Sepia

Amazon.com
Other than Manu Dibango's soul-infused 70s hit, Soul Makossa, and Henri Dikongue's latter-day singer-songwriterly poetics, artists from the West African nation of Cameroon are still relatively unfamiliar to Western audiences. But the area is home to some of the continent¹s most vital and accessible pop styles, and Coco Mbassi¹s throaty, caressing vocals and sophisticated arrangements require even less translation than most. Her soulful, urbane sound is assembled from relatively small forces. A tinge of dreamy, melancholic French cabaret melody weaves through jazzy piano, woodwinds, and acoustic bass, but the multi-layered percussion and women's choirs speak eloquently of centuries past. She sings about the tragedy of drug addiction, her devout Christian beliefs, and appreciating those you love before it's too late. It may seem odd to recommend this album to fans of Norah Jones, but open-minded listeners who are not overly attached to English-language lyrics will find plenty to love here. -- Christina Roden

Product Description
Angels do exist. It is true, and one needs no more proof of this than to pop Sepia into the CD player. The heavens will sing; your heart will tremble. Everything one has ever thought beautiful will come pouring into your ears. Cameroonian-born Coco Mbassi is the source of that beauty. Hers is the voice of an angel. Not since Mbilia Bel or Rokia Traore have I been struck with the crystalline power of a vocalist's larynx. Mbassi combines subtle layering of African music, American jazz and European classical music to accentuate the power reverberating from her golden throat. Sepia is a deep, rich album from an utterly amazing artist. Mbassi has composed gem after gem that have a beauty, style, a grace seldom heard in a debut effort. Her voice washes over you, leaving mournful calm in its wake. It chokes you up, forms tears in your eyes. The woman fills you with awe and wonder. She's a refreshing wave of contemplation. There seem to be fewer and fewer beautiful things in today's music world. However, Sepia is definitely one of them

Sepia,Coco Mbassi,Tinder,Africa,Afro-Pop,Cameroon,Int'l & World Music,Pop,World Music

Average customer rating: Manhattan Tower One of the best yet Incredible CD - Incredible Value This is just the most amazing record...

Complete Manhattan Tower Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: A Musical Prodigy The Letter My Square Laddie Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast) Face the Music (2007 Encores! Cast Recording) ASIN: B000N6UCPY Release Date: 2007-03-19

Tracks:

1. Magical City - Gordon Jenkins
2. Happiness Cocktail - Gordon Jenkins
3. I'm Learnin' My Latin - Gordon Jenkins
4. Once Upon A Dream - Gordon Jenkins
5. Never Leave Me - Gordon Jenkins
6. This Close To The Dawn - Gordon Jenkins
7. Repeat After Me - Gordon Jenkins
8. Repeat After Me (Reprise) - Gordon Jenkins
9. The Magic Fire - Gordon Jenkins
10. Married I Can Always Get - Gordon Jenkins
11. The Statue Of Liberty - Gordon Jenkins
12. The Party - Gordon Jenkins
13. New York's My Home - Gordon Jenkins
14. Closing - Gordon Jenkins
15. Theme From 'Seven Dreams' - Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra
16. My Own - Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra And Chorus
17. Tired Of Waitin' - Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra
18. Young Ideas - Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra
19. Angel's Lullaby - Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra
20. Through The Night - Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra
21. Follow Me, Baby - Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra
22. Wish I Could Say The Same - Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra
23. How Do I Love You? - Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra
24. You're Not Alone - Gordon Jenkins And His Chorus And Orchestra

Album Description

A tribute to Manhattan composed by maestro Gordon Jenkins in the forties! Upon its original release, this record sold in excess of two million copies, quite an achievement as it contained no hit single, Now, it has been re-mastered and is appearing on CD in its entirety for the first time--and with rare bonus singles!

Customer Reviews:

Manhattan Tower.......2007-07-20

I bought the original 33 1/3 record in 1958. Over the years its age has shown. I was delighted to find a C D was just issued. It is a faithful reproduction of the original 1957 edition and I'm pleased to have it.

One of the best yet.......2007-06-19

I first heard Manhattan Tower in 1962...a friend had the record and I couldn't get enough of it....I still have the original record at home I would never part with it....I'm so glad this came out in CD....it brings out so many memories.....Thank You so much

Incredible CD - Incredible Value.......2007-06-11

This is another of the forgotten shows that Sepia Records has brought back to life. The music and lyrics are wonderful, and the transfer is absolutely superb as are all of the Sepia recordings. The bonus material is incredible as well. I've been told that another issue of MANHATTAN TOWERS is around that doesn't have nearly the same amount of music on it. Where else can you get a CD that has close to 80 minutes of music on it and not pay a fortune? I'm quickly becoming a huge fan of Sepia Records because of their re-release of shows like this and wonderful scores like MAKE A WISH and HAZEL FLAGG that have disappeared as well. Check out Bette Davis in TWO'S COMPANY for an all-time classic. With quality and value like this, I hope that Sepia Records are around for a very long time.

