own through her incredible ability to impart every subtle nuance of the lyrics to her listeners. "Body And Soul" shines equally bright when Billie performs this with panache. "Body And Soul" has a fine musical arrangement to accompany Billie as she sings.

"God Bless The Child" is a true gem when the immortal Billie Holiday sings this classic, timeless number; the horn and the piano have especially fine arrangements. The CD ends with a number recorded very late in Billie's career, "I'm A Fool To Want You." Although Billie's voice may seem worn out to some, I think that her more mature voice truly conveys the sadness of the lyrics and, in an unusual way, actually strengthens her performance to make this ballad all the more poignant.

Billie Holiday was one in a million; and she will never be forgotten. Long after most "celebrities" are dead and gone, Billie Holiday and her artistry will live on in the hearts and minds of her adoring fans well into the future. I highly recommend this fine CD as a sampler CD or a fine starter CD for people just discovering the great Billie Holiday; diehard fans will want CDs and especially box sets by Billie Holiday that are much more substantial.

16 Most Requested Songs is one of my favorite album's with such hits as Body & Soul, I'm a Fool to Want You, and God Bless the Child it just doesn't get any better. I discovered Billie Holiday about 6 years ago and have been in love with her music and voice since. I beleive that this album is right up there with "Billie Holiday Sings Standards." I think every Billie Holiday fan should own this album.

All the best of Mel Torme. Sounds just like Michael Buble'. Perfect crooner!

I can see why he was nicknamed the Velvet Fog. His voice is beautiful and full. While these songs may not be the jazz standards that most die hard fans love and appreciate, they are still beautiful and nicely produced. The songs on this album are more romantic and softer especially Strangers in the Night, my all time personal favorite of his. The one thing I loved most about this era was that the singers actually had talent.

Mel Torme enjoyed a much deserved prosperous career spanning several decades as he sang to the delight of millions. This CD offers us sixteen of his bigger hits, although as some reviewers correctly note, this CD covers the 1960s in depth without touching at all upon his other work. However, the material that we do get from this CD is excellent quality throughout.

The CD track set begins with "P.S. I Love You." Mel sings the first few notes a cappella and when the music comes in this number is truly beautiful. Mel sings passionately and very sweetly as he sings of a letter he writes to his sweetheart. Love the use of strings in the musical arrangement! "Haven't We Met?" swings lightly as Mel sings of his plans for time alone with his one true love. The strings and horns work well for this number even though they almost drown Mel out once or twice along the way.

Other gems on this CD include "The Nearness Of You;" Mel massages this classic ballad very well to make it a masterpiece. "I've Got You Under My Skin" gets a light Latin beat to enhance this number; and Mel delivers this without a superfluous note. Mel plays with the tempo just a bit to make "I've Got You Under My Skin" all his very own--excellent! In addition, "That's All" gets the royal treatment from Mel as he performs this so sweetly at a slower tempo that infuses "That's All" with a decidedly romantic effect.

"Strangers In The Night" begins with a musical flourish; and when Mel comes in he takes this number to new heights. The percussion enhances the beauty of this number and Mel uses his full vocal range to make "Strangers In The Night" truly memorable.

Although this album lacks any holiday theme, the CD ends fittingly with "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)." Mel always did a sublime rendition of this ballad; and this track leaves you wanting more. I predict you will enjoy this number as if it were new to you even if you've already heard Mel sing this one before.

The liner notes include the song credits and recording dates. Roy Hemming contributes a fine essay as well. I have to give this CD four stars because, as other reviewers point out, this CD is almost exclusively comprised of recordings from the 1960s; and Mel sang for more than three decades. There is little jazz to be found on this CD either.

Mel Torme remains one of the most successful entertainers of the twentieth century; and this all too brief CD amply proves it well. I recommend this CD for fans of Mel Torme. In addition, if you're not familiar with Mel's artistry and you want to become more familiar with Mel's work this CD is a great place to start.

