Various Artists [Melodies Of Love] This is an album that appeared in my Blog at the beginning of last year [31st January 2010], there it was a surprise choice, mainly because it's filled with Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole etc, 'Grandad Crooners INC', not exactly the fare of someone who likes Led Zeppelin / Punk etc, and even though i do find it too 'easy listening' and unchallenging at times, there's also some real sophistication in here too, listening to the clever ways things are presented, instrumentation and rhythms, there's gems as well as duds, if you just open your ears and leave behind your prejudices.
The tracks on this listen which had me nodding my head in a new appreciation were 4, 6, 9, 15 & 40, yes i guess it's more the black Jazzy singers that i veer towards rather than the crooners above, they just have that something extra, here's a little synopsis of each of these tracks,
4 Dina Washington - Mad About The Boy, after the initial trombone fanfare opening, it's that lovely march rhythm of the brushes on the drums [0:18+], i love brushes, they can work so well, i don't know why more drummers don't use the technique, even in Jazz, she sings 'and i know it's stoopid' [0:23], i like the way certain black Jazz singers can get away with slurring lyrics, and mispronunciation, i just love the tinkling of the ivories high in the background [1:14+], just perfect.
6 Peggy Lee - Fever, this was the track i loved last time i listened to the album, and even this time i find that this is the best of the five here, it's the spare use of the drums, nice judicious drumrolls too, and lots of finger snapping, and Peggy Lee has a really nice swing in her vocals, notice the use of a higher acoustic drumroll [1:52], i just love that, and the emphasis by the drummer and vocalist on 'sizzle' is excellent [2:55-2:57].
6 Peggy Lee - Fever, this was the track i loved last time i listened to the album, and even this time i find that this is the best of the five here, it's the spare use of the drums, nice judicious drumrolls too, and lots of finger snapping, and Peggy Lee has a really nice swing in her vocals, notice the use of a higher acoustic drumroll [1:52], i just love that, and the emphasis by the drummer and vocalist on 'sizzle' is excellent [2:55-2:57].
9 Billie Holiday - That Ole Devil Called Love, the beauty of this track is all down to the delivery of Billie Holiday, 1940's slang and slur, with a background Jazz Band.
15 Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You, a lovely mystique in the music, Nina Simone's vocals are deep and sharp, almost like a man, again the tinkling of the ivories throughout is fantastic, and a long sax solo is great, and Simone's scat singing is excellent.
40 Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World, what can i say, this is such a phenomenally positive song, of all the bad in the world, if only you look for the good like Louis Armstrong, lovely strings, and that very deep gruff and growl in his delivery, the lyrics bring a tear to my eye at times, the perfect ending to this set.