This is just the most amazing record..........2007-06-07

I am absolutely thrilled that this record has come out on CD. I have had a copy of it ever since I first saw it, and it has always been one of my very top favorites. The music is so pretty, the songs are so beautiful, the singers are so good, and the way it's all put together is just amazing. It's a love affair in a beautiful setting, and if you haven't heard it, you really owe it to yourself to listen. I'm so happy Amazon's got it for such a good price; I want to buy a copy to send to everyone I've ever loved. If you like pre-rock-and-roll pop music, kinda the Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra sound, or if you like Michael Buble and things like that or even Barry Manilow, you'll really like this CD.

Average customer rating: Two greats having fun As Good As It Gets! Bing Crosby Meets Al Jolson Elemental Performers' Elemental Performances Great companion to Swingin' With Bing!

Bing Crosby Meets Al Jolson Bing Crosby & Al Jolson Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Tin Pan Alley | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music Pop | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Golden Years of Al Jolson Swingin' With Bing: Bing Crosby's Lost Radio Performances Al Jolson - 22 Greatest Hits Hallelujah I'm a Bum 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Al Jolson ASIN: B000AMUUTE Release Date: 2005-09-12

Tracks:

1. April Showers
2. When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob-Bobbin' Along
3. Back In Your Own Backyard
4. You Made Me Love You
5. Waitin' For The Robert E. Lee
6. I've Got The Sun In The Morning
7. Early Days
8. Ma Blushin' Rosie
9. Chat
10. Swanee - Al Jolson
11. Chat
12. Philco Commercial - Goof
13. A Rainy Night In Rio
14. Chat
15. The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else
16. What Am I Gonna Do About You?
17. Chat
18. Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - Al Jolson
19. Chat
20. Rockabye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody - Al Jolson
21. The Al Jolson Show: Chat - Al Jolson
22. Who Paid The Rent For Mrs. Rip Van Winkle?
23. The Al Jolson Show: 2nd Philco Commercial - Al Jolson
24. The Anniversary Song - Al Jolson
25. Announcement
26. A Hot Time In The Old Town
27. Oh, Susanna
28. In The Evening By The Moonllight/Hear Dem Bells
29. Beautiful Dreamer
30. On The Banks Of The Wabash - Al Jolson
31. Chat
32. Alabamy Bound
33. I Can Dream, Can't I?
34. Toot, Toot, Tootsie - Al Jolson
35. Chat
36. I Only Have Eyes For You
37. Waitin' For The Robert E. Lee
38. Bing Introduces Irving Berlin
39. Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning
40. Chat
41. Lazy - Al Jolson
42. Chat
43. Getting Nowhere
44. All By Myself
45. Alexander's Ragtime Band
46. Easter Parade
47. Goodnight Chat

Tracks:

1. Bye Bye Baby
2. Bing Introduces Jolson
3. Is It True What They Say About Dixie - Al Jolson
4. Chat
5. Carolina In The Morning
6. My Blue Heaven
7. Alabamy Bound
8. Kate
9. Ma Blushin' Rosie
10. Chat
11. Sunbonnet Sue
12. Chat
13. A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody
14. The Best Things In Life Are Free
15. Back In Your Own Backyard
16. Baby Face
17. The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else
18. All By Myself
19. Chat
20. The Al Jolson Show: Intro - April Showers - Al Jolson
21. The Al Jolson Show: For Me And My Gal - Al Jolson
22. The Al Jolson Show: Chat - Al Jolson
23. The Al Jolson Show: Peg O' My Heart - Al Jolson
24. The Al Jolson Show: Chat - Al Jolson
25. The Al Jolson Show: The Whiffenpoof Song
26. The Al Jolson Show: Chat - Al Jolson
27. The Al Jolson Show: Carolina In The Morning - Al Jolson
28. The Al Jolson Show: Chat - Al Jolson
29. The Al Jolson Show: Beautiful Dreamer - Al Jolson
30. The Al Jolson Show: Chat - Al Jolson
31. The Al Jolson Show: Gershwin Medley: Rhapsody In Blue/Swanee/The Man I Love/Lady Be Good/Somebody Loves Me/Embraceable You/I Got Rhythm/It Ain't Necessarily So/Concerto In F/Summertime/Strike Up The Band - Al Jolson
32. The Bing Crosby Show: Happy Times
33. The Bing Crosby Show: Chat
34. The Bing Crosby Show: California, Here I Come - Al Jolson
35. The Bing Crosby Show: Chat
36. The Bing Crosby Show: Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula
37. The Bing Crosby Show: Chat
38. The Bing Crosby Show: Whispering
39. The Bing Crosby Show: Chat
40. The Bing Crosby Show: Bye Bye Baby
41. The Bing Crosby Show: Chat
42. The Bing Crosby Show: Waitin' For The Robert E. Lee
43. The Final Show: Bing Introduces Jolson
44. The Final Show: Give My Regards To Broadway - Al Jolson
45. The Final Show: Chat
46. The Final Show: Ma Blushin' Rosie
47. The Final Show: Chat
48. The Final Show: Avalon
49. The Final Show: Chat
50. The Final Show: Lullaby Of Broadway
51. The Final Show: Chat
52. The Final Show: My Old Kentucky Home

Album Description

When radio was king, Bing Crosby and Al Jolson guested on each other's shows and attracted millions of listeners. For the first time, their "complete" duets are available on a 2XCD set! Recorded over 12 shows between 1947 and 1950, this set also contains a few solos with a little conversation, all digitally re-mastered.