I am a huge Mel Torme fan and the renditions on this "Most Requested" cd are some of his finest. However, you would do yourself a big favor by purchasing the CD "That's All" instead. Why? Because "That's All" contains all of the songs on this cd plus 8 more, and, because it was re-mastered in 1997, it sounds much better.

All of the reviews for this cd are correct. It is a superb collection of songs performed by a true vocal master. That is why I am certain you will appreciate the additional and re-mastered versions contained on "That's All" even more.

I mean really relax. This CD has been criticized for being "too mellow", for not being "jazzy" enough. Well, sometimes mellow is good. I especially enjoy "mellow" after a hard day at work. But I don't enjoy the shallow, John Tesh kind of mellow. I like good jazz and this CD contains a lot of good jazz, expertly performed by a master jazz vocalist. Sure, its mellow and relaxing, but so are Monet's "Water Lilies", and I am not afraid to compare Torme to Monet. Especially on this CD, Mel handles the lyrics, as well as the tunes, in the same deceptively simple manner that Monet used in painting. This CD may sound simple, just as Monet may look simple, but that is where the genius may be found: in a simplicity that is easily overlooked unless the listener (or the viewer of a good Monet) slows down enough to understand what the artist is doing. You have to relax. Once you do, the art rewards you over and over as the artist's subtle creativity is gradually revealed. This is a great jazz CD. Slow down, relax and listen.

Bille Holiday is a Fantastic Singer who left us much too soon.
I enjoyed this CD and play it everyday.
Her voice is like no other.

Sixteen (16) Most Requested Songs is a Billie Holiday sampler CD that allows newcomers and casual fans to hear some of Billie's great recordings and then decide for themselves if they want to delve further and buy more CDs by this immortal artist. The sound quality is excellent; and the artwork is very nicely done.

The CD starts with Billie singing "Miss Brown To You." This number features Billie at her best in the 1930s. Billie sings very well and she never misses a note! Billie's excellent diction and timing enhance her performance; you will know you are truly listening to a master when this CD starts! "If You Were Mine" features a magnificent piano arrangement; "If You Were Mine" is another great highlight of this album.

"The Way You Look Tonight" has a great horn solo; and when Billie sings this it truly takes flight! Billie sings this with panache, heart and soul. "Pennies From Heaven" is a classic pop vocal that again showcases Billie's fine vocal talents---what a pleasure it is to hear these old songs by Billie! Moreover, there's Billie doing her best on "I Can't Give You Anything But Love;" she easily aces this and the piano arrangement is extremely elegant.

"I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" has Billie wailing this out like the pro she always was! Billie sounds great and the slight surface noise on some of these tracks never distracts you from the words and music--these numbers are all that good. "Why Was I Born?" also features Billie singing the blues like no one else ever could!

"My Man" gets the royal treatment from Billie who sings this with all her heart and soul. I never heard "My Man" sound better than when Billie Holiday was singing it! She truly takes this classic pop vocal and makes it her own through her incredible ability to impart every subtle nuance of the lyrics to her listeners. "Body And Soul" shines equally bright when Billie performs this with panache. "Body And Soul" has a fine musical arrangement to accompany Billie as she sings.

"God Bless The Child" is a true gem when the immortal Billie Holiday sings this classic, timeless number; the horn and the piano have especially fine arrangements. The CD ends with a number recorded very late in Billie's career, "I'm A Fool To Want You." Although Billie's voice may seem worn out to some, I think that her more mature voice truly conveys the sadness of the lyrics and, in an unusual way, actually strengthens her performance to make this ballad all the more poignant.

Billie Holiday was one in a million; and she will never be forgotten. Long after most "celebrities" are dead and gone, Billie Holiday and her artistry will live on in the hearts and minds of her adoring fans well into the future. I highly recommend this fine CD as a sampler CD or a fine starter CD for people just discovering the great Billie Holiday; diehard fans will want CDs and especially box sets by Billie Holiday that are much more substantial.

