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].

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.

Carpenters - Only Yesterday [Richard & Karen Carpenter's Greatest Hits]

Back in the early seventies, i would listen to the radio [i don't do that now], plus i would buy vinyl singles [and i certainly don't do that either], this takes me back to those formative years, before Classical music even crossed my path [and Jazz], where i was learning to love music, the pop charts was my musical kindergarten, and i still have some loves left behind from those years.

The Carpenters ended in 1983 after Karen's death, but of course they live on in the hearts of many, during their time at the top they received criticism for being too 'kitsch', and even though some of their effects are a bit dated, real talent is everlasting, i still enjoy listening to this album, it brings back pleasant memories.

On this listening i really enjoyed tracks 1, 4, 6, 10, 16 & 18-20, my favourite song is track 19 'Only Yesterday', but this time i was really touched by track 16 'For All We Know', it's the oboe intro that has a wonderful effect, and Richard Carpenter was clever at creating atmosphere [0:00-0:14, +1:18-1:32 & 2:08-2:32], Karen's voice is so pure, partly due to an excellent mix in the recording, the unobtrusive piano in the background just adds that touch of variety and colour [0:43, 1:01 & 1:51], the lyrics are no great shakes, short and sweet at under 3 minutes.

Here's Karen singing 'For All We Know', live at the BBC on YouTube, ...err the hairstyle is certainly kitsch!, ha ha.

Various Artists [Melodies Of Love]

A surprise choice, i don't usually go for this sort of music, but this moved me today, the music on this disc is a mixed bag, some i don't like, but others i find rather inspirational, this is the first time i've listened to these discs, so it's also the first time i've listened to certain of these tracks, and not particularly being an 'easy listening' advocate, other tracks i haven't really studied close.

I love the Jazz influences of these tracks, especially the female singers, there's always a gem to be admired and loved if you put aside your pre-conceived ideas of any type of music, and really listen with your heart.

The disc booklet cover is great, a nice shot, even though some of the tracks are pushing things a bit as regards the title of this double disc set.

So the track which moved me the most is number 6 on the first disc, Fever by Peggy Lee, subconsciously i've heard it before, but this is the first time i've actually listened to it, i like the sparseness of the instrumentation, just an upright deep double bass, and a drummer playing with fingers/palms, a great innovation, the drummer really does make the song stand out, Peggy Lee has a sexy voice, the track sizzles and smooches, you can almost hear the sweat trickle down, nearly gave me a fever!.

You can hear Peggy Lee sing this song live on YouTube.