Customer Reviews:

Two greats having fun.......2006-10-01

In my opinion, Al Jolson was one of the two greatest popular singers (with Sinatra) in America in the twentieth century. Bing Crosby was very close behind them. Furthermore, Crosby may have been second to none in his duets with many of the best singers of his era.

These two discs present radio broadcasts Jolson and Crosby did together. They include a huge number of mostly terrific songs, interspersed with chit-chat, some hokey, some amusing, some touching. In the electronic age, it's easy enough to listen to the chatter once, but listen to the songs repeatedly.

Most of these songs were recorded separately by Jolson, Crosby, or both, and in most cases this album is no substitute for those separate recordings. For one thing, most of them are shortened, compared to the recordings. Nevertheless, this is a superb album. The fun these two great singers are having together is infectious. And there is plenty of great singing.

As Good As It Gets!.......2006-08-10

Two of the greatest names in show business at their zenith. There are so many good tracks on this set that it's hard to pick out some over the others. A couple of superb standouts are Jolson's "Swanee" and "Rock-A-Bye," although every track is just excellent. The sound quality on the set is outstandingly great. I hope the people that put this set together will do the same incredible job with other classic recordings by Jolson and Crosby.

Bing Crosby Meets Al Jolson.......2006-07-27

Great Quality of recorded songs and brief chats in between songs. It really feels like you are there at the studio live when you hear the two CD's play. I recomend it to all Al Jolson and Bing Crosby fans alike!

Elemental Performers' Elemental Performances.......2006-03-02

The team that brought us the indispensable "Swingin' With Bing", producer Ken Barnes (who worked with Bing Crosby on several LPs in the 1970s) and restoration wiz Peter J. Reynolds, have rescued from oblivion more essential Crosby radio performances-this time Bing is accompanied by the idol of his youth, fellow entertainment titan Al Jolson. Barnes & Co. have restored the sound quality to a level that would have been far beyond the reproduction capabilities of the classic Philco model 1201 radio we hear Bing & Al pitch in this significant compilation. Likewise, the songs, chat, and a couple of Philco spots (one of which is repeatedly and hilariously "fluffed") from various radio transcription discs, circa 1946-50, have been edited into a series of seamless performances, rather than a snippet here and a snippet there, with the abrupt, distracting fades that are typical of most radio show compilations. The resulting two-CD set is another Barnes tour de force, worthy of any serious music collector's library of classic American popular song.

There are a staggering 99 tracks, 68 of which are songs or medleys. Every Crosby-Jolson radio duet is featured, plus selected solos, including all of their musical numbers from the classic April 2, 1947 broadcast of Philco Radio Time, with John Charles Thomas (sans Bing's tribute to Bert Williams, "Nobody"). There's also a delightful Gershwin medley from the October 16, 1947 edition of Al's Kraft Music Hall, and a moving, poignant reading of "My Old Kentucky Home", the last song Bing and Al would perform together. Also noteworthy is a riveting duet of "The Best Things in Life Are Free"-at least the third Crosby version of this song with which Barnes has been involved, beginning with their first LP collaboration, 1975's "That's What Life Is All About", available as part of the must-have "Complete United Artists Sessions" box set.

While this collection isn't quite the All Star Game "Swingin'" was (Crosby and Jolson were the biggest stars in the world at the time, so there's not much room for more anyway), a couple of heavy hitters do come off the bench to contribute. The primordial 20th century composer and provider of many Crosby and Jolson hits, Irving Berlin, is on hand for the May 7, 1947 Philco show, and he even performs an endearingly breathless, croaky reprise of his classic, "Oh How I Hate to Get Up In the Morning", which he had immortalized on film a few years earlier in the Michael Curtiz-directed "This Is the Army." It's the only solo number in the set not sung by Crosby or Jolson. Also on hand for a few songs and witty exchanges is Al's KMH sidekick, the appealingly irascible Renaissance man Oscar Levant, who lends some classically ornate ivory tickling to the Gershwin medley.

Ken Barnes has done a huge service in restoring and releasing to CD these irreplaceable and long forgotten gems, not only for their sheer entertainment value, but also for the undeniable historic necessity of keeping these classic examples of seminal American entertainment available to the public. Here's hoping he'll continue with these labors of love for many years to come-at least until all of Bing's radio duets with Peggy Lee, Connee Boswell and Rosemary Clooney have been given the Barnes treatment and are committed to disc!