16 Most Requested Songs is one of my favorite album's with such hits as Body & Soul, I'm a Fool to Want You, and God Bless the Child it just doesn't get any better. I discovered Billie Holiday about 6 years ago and have been in love with her music and voice since. I beleive that this album is right up there with "Billie Holiday Sings Standards." I think every Billie Holiday fan should own this album.

If you're new to Benny Goodman, I would recommend a boxed set or double CD in order to get the full flavor of his music. This disc is skimming the surface of his great catalogue and the sound quality is average, at best. The remastering of these songs is sub par, especially on the vocal tracks like "Why Don'tcha Do Right?" The live songs from the Carnegie Hall '38 concert are similarly flawed and sound better on other CD's. It's hard to hear Krupa's magnificent percussion and if you aren't hearing Gene, you aren't experiencing the magic of the man or the band.

A Benny neophyte would be well served by this standard "Greatest Hits" package but again, I caution you on the sound quality.

I was not a Benny Goodman fan, that is, until I heard a program on National Public Radio about the 1938 concert he and his band put on at Carnegie Hall. As a part of that program, they played a cut from the 2-CD release of the concert recording. This was the 12 minute long, "Sing, Sing, Sing".

That cut was one of the best live recording of music I'd ever heard.

I became a Benny Goodman fan that night.

This CD has four cuts from the 1938 concert. These are, arguably, the four best songs played that night. In addition, unlike the 2-CD concert recording, these cuts have been digitally "cleaned up" and most of the noise from the defects in the master are gone. They are, in and of themselves, GREAT STUFF! Listening to these live recordings of the likes of Harry James, Gene Krupa, and Lionel Hampton, all performing on the same stage, is an exciting experience. Knowing that this was recorded 62 years ago adds an element of timelesness and gives me the impression that I'm hearing one of the great chronicles of music.

This CD, however. contains not only these live recordings but, also, some other great music. For me, a new Benny Goodman listener, most of cuts on this CD have been a real source of pleasure.

I can surely recommend this item.

The swing fad of the nineties came and, as everyone knew it would, went. But Benny Goodman reigned supreme in a time when swing was more than just a fad, however, and you can hardly find a more worthwile compilation than this CD. Sing, Sing, Sing is of course the best song from the swing era (with the possible exception of Miller's In the Mood), and the extended version contained on this CD is a treat. Add in Flying Home and How Am I to Know? and you've got a must-have collection for anyone interested in swing. The recordings are live; you can hear the audience react and pull you into their joy. It's hard not to. And if the sound is not as clear and crisp as music recorded today, it's still remarkable for a 1938 recording. Better than you might expect. Turn it up and bop along with the master.

Because otherwise I would have done it with this one. While I recommend that dedicated Goodman fans should get the RCA collections of his works I have to recommend this CD as an excellent overview of what Benny Goodman was all about. There are four tracks on the CD that I absolutely love. Track 4, _Flying Home_ is a beautiful piece of music, Track 5, _Memories of You_ is a wonderful, melancholy piece. Track 12, _Sing, Sing, Sing_ is 12 minutes long, it is a recording from a 1938 concert and it includes a raucous Gene Krupa drum solo that cannot be beat. This song segues into another number called _Christopher Columbus_ and you can hear some audience noise in the background and some laughter, making you wonder what Benny and the band were up to. Track 8 is a neat rendition of _Why Don't you Do Right_ which some may remember Jessica Rabbit singing in _Who Framed Roger Rabbit_. I would have loved to see Benny Goodman and his orchestra playing live, but failing that this CD is probably the next best thing.

