Mark Blackburn

SINATRA – When The World Was Young I love the words of advice given by a famous French jazz violinist (who played with Gypsy guitar giant Django Reinhardt) to a then- up-and-coming guitar virtuoso from England Martin Taylor, that when it comes to programming your concerts: “Begin strong. End strong. The middle parts will take care of themselves.” Same applies to albums and Sinatra did it here on POINT OF NO RETURN selecting WHEN THE WORLD