Great companion to Swingin' With Bing!.......2005-10-24

If you loved last years' "Swingin' With Bing" radio performance box set on the Shout Factory label, you're sure to love this new 2 CD set on the Sepia label. It contains all of the duets Bing Crosby performed with Al Jolson on radio, from both Bing's shows, circa 1947-50, and Jolson's own 1947-48 KMH, in addition to a healthy dose of solos by each performer. The remastering job is fantastic....you've never heard these old transcriptions sound so fresh, crisp and clear as they do on this new compilation. Ken Barnes and his production team are master craftsman at painstakingly restoring the audio of vintage recordings and correcting them to play back at their proper speed. Kudos once again to Ken and company (who also produced the 3 CD box set "Swingin' With Bing") for a job well done. I heartily recommend it to everyone.

Average customer rating:

Greatest Hits and More Art Mooney Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake ASIN: B000RMJ65Q Release Date: 2007-07-09

Tracks:

1. I'm Looking For a Four-Leaf Clover
2. The Big Brass Band From Brazil
3. Baby Face
4. Bluebird Of Happiness
5. Sunset To Sunrise
6. Beautiful Eyes
7. Doo De Doo On An Old Kazoo
8. Again
9. Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue
10. Merry-Go-Round Waltz
11. Twenty-FOur Hours Of Sunshine
12. Hop Scotch Polka
13. Toot, Toot, Tootsie
14. I Never See Maggie Alone
15. If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd Have Baked a Cake
16. Silver Dollar
17. M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
18. Lazy River
19. Heartbreaker
20. Honey-Babe
21. No Regrets
22. Daydreams
23. Giant
24. Rock And Roll Tumbleweed
25. The Girl I Left Behind Me

Album Details

Brooklyn-born Art Mooney was Leader of One of Americas Most Popular Dance Bands from the Mid 1930s Up Until the 1960s. He Achieved his Greatest Success with Happy Sing-along Remakes of 1920s Standards, Sometimes with the Addition of a Banjo, and Scored a Number One Hit in 1948 with Im Looking Over a Four-leaf Clover, a Chart-topper for Five Weeks that Sold Over a Million Copies. Other Top Ten Hits Include "Baby Face", "Bluebird of Happiness", "Again" and "Honey-babe".

Average customer rating: A 1950's Crosby Treat

Good & Rare, Vol. 2 Bing Crosby Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music Pop | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Vintage Years Good & Rare Going My Way: Bing Crosby and American Culture A Musical Autobiography How the West Was Won ASIN: B000P2XMLW Release Date: 2007-05-21

Tracks:

1. The Big Movie Show In the Sky
2. Stay Well
3. The Little Grey House
4. This Could Be Forever
5. The Iowa Indian Song
6. When the Sun Goes Down
7. The Friendly Islands
8. A Perfect Day
9. Once More the Blue and White
10. Wouldn't It Be Funny?
11. You Gotta Show Me
12. More I Cannot Wish You
13. Copacabana
14. Maria Bonita
15. Let Me Look At You
16. Old Soldiers Never Die
17. Bonne Nuit
18. Fatherly Advice
19. Mademoiselle De Paris
20. La Seine
21. If There's Anybody Here
22. Back In the Old Routine
23. Cornbelt Symphony
24. The Call Of the South
25. Liza
26. The Next Time It Happens

Album Description

This sequel to Sepia's critically acclaimed 2006 release Good & Rare features twenty-six tracks on CD for the first time, chosen by Malcolm Macfarlane, editor of the Bing Magazine, a publication of The International Club Crosby.

Customer Reviews:

A 1950's Crosby Treat.......2007-06-05

This disk, just as volume 1 of "Good & Rare", offers a fine collection, in excellent sound, of Crosby rarities of the 1950's. It is lovingly packaged. I heartily recommend both disks.

Average customer rating: A Long Awaited "Gem" Bette Davis in a musical...yes, you heard right

Two's Company Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Duke, Vernon | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Make a Wish (1951 Original Broadway Cast) A Family Affair Seventeen & High Button Shoes (Original Broadway Cast) Baker Street, A Musical Adventure of Sherlock Holmes (1965 Original Broadway Cast) Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B0007X9URY Release Date: 2005-04-11

Tracks:

1. Overture - Orchestra
2. Theatre Is A Lady - Bill Callahan
3. Turn Me Loose On Broadway - Bette Davis
4. It Just Occurred To Me - Peter Kelley
5. A Man's Home - Hiram Sherman
6. Roundabout - Ellen Hanley
7. Roll Along, Sadie - Betty Davis
8. Out Of The Clear Blue Sky - Peter Kelley
9. Esther - David Burns
10. Haunted Hot Spot - Ellen Hanley
11. Purple Rose - Bette Davis
12. Just Like A Man - Bette Davis
13. Finale - Bette Davis And The Company
14. Bonus Track: A Like The Likes Of You/What Is There To Say/I Can't Get Started With You/Who's To Blame - Vernon Duke
15. Cabin In The Sky/Honey In The Honeycomb/Taking A Chance On Love/The Love I Longed For - Vernon Duke
16. Out Of The Clear Blue Sky/Roundabout/Autumn In New York/Island In The West Indies - Vernon Duke
17. Introduction/April In Paris/Rendevous Sans Addresse/Summer Is A-Comin' In/La Musique Avant Toutes Choses/April In Paris - Vernon Duke
18. I Can't Get Started - Vernon Duke
19. I'm Gonna Ring The Bell Tonight - Vernon Duke

Album Description

The 1952 original Broadway cast recording, on CD for the first time! Features Oscar winner Bette Davis in her only musical stage appearance. Bonus tracks include a song by Nancy Walker and material composed & performed by composer Vernon Duke.