There are a few single-CD Benny Goodman "best of" collections available. This one is probably the best for some very good reasons. It has 16 cuts, more than the other popular collections. There are tunes from Goodman's most famous performance, the 1938 Carnagie Hall concert. Selections from this show include Don't Be That Way, the show's opener, and Sing, Sing, Sing, which may be the most famous swing song of all time. This show was performed when the band was at its height, and included Gene Krupa (the most famous jazz drummer of the swing era), Harry James (trumpet), and Lionel Hampton (vibraphone), all stars who eventually started their own bands. Unlike the 11 cut "This is Jazz - Benny Goodman", it also has Let's Dance, another famous Goodman tune. The sound quality of this CD isn't even that bad, considering the age of the performances. Unfortunately, this collection omits King Porter Stomp (included on "This is Jazz"), but arguably makes up for it with Stompin' at the Savoy, a swing standard co-written by Goodman (and performed at the Carnagie Hall show). Even at full list price, this CD would be a bargain. "16 Most Requested Songs" is a great introduction to Goodman's music, as well as the world of swing, and it would also make an outstanding gift for someone who has only heard songs from the current "swing revivial".

Bille Holiday is a Fantastic Singer who left us much too soon.
I enjoyed this CD and play it everyday.
Her voice is like no other.

Sixteen (16) Most Requested Songs is a Billie Holiday sampler CD that allows newcomers and casual fans to hear some of Billie's great recordings and then decide for themselves if they want to delve further and buy more CDs by this immortal artist. The sound quality is excellent; and the artwork is very nicely done.

The CD starts with Billie singing "Miss Brown To You." This number features Billie at her best in the 1930s. Billie sings very well and she never misses a note! Billie's excellent diction and timing enhance her performance; you will know you are truly listening to a master when this CD starts! "If You Were Mine" features a magnificent piano arrangement; "If You Were Mine" is another great highlight of this album.

"The Way You Look Tonight" has a great horn solo; and when Billie sings this it truly takes flight! Billie sings this with panache, heart and soul. "Pennies From Heaven" is a classic pop vocal that again showcases Billie's fine vocal talents---what a pleasure it is to hear these old songs by Billie! Moreover, there's Billie doing her best on "I Can't Give You Anything But Love;" she easily aces this and the piano arrangement is extremely elegant.

"I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" has Billie wailing this out like the pro she always was! Billie sounds great and the slight surface noise on some of these tracks never distracts you from the words and music--these numbers are all that good. "Why Was I Born?" also features Billie singing the blues like no one else ever could!

"My Man" gets the royal treatment from Billie who sings this with all her heart and soul. I never heard "My Man" sound better than when Billie Holiday was singing it! She truly takes this classic pop vocal and makes it her own through her incredible ability to impart every subtle nuance of the lyrics to her listeners. "Body And Soul" shines equally bright when Billie performs this with panache. "Body And Soul" has a fine musical arrangement to accompany Billie as she sings.

"God Bless The Child" is a true gem when the immortal Billie Holiday sings this classic, timeless number; the horn and the piano have especially fine arrangements. The CD ends with a number recorded very late in Billie's career, "I'm A Fool To Want You." Although Billie's voice may seem worn out to some, I think that her more mature voice truly conveys the sadness of the lyrics and, in an unusual way, actually strengthens her performance to make this ballad all the more poignant.

Billie Holiday was one in a million; and she will never be forgotten. Long after most "celebrities" are dead and gone, Billie Holiday and her artistry will live on in the hearts and minds of her adoring fans well into the future. I highly recommend this fine CD as a sampler CD or a fine starter CD for people just discovering the great Billie Holiday; diehard fans will want CDs and especially box sets by Billie Holiday that are much more substantial.

16 Most Requested Songs is one of my favorite album's with such hits as Body & Soul, I'm a Fool to Want You, and God Bless the Child it just doesn't get any better. I discovered Billie Holiday about 6 years ago and have been in love with her music and voice since. I beleive that this album is right up there with "Billie Holiday Sings Standards." I think every Billie Holiday fan should own this album.

Columbia must have had a problem coming up with 16 tracks for this entry in their 16 Most Requested Songs series because, unlike most of the others covered, this duo had very few hit records for that label. Two, in fact.

