| Product Summary | | Label: Bluebird | | UPC: 00828766218022 | | Release Date: 6/22/2004 | | Buy.com Sku: 61009598 | | Item#: MJSPVX | | Buy.com Sales Rank: 25050 | Format:  CD |
|
|
|
|
| Song Listing |  |
|
| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel: Cole Porter (vocals); Cole Porter; Frank Sinatra, Lew Conrad, Rosemary Clooney (vocals); Bubber Miley (trumpet); Dinah Shore, Fred Astaire, Al Bowlly, Lena Horne, Phil Saxe (vocals); Jim Hall (guitar); Paul Desmond (alto saxophone). | | Liner Note Authors: Will Friedwald; Barry Feldman. | | Recording information: Clinton Recording Studio, New York, NY (03/01/1928-05/05/2004); Hollywood Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA (03/01/1928-05/05/2004); Hollywood, CA (03/01/1928-05/05/2004); Liederkranz Hall, New York, NY (03/01/1928-05/05/2004); Manhattan Center, New York, NY (03/01/1928-05/05/2004); RCA Studio, New York, NY (03/01/1928-05/05/2004); Studio A, Hollywood, CA (03/01/1928-05/05/2004); Victor Studio #1, New York, NY (03/01/1928-05/05/2004); Victor Studio #2, New York, NY (03/01/1928-05/05/2004); Webster Hall, New York, NY (03/01/1928-05/05/2004). | | Arrangers: Esquivel; Joe Reisman; Manny Albam; Vince Giordano; Axel Stordahl. | | Whenever great American song in general, or a classic songwriter specifically, goes through another phase of popularity, record labels invariably cast around to assemble yet another round of songbook compilations with artists from their catalog interpreting the standards. In 2004, on the occasion of the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely (starring Kevin Kline), Bluebird/BMG entered the sweepstakes with It's De Lovely: The Authentic Cole Porter Collection. This collection is authentic because Porter was signed to Bluebird's long-ago parent label RCA Victor, and the label proved home to many of the best versions of his songs. It's also authentic because it features two rare performances by Porter himself. Although he never recorded with orchestral accompaniment for commercial release, Porter did record eight demos in 1934 accompanied only by his clumsy piano, and 70 years later producer Barry Feldman and bandleader Vince Giordano paved over the original backing with a newly recorded backing track that relies on a mid-'30s arrangement. The result is successful; Porter's voice betrays a few similarities to Mickey Mouse's but is no more idiosyncratic than Broadway hero Cliff Edwards, his interpretation is naturally superb, and the new accompaniment is unobtrusive. The rest of the compilation is more problematic. While most songbook compilations focus either on vintage versions contemporary to the song or later interpretations, It's De Lovely attempts both but manages only a hodgepodge of artists and time periods. The compilation certainly doesn't shirk in its presentation of excellent, classic material, but it never coalesces as a representative picture of Porter's genius. Only a few performances easily evoke Porter's era: the classic versions of "Night and Day" and "Begin the Beguine" by Fred Astaire and Artie Shaw (respectively), a performance of "Easy to Love" by the beloved crooner Al Bowlly, and a mournful version of "What Is This Thing Called Love" led by Leo Reisman and featuring trumpeter Bubber Miley from Duke Ellington's Orchestra. Latter-day interpretations by Sonny Rollins (of "You Do Something to Me") and Paul Desmond (of "I've Got You Under My Skin") are lovely also but difficult to reconcile to the whole. ~ John Bush | | Cole Porter holds a place in history as one of America's most legendary songsmiths. Indeed, he eclipses most of his contemporaries, save Irving Berlin and George Gershwin. A composer of matchless wit and charm, Porter penned countless tunes that blossomed into chart-toppers and mainstream jazz standards. | | IT'S DE LOVELY represents the wide range of interpretations that have been applied to the composer's work over the years. The disc includes the now-famous performance of "Night and Day" by a young Frank Sinatra, a cowboy version of "Don't Fence Me In" by Roy Rogers, and jazz versions of "You Do Something to Me" and "I've Got You Under My Skin" by saxophonists Sonny Rollins and Paul Desmond, respectively. The opening tracks, which feature Porter himself on vocals, are the high points of this album. These selections are unique for two reasons. First, Porter rarely performed his own music, and second, the big-band arrangements that accompany him were recorded in 2004, seven decades after Porter laid down his vocal tracks. Listeners can hear what it might have sounded like had Porter taken his performing career as seriously as his passion for songwriting. |
Producer: Barry Feldman; Will Friedwald (Compilation); Barry Feldman (Reissue) |
Engineer: Troy Halderson; Troy Halderson |
Musical Guests | | Frank Sinatra | | Lena Horne | | Dinah Shore | | Sonny Rollins | | Paul Desmond | | Coleman Hawkins | | Rosemary Clooney | | Roy Rogers |
| | Artist Overview | | Responsible for such classics as "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love," and "Anything Goes," Cole Porter is synonymous with both the American songbook and Broadway musical tradition. A prolific composer and lyricist, Porter wrote numerous musicals throughout the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, including CAN-CAN and KISS ME, KATE. His songs represent the epitome of pop wit and sophistication, and have been performed by artists from Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee to the Jungle Brothers and Paul Westerberg. |
| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 06/22/2004 | | Original Release Date : 2004 | | Catalog ID : 62180 | | Label : Bluebird RCA (USA) | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Studio/Live : Studio | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 00828766218022 |
|
| |
|
|