Customer Reviews:

A Long Awaited "Gem".......2007-07-09

My LP of this show was totally worn out, so I'm absolutely delighted to have this on such a great sounding CD. Davis is right up there with other musical luminaries such as Hepburn in COCO and Bacall in WOMAN OF THE YEAR and APPLAUSE. All three were non-singers who acted, and their recordings are really just a joy to have to offset soprani like Cook, Chenowith, and Lukker.

This really is a must have recording for any true musical comedy lover who wants the unusual and historical. Davis's "Turn Me Loose on Broadway" is wonderful from her "Mistah conductah, iff You Pleeees" to her slightly off tempo "hey" in the dance break. Davis did try to sing several times through her career. Frank Loesser's "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" has been on a few collections, and there was that failed musical version of THE CORN IS GREEN entitled MISS MOFFAT that closed in Philadelphia. Betty Davis wasn't a good singer, but she tried!

The supporting cast is excellent, and I think it's just a joy to hear an old-school musical by one of the forgotten greats, Vernon Duke. That's why I'm really pleased to have the Duke bonus tracks on the CD as well. It's a great value with Davis, Duke, and Lawrence Welk and his orchestra as well. The album was coveted for years, and it's just wonderful to have it in better sound than it ever was.

Bette Davis in a musical...yes, you heard right.......2006-10-05

Bette Davis in a musical? In 1952, when her film career started on yet another downward spiral and she was unceremoniously labelled as "box office poison", the legendary Ms Davis decided to do the unthinkable, and made her Broadway musical debut in TWO'S COMPANY, a fluffy little revue that would have certainly folded a lot quicker if a mega-watt star like Davis was not in the starring role.

TWO'S COMPANY ran on the box office power of Davis, and the moment she became ill and started missing performances, the closing notices were posted (the show limped along for 90 performances). Nevertheless, this curious jewel of a show was recorded, and now gets it's CD premiere thanks to British boutique label Sepia.

Apparently, Davis was so embarrased by her performance, that she attempted to buy every single copy of the original LP in order to destroy them. One can just imagine Davis (in full Margo Channing mode) swaggering into a record store and slamming a pile of TWO'S COMPANY albums onto the sales counter ("don't bother to wrap `em!").

While Davis was never a singer, she croaks out her songs quite well, and what she lacks in musicality she compensates with comedy and sheer brio.

Performing the more demanding material is Ellen Hanley, known to musical fans for her Tony-winning role as Thea in "Fiorello!"; as well as Adrianna in the 1963 Off-Broadway revival of "The Boys from Syracuse", and replacing Polly Bergen in "First Impressions" (the Jane Austen/'Pride & Prejudice' musical of 1959).

Sepia's remaster of the TWO'S COMPANY album (taken from original 78's) is quite crisp and clean, with some slight hiss and sonic wobble in certain areas (like towards the end of "Haunted Hot Spot"), although we are lucky to have this title on disc in the first place.

Known for their copious bonus tracks, Sepia do not disappoint, and the TWO'S COMPANY disc is filled out with extensive supplementaries (Nancy Walker singing "I Can't Get Started" and Jack Smith with "I'm Gonna Ring the Bell Tonight"); and a whole "Vernon Duke plays Vernon Duke" section.

Now that TWO'S COMPANY has been released on compact disc, we can finally hear what all the fuss was about.

Average customer rating:

The Coral Treasures Martha Tilton Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: And the Angel Sings Liltin' ASIN: B000RMJ660 Release Date: 2007-07-09

Tracks:

1. Let's Get Away From It All
2. I Said My Pajama
3. I'll Always Love You
4. There Isn't Very Much To Do Now
5. I See a Million People
6. Thinking Of You
7. It May Be On Sunday
8. You're Just In Love
9. It's a Lovely Day Today
10. Nobody's Chasing Me
11. A Little Rag Doll
12. Say It With Your Kisses
13. Let's Waltz Just Once More
14. Where the Red Roses Grow
15. Long Ago Last Night
16. I've Got a Right To Know
17. Music In My Heart
18. Powder Blue
19. Lilli Marlene
20. I Wish I Wuz
21. Painting the Clouds With Sunshine
22. Little Boy
23. Misirlou
24. The Happy Bird
25. The Nightingale Remembers
26. What Can I Do?
27. Few And Far Between

Album Description

Twenty-seven songs from Tilton's period with Coral Records in the 1950s. Features accompaniment by Grammy-winning jazz guitarist Laurindo Almeida on two tracks. As Benny Goodman's vocalist, Martha Tilton placed twenty-seven hits on the hit parade between 1937 and 1939, including two chart-toppers.