In 1958, after moving over from Capitol where they had racked up 40 hit singles, they had Put A Ring On My Finger reach # 32 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in September b/w Fantasy. It would then take three years before achieving their second Columbia hit - and their last hit ever - when Jura (I Swear I Love You) topped out at # 37 in June 1961 b/w [appropriately] It's Been A Long Long Time, which "bubbled under" at # 105.

One of the tracks [15] was previously unreleased, and all except 11, 12 and 13 are monaural. With the insert you get a partial discography of the contents [no chart details] and four pages of background notes written by Kenton Adler in 1996.

Essential to collectors of hit singles only for those two mentioned above.

My favorites back then were How High The Moon and Tiger Rag. Of course Les was/is a GENIUS on that guitar and in producing their songs. Mary had a voice (voices) like an angel. (She harmonized with herself. And I believe Les was the first to ever record that way. I could be wrong about that, but I could be right as well. And she had an angelic face and smile. I use to watch them on TV a lot. I can't remember what shows. Maybe their own, but I know I didn't miss a show they were on, if I knew about it. There isn't a song on this CD that isn't just wonderful. I don't think that I ever heard them when they weren't awesome.

Love Les & Mary? Put aside the Capitol stuff for a while and groove to the Columbia stuff. Technically lightyears ahead of the early Capitol fare, it's sonically marvelous! Mono or not, I use this CD to help evaluate new speakers, new amps and different CD players. Not only is it helpful in that regard, but it's just total EAR-CANDY.

To illustrate my point...compared to these Aston-Martin tracks, the Capitol fare is a quaint old jalopy.

The more I listen to Les, (wow...that's a play on words!) the better he sounds. His pitch is ALWAYS atomically correct and his phrasing is impeccable. The les I listen to Mary, the MORE I want to hear her. The album is convincing me that she's the most under-rated golden-era songstress of all! Sure she was popular...sure she was successful...but does she have 'it'? YES. Take some time to let her subtle phrasing and her smooth delivery grow on you. It's an acquired taste. Like fine wine or sumpthin'.

TOTALLY RECOMMENDED. Don't worry about chart history. Don't worry about record contracts or rumors of matrimonial dischord. Don't worry at all. Just spin the disc, crank the watts and propel your listening invironment to audio stratosphere.

Anyone interested in 60' music and guitar then that CD is for you. The CD is full of brilliant guitar tecniques and wonderful voice of Mary. Les recorded his guitar in a multitrack way which makes his guitar like guitar orchestra. You'll not be disappointed for sure.

All the best of Mel Torme. Sounds just like Michael Buble'. Perfect crooner!

I can see why he was nicknamed the Velvet Fog. His voice is beautiful and full. While these songs may not be the jazz standards that most die hard fans love and appreciate, they are still beautiful and nicely produced. The songs on this album are more romantic and softer especially Strangers in the Night, my all time personal favorite of his. The one thing I loved most about this era was that the singers actually had talent.

Mel Torme enjoyed a much deserved prosperous career spanning several decades as he sang to the delight of millions. This CD offers us sixteen of his bigger hits, although as some reviewers correctly note, this CD covers the 1960s in depth without touching at all upon his other work. However, the material that we do get from this CD is excellent quality throughout.

The CD track set begins with "P.S. I Love You." Mel sings the first few notes a cappella and when the music comes in this number is truly beautiful. Mel sings passionately and very sweetly as he sings of a letter he writes to his sweetheart. Love the use of strings in the musical arrangement! "Haven't We Met?" swings lightly as Mel sings of his plans for time alone with his one true love. The strings and horns work well for this number even though they almost drown Mel out once or twice along the way.

Other gems on this CD include "The Nearness Of You;" Mel massages this classic ballad very well to make it a masterpiece. "I've Got You Under My Skin" gets a light Latin beat to enhance this number; and Mel delivers this without a superfluous note. Mel plays with the tempo just a bit to make "I've Got You Under My Skin" all his very own--excellent! In addition, "That's All" gets the royal treatment from Mel as he performs this so sweetly at a slower tempo that infuses "That's All" with a decidedly romantic effect.

"Strangers In The Night" begins with a musical flourish; and when Mel comes in he takes this number to new heights. The percussion enhances the beauty of this number and Mel uses his full vocal range to make "Strangers In The Night" truly memorable.

Although this album lacks any holiday theme, the CD ends fittingly with "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)." Mel always did a sublime rendition of this ballad; and this track leaves you wanting more. I predict you will enjoy this number as if it were new to you even if you've already heard Mel sing this one before.

The liner notes include the song credits and recording dates. Roy Hemming contributes a fine essay as well. I have to give this CD four stars because, as other reviewers point out, this CD is almost exclusively comprised of recordings from the 1960s; and Mel sang for more than three decades. There is little jazz to be found on this CD either.

Mel Torme remains one of the most successful entertainers of the twentieth century; and this all too brief CD amply proves it well. I recommend this CD for fans of Mel Torme. In addition, if you're not familiar with Mel's artistry and you want to become more familiar with Mel's work this CD is a great place to start.

I am a huge Mel Torme fan and the renditions on this "Most Requested" cd are some of his finest. However, you would do yourself a big favor by purchasing the CD "That's All" instead. Why? Because "That's All" contains all of the songs on this cd plus 8 more, and, because it was re-mastered in 1997, it sounds much better.

All of the reviews for this cd are correct. It is a superb collection of songs performed by a true vocal master. That is why I am certain you will appreciate the additional and re-mastered versions contained on "That's All" even more.

I mean really relax. This CD has been criticized for being "too mellow", for not being "jazzy" enough. Well, sometimes mellow is good. I especially enjoy "mellow" after a hard day at work. But I don't enjoy the shallow, John Tesh kind of mellow. I like good jazz and this CD contains a lot of good jazz, expertly performed by a master jazz vocalist. Sure, its mellow and relaxing, but so are Monet's "Water Lilies", and I am not afraid to compare Torme to Monet. Especially on this CD, Mel handles the lyrics, as well as the tunes, in the same deceptively simple manner that Monet used in painting. This CD may sound simple, just as Monet may look simple, but that is where the genius may be found: in a simplicity that is easily overlooked unless the listener (or the viewer of a good Monet) slows down enough to understand what the artist is doing. You have to relax. Once you do, the art rewards you over and over as the artist's subtle creativity is gradually revealed. This is a great jazz CD. Slow down, relax and listen.

Yes, here is one more thing to blame on Woody Allen, as if he hasn't had enough problems in his life. Earlier this year I watched and reviewed in this space the film Radio Days that Woody directed. Every since then in the deep recesses of my brain the tunes Paper Dolls and Sentimental Journey have been pounding away. Hey this is music made before I was born, although maybe I picked it up in the womb. Why is it in my head? I am still a child of my generation and fought the anti-Vietnam War fight to the tunes of Bob Dylan's Desolation Row and The Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter but I think I can make a little room for this, if only to keep my brain from stopping that pounding. Directly below are a few comments from my Radio day review that fit here and below that some specific comments on the CD being reviewed.

"...I am a first generation child of the television age, although in recent years I have spent more time kicking and screaming about that fact than watching the damn thing. Nevertheless I can appreciate Director (and narrator) Woody Allen's valentine to the radio days of his youth. I am just old enough, although about a half generation behind Allen, to remember the strains of songs like Paper Dolls and Autumn Leaves that he grew up with and that are nicely interspersed throughout his story as backdrop floating in the background of my own house.

I am also a child of Rock and Roll but those above-mentioned tunes were the melodies that my mother and father came of age to and the stuff of their dreams during World War II and its aftermath. The rough and tumble of my parents raising a bunch of kids might have taken the edge off it but the dreams remained. In the end it is this musical backdrop that makes Radio Days most memorable to me......