Album Details

When Martha Tilton Sang with Benny Goodman She was Initially Billed as the Sweetheart of Swing Before Becoming Better Known Affectionately as the Liltin Miss Tilton. Goodman Kept Tilton Busy and Between October 1937 and the Summer of 1939 Goodman Placed in Excess of Thirty Recordings on the American Top 20 of which Tilton's Vocals Featured on 27 Tracks Including Two Chart-toppers. To Crown it All, Martha Performed with the Band in the Historically Triumphant Carnegie Hall Concert in January 1938 that Inspired the 1955 Hollywood Bio-pic Benny Goodman Story. Tilton Played Herself in the Movie.

Average customer rating: A good collection but a painful mistep or two along the way...3 and 1/2 stars Several gems, much common

Dream Team Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Tin Pan Alley | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Spoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Dreams from the Sunny Side of the Street Capitol Collectors Series Dream With the Pied Pipers The Very Best of the Modernaires with Paula Kelly It's Love, Love, Love ASIN: B0009MI808 Release Date: 2005-06-13

Tracks:

1. Dixieland Band - Johnny Mercer
2. Duration Blues - Johnny Mercer
3. Sam's Got Him - Johnny Mercer
4. St. Louis Blues - Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers
5. Memphis Blues - Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers
6. Embraceable You - Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers
7. If I Knew Then - Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers
8. I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan - Johnny Mercer
9. Ugly Chile - Johnny Mercer
10. Movie Tonight - Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers
11. I Do Do Do Like You - Johnny Mercer
12. It's The Same Old Dream - The Pied Pipers
13. The Riddle Song - The Pied Pipers
14. I Wanna Be A Friend Of Yours - The Pied Pipers
15. Louisville You - Johnny Mercer
16. Love That Boy - Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers
17. I'll See You In My Dreams - The Pied Pipers
18. Goodbye Romance - The Pied Pipers
19. The Hills Of Califonia - Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers
20. Let's Fly - Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers
21. Yes, We Have No Bananas - The Pied Pipers
22. I've Been Floating Down The old Green River - Johnny Mercer
23. At The Jazz Band Ball - Johnny Mercer
24. You Are My Love - June Hutton
25. I Had A Little Too Much To Dream Last Night - June Hutton
26. You Say You're Sorry - June Hutton
27. Too Little Time - June Hutton
28. Gee - June Hutton

Customer Reviews:

A good collection but a painful mistep or two along the way...3 and 1/2 stars.......2006-05-01

Johnny Mercer and The Pied Pipers put out some great songs between 1943 and 1954 and this CD is an solid compilation of those songs. The transfer from the original 78 acetates to the digital format was very well done with minimal noise at the very most. The songs in general are entertaining and have a good rhythm to them. I particularly liked "St. Louis Blues" and "Embraceable You." The Pied Pipers, made up for June Hutton and three men, harmonize so well that they really were a treat to listen to!

There are liner notes by Tony Middleton, too. Tony provides us with a nice two page essay about Johnny Mercer and the group calling themselves The Pied Pipers. There are a couple of great black and white photos of Johnny Mercer and additional liner notes tell exactly when and where each song was recorded.

Now for the other side of the coin. If you're sensitive to certain racial issues, proceed with caution. I was offended in particular by some of the lyrics to the song entitled "Louisville Lou." These lyrics describe a typical African-American person as not knowing the definition of the word "encyclopedia" and they call one young man who is almost ready for college a "boy." I did not like that at all and for that alone I have to take off 1 and 1/2 stars. Yes, I know, at the time these songs were written these lyrics were considered "OK;" but these days we know better and I just didn't like it. Moreover, another song called "Ugly Chile" has more lyrics that are disdainful toward African-Americans. Not good.

However, to be fair, there are other songs on the CD that inject some harmless humor into the song set. I liked the dating game played out in the song called "Goodbye Romance" and the updated version of the 1920's song called "Yes, We Have No Bananas." There is a bittersweet and sarcastic type of humor in "Duration Blues" which is a song about life in America during World War Two.

In all, Johnny Mercer and The Pied Pipers display true talent and this CD is a very good collection of their work. You get a whopping 28 songs on a single CD which makes it a good value, too. However, for some people some of the lyrics will be unpleasant and so I add that as a cautionary note.

This CD would be of interest not just to fans of Johnny Mercer and/or The Pied Pipers but to fans of pop vocals from the 1940's and 1950's as well.