....Allen's youth, during the heart of World War II, was time when one needed to be able to dream a little. The realities of the world at that time seemingly only allowed for nightmares. My feeling is that this film touched a lot of sentimental nerves for the World War II generation (that so-called `greatest generation') whether it was his Jewish families (as portrayed here) on the shores of New York's Far Rockaway or my Irish families on the shores of Quincy, Massachusetts. Nice work, Woody."

Highlights here include the classic Sentimental Journey with Les Brown and his band and a young fresh Doris Day on vocals. Harry James and his band doing a bang up job on You Made Me Love You. A startlingly beautiful version (I didn't expect it to be in this kind of compilation) of Some Enchanted Evening from the Broadway musical South Pacific done by Ezio Pinza. Kudos here. The surprise is a very sensuous Latin- tropical version of Amor in Spanish done by Xavier Cugat and his band with an unknown (to me) Carmen Castillo on vocals. Wow.

Can't quite put my finger on it, but this collection seems to be lacking something. I love music from the 30's, 40's and 50's and it just seems there are better collections out there. Maybe this is just not the best selection of 40's songs. Also in some cases, I am thinking that maybe the artist who had the most success with a given song or is best remembered for a song is not necessarily the one performing the song on this album. For example, I don't remember Doris Day ever singing "Again" and "Dear Hearts & Gentle People" is (for me) a Bing Crosby Song. No Bing Crosby at all on this album and he was certainly one of the top 1940's performers. The collection does indeed include top artists of the era and it's a good sampler; it just doesn't seem as interesting as it could have been. A few of the songs seem a little more obscure too than the other more popular hits of that time.

I purchased this for my parents who were married in 1941.They were disappointed-they said the songs weren't like they remembered them. I think it could be like when Frank Barone on "Everbody Loves Raymond" got presents from both of his sons;Ray bought him the newest remote controlled CD player,high powered audio system and CD reissues of the music he loved when he was young.Robert bought him the old LP records and (I'm not sure if he bought it or Frank already had one) a record player. Guess which Frank and Marie (his wife) liked better? If you're a "Everbody Loves Raymond" fan you know how funny and touching this episode is.When Frank puts on the record with its crackling and popping he gets a big smile on his face and says:"Now that's music"

I bought this for my 86 year young grandma after she got her first CD player. She absolutely loves it. She is asking me to get the second volume (which I cannot find). She told me stories of all the dances that my grandfather and her went to when these songs were playing. If you have a parent/grandparent that loved music in this era it will be a hit.

Would like to know who sang this sonag and if it can be downloaded. Also songs Harbour Light and To Each His Own.b These two songs were done in the 40s or 50s. Need songs for 50th anniversary party on 1 July.

Thank you for your help

Below is the list of songs and the performing artists not listed by Amazon.

01. Ciribiribin - Harry James & His Orchestra 02. Why Don't You Do Right - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra 03. Brazil - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra 04. Saturday Night - Frankie Carle & His Orchestra 05. My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time - Les Brown & His Orchestra 06. It's Only a Paper Moon - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra 07. Jingle, Jangle, Jingle - Kay Kyser & His Orchestra 08. South America, Take It Away! - Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra 09. Far Away Places - Dinah Shore 10. My Darling, My Darling - Buddy Clark & Doris Day with the George Siravo Orchestra 11. It's Magic - Doris Day with the George Siravo Orchestra 12. Taking a Chance on Love - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra 13. A Sleepy Lagoon - Harry James & His Orchestra 14. On a Slow Boat to China - Kay Kyser & His Orchestra 15. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Buddy Clark & Dinah Shore with the Ted Dale Orchestra 16. Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly) - Dinah Shore with the Harry Zimmerman Orchestra

The song begins (female artist)-----

" At last my love has come along.....