Several gems, much common.......2005-08-28

The album has three of my favorite performers, Johnny Mercer, The
Pied Pipers and June Hutton. 40% of the songs were worth having, a few were nowhere. I am glad I bought it and was pleasantly surprised by
THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA,

Average customer rating: I Wish They Wouldn't... Martha Raye Swings

Martha Raye Swings Martha Raye Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music Pop | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: My Square Laddie Charlotte Rae: Songs I Taught My Mother Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast) It All Belongs to You Night Life ASIN: B000N6UCQ8 Release Date: 2007-03-19

Tracks:

1. My Little Cousin
2. Oh The Pity Of It All
3. Pig Foot Pete
4. Three Little Sisters
5. Together
6. Ol' Man River
7. (If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have To Swing It
8. Body And Soul
9. Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater
10. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
11. I Cover The Waterfront
12. As Long As I Live
13. Sweet Lorraine
14. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
15. The Boy Next Door
16. After You've Gone
17. Lotus Land
18. Miss Otis Regrets
19. Life's Only Joy
20. Ooh, Dr. Kinsey!
21. Blues In The Night
22. Wolf Boy
23. Close To Me
24. That Old Black Magic

Album Description

Comedienne Martha Raye, popularly and affectionately known as "The Big Mouth," had a singing, movie, and television career spanning six decades. In the fifties she starred in her own TV show, The Martha Raye Show, in which she impressed audiences with her singing skills. Remastered from hard-to-find 78s recorded in the forties and fifties, almost all of the tracks on this CD are appearing for the first time.

Customer Reviews:

I Wish They Wouldn't..........2007-07-07

..."rechannel for stereo". Just give us the original sound. BUT..."Once In Awhile" is worth the price.

Martha Raye Swings.......2007-05-14

I'd forgoten had good a voice Martha Raye had. I'm glad they released this CD. It was excellent.

Average customer rating:

Girl Singer Georgia Gibbs Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000RMJ656 Release Date: 2007-07-09

Tracks:

1. The Laziest Gal In Town
2. Is It Worth It?
3. So Would I
4. You Do
5. Cherry Stones
6. Dream a Little Dream Of Me
7. Get Out Those Records
8. I Wish, I Wish
9. The Oklahoma Polka
10. (Ooh-oo, Ooh-oo, Ooh-oo) What You Do To Me
11. Be My Life's Companion
12. What Does It Mean
13. Winter's Here Again
14. If You Take My Heart Away
15. Thunder And Lightning
16. I'll Always Be Happy With You
17. Every Road Must Have a Turning
18. More Than Ever
19. Love Me
20. Blueberries
21. The Greatest Thing
22. Fool Of the Year
23. Tra La La
24. Morning, Noon And Night
25. Silent Lips
26. Pretty Pretty
27. Sugar Candy
28. I'm Walking the Floor Over You
29. Regret If You Can
30. I'll Be Seeing You

Album Description

The thirty tracks here have been re-mastered, and many are appearing on CD for the first time. Under the moniker Fredda Gibson, this versatile artist sang with the bands of Hudson-Delange, Frankie Trumbauer, and Artie Shaw before she changed her name and found success as a solo girl singer. In the 1950s, she placed thirty hits in the American charts, including two #1 sensations.

Album Details

By the Mid 1950's Georgia Gibbs was a Well Established Artist with Many Best Selling Records to her Credit and Many of Those Titles Are to Be Found on Our Previous Georgia Gibbs CD Issue "Red Hot Georgia". Although her Biggest Hits were Cover Versions of Songs Originally Recorded by Black Singers her Talent Extended Beyond that Genre as Demonstrated by the Variety of Musical Settings on this Compilation.

Average customer rating: Blue Angel I May Not Remember Your Name Good, but unrecognized talent

The Song from Moulin Rouge Felicia Sanders Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music Pop | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: No Regrets I Can Dream, Can't I? - A Singer's Singer Unchained Melody If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake Complete Capitol Collection ASIN: B000FNNI5Q Release Date: 2006-07-10

Tracks:

1. The Song From Moulin Rouge
2. I May Not Remember Your Name
3. How Did He Look
4. Embrasse
5. Melancolie
6. Ma Curly Headed Babby
7. Love Affair
8. Jole John
9. My Love Belongs To You
10. How Long has This Been Going On!
11. Blue Star
12. My Love's A Gentle Man
13. All At Once
14. Wanting And Loving
15. Surrener To Me
16. This Is Real
17. Come Rain Or Come Shine
18. Speaking Of Love
19. If I Love Again
20. It Might As Well Be Spring
21. I Wanna Be Loved
22. Baby - Did You Hear?
23. Something Cool
24. My Funny Valentine
25. You Make Me Feel So Young
26. (Ah, The Apple Trees) When The World Was Young
27. Old Devil Moon
28. The Song Form Moulin Rouge

Customer Reviews:

Blue Angel.......2006-09-05

This long-awaited album opens with the classic, "The Song From Moulin Rouge," which is one of the great era-defining songs of the 50s. It's the perfect song to start the album with -- not because it's Felicia Sanders' best known recording, but because it opens with the lush instrumental verse by Percy Faith and the cascading violins drawing us into the song (and album) as a descent into a dream.

It's followed up by a sampling of Sanders' singles -- mostly romantic ballads, several with a touch of French in them "Embrasse," "Melancolie": alluding both to her success with "Moulin Rouge" and her admiration for Edith Piaf who was a great influence on her art. Like the greatest vocalists, Sanders uses the emotional qualities of her voice to treat each song as a story. As mentioned in the album's liner notes, Paul Newman called her a "method singer."