If anyone knows the title,artist,yr I would be so grateful. Thanks,jb

Yes, here is one more thing to blame on Woody Allen, as if he hasn't had enough problems in his life. Earlier this year I watched and reviewed in this space the film Radio Days that Woody directed. Every since then in the deep recesses of my brain the tunes Paper Dolls and Sentimental Journey have been pounding away. Hey this is music made before I was born, although maybe I picked it up in the womb. Why is it in my head? I am still a child of my generation and fought the anti-Vietnam War fight to the tunes of Bob Dylan's Desolation Row and The Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter but I think I can make a little room for this, if only to keep my brain from stopping that pounding. Directly below are a few comments from my Radio day review that fit here and below that some specific comments on the CD being reviewed.

"...I am a first generation child of the television age, although in recent years I have spent more time kicking and screaming about that fact than watching the damn thing. Nevertheless I can appreciate Director (and narrator) Woody Allen's valentine to the radio days of his youth. I am just old enough, although about a half generation behind Allen, to remember the strains of songs like Paper Dolls and Autumn Leaves that he grew up with and that are nicely interspersed throughout his story as backdrop floating in the background of my own house.

I am also a child of Rock and Roll but those above-mentioned tunes were the melodies that my mother and father came of age to and the stuff of their dreams during World War II and its aftermath. The rough and tumble of my parents raising a bunch of kids might have taken the edge off it but the dreams remained. In the end it is this musical backdrop that makes Radio Days most memorable to me......

....Allen's youth, during the heart of World War II, was time when one needed to be able to dream a little. The realities of the world at that time seemingly only allowed for nightmares. My feeling is that this film touched a lot of sentimental nerves for the World War II generation (that so-called `greatest generation') whether it was his Jewish families (as portrayed here) on the shores of New York's Far Rockaway or my Irish families on the shores of Quincy, Massachusetts. Nice work, Woody."

Highlights here include the classic Sentimental Journey with Les Brown and his band and a young fresh Doris Day on vocals. Harry James and his band doing a bang up job on You Made Me Love You. A startlingly beautiful version (I didn't expect it to be in this kind of compilation) of Some Enchanted Evening from the Broadway musical South Pacific done by Ezio Pinza. Kudos here. The surprise is a very sensuous Latin- tropical version of Amor in Spanish done by Xavier Cugat and his band with an unknown (to me) Carmen Castillo on vocals. Wow.

Can't quite put my finger on it, but this collection seems to be lacking something. I love music from the 30's, 40's and 50's and it just seems there are better collections out there. Maybe this is just not the best selection of 40's songs. Also in some cases, I am thinking that maybe the artist who had the most success with a given song or is best remembered for a song is not necessarily the one performing the song on this album. For example, I don't remember Doris Day ever singing "Again" and "Dear Hearts & Gentle People" is (for me) a Bing Crosby Song. No Bing Crosby at all on this album and he was certainly one of the top 1940's performers. The collection does indeed include top artists of the era and it's a good sampler; it just doesn't seem as interesting as it could have been. A few of the songs seem a little more obscure too than the other more popular hits of that time.

I purchased this for my parents who were married in 1941.They were disappointed-they said the songs weren't like they remembered them. I think it could be like when Frank Barone on "Everbody Loves Raymond" got presents from both of his sons;Ray bought him the newest remote controlled CD player,high powered audio system and CD reissues of the music he loved when he was young.Robert bought him the old LP records and (I'm not sure if he bought it or Frank already had one) a record player. Guess which Frank and Marie (his wife) liked better? If you're a "Everbody Loves Raymond" fan you know how funny and touching this episode is.When Frank puts on the record with its crackling and popping he gets a big smile on his face and says:"Now that's music"

I bought this for my 86 year young grandma after she got her first CD player. She absolutely loves it. She is asking me to get the second volume (which I cannot find). She told me stories of all the dances that my grandfather and her went to when these songs were playing. If you have a parent/grandparent that loved music in this era it will be a hit.