Often backed by a heavenly chorus of violins, each of these recordings is worthy to stand alongside of the ballads of Nat "King" Cole, Doris Day, et al., as among the most beautiful and romantic ever recorded. All *should* have been huge hits, and after repeated listenings to the album, they're becoming as familiar and eternal to me as the songs I've known and loved for many years.

The lullabye, "My Curly Headed Baby," is too beautiful for words. "How Long Has This Been Going On" is another masterpiece. "Blue Star," her only other charting hit, is a haunting ballad that can only be described as magical.

The second half of the cd revives her "At the Blue Angel" lp, and attempts to capture the appeal of her live cabaret show in New York's nightclub of that name. Included in this section is her version of Johnny Mercer's "(Ah! The Apple Trees) When the World was Young" which has been a big favorite of mine for several years now.

In short, this is a rapturously thrilling album and Felicia Sanders and will hopefully begin to establish her as one of the greatest voices of the 20th Century.

I May Not Remember Your Name.......2006-08-23

Before I write about this wonderful CD I must admit that I did not know who Felicia Sanders was until I received this album as a gift. Listening to Sanders I find a very appealing voice that is similiar to Judy Garland's in terms of timbre; her vibrato and theatrical approach to the material. Although famous for only a few songs, "The Song from Moulin Rouge" and "Fly Me to the Moon" (the latter of which could not be included in this collection as it has not yet reached public domain), all of the selections demonstrate a lady who knows how to sell a song. In particular, I enjoy "If I Love Again", "It Might As Well BE Spring", "I Wanna Be LOved", and "You Make Me Feel So Young". Her take on "How Long Has This Been Going On?" is quite different from others and stands up to Garland's and Audrey Hepburn's (yes Audrey did her own singing in "Funny Face"). The second half the the album is a simulated "live" recording at the Blue Angel. While the canned applause idea was just plain silly as it never fluctuates from song to song, we do get to hear Felicia's spoken introductions. Here, her Jewish accent reminds me of my cousin Tina from Brooklyn. And I guess living down here in North carolina, that fills me with warmth. Sepia records is not the only company in Europe that releases vintage recordings however they obviously take real pride in the preservation of rare and unusual material as well as in their liner notes, photographs, and general presentation. Their new CD of Felicia Sanders gives us an opportunity to examine a talent from the fifties who somehow (and quite unjustifiably) got lost in the cracks. This was a pleasant surprise.

Good, but unrecognized talent .......2006-08-16

This album was produced by the same firm that also put together a CD of Toni Arden recordings which I have previously reviewed. And Felicia Sanders and Toni Arden had a few things in common: both recorded for Columbia in the early to mid '50s, both had good voices, and both are nowhere nearly as well recognized for their singing talent as I think they should be. And yet, in a way, they were opposites: Toni Arden's recordings suffered because they had to compete with other, better-known singers doing the same songs, and those singers' versions grabbed the high chart positions, while Felicia Sanders made records mostly of obscure songs which nobody has heard of before or since. Strangely, both decisions must have been made by the same people, the Columbia Records A&R staff under Mitch Miller. Why this was done, who can tell?

This CD consists of two separate parts; the first 16 tracks constitute a "Best of Felicia Sanders" collection, while the last 12 are a reissue of an LP she did, simulating a nightclub session, complete with audience applause.

In the first 16-track section, she starts with the song which was her only really big hit, but which gained her very little financial satisfaction or recognition, because it was marketed (in the way songs always were in the Big Band era, but not usually in 1953, when it was done!) under the name of the orchestra leader, Percy Faith, with vocalist Sanders' name listed in smaller-type letters afterwards. This song, "The Song from Moulin Rouge," was a #1 hit for many weeks, and should have ensured Felicia Sanders' stardom, except that she never got the credit she deserved. The first 16 tracks also include the only other song she recorded to crack the top 30, "Blue Star," whose melody was the theme of a popular TV program, "Medic," but with words written afterwards for her vocal performance. The remaining 14 tracks of this part are all obscure songs, though many of them sound quite pleasant. They are worth listening to, even if you'll likely not recognize any of them.

The second part of the CD is, as stated earlier, a reissue of an LP that attempted to reconstruct a night-club session, the part of Sanders' career that brought her greater success. This part includes, in contrast to the first part, many well-known songs and demonstrates her flexibility very well. It is a pleasure to listen to her versions of these songs, and one wonders whether she'd have done better if she'd been allowed to record old standards like these instead of the obscure songs she did. (One wishes, though, that they'd included one song she introduced in her night-club act which became much more famous, in versions by other singers, later on, a song called "In Other Words" which later became better known as "Fly Me to the Moon.") This section concludes with a recording of the same song that started the first section, her biggest hit, "The Song from Moulin Rouge," in a quite differently performed version.

I almost gave this CD 5 stars; it is really a nice one. But in the end I decided it only deserved 4, because it could have been better. Still, if you like '50s pop, you ought to try this CD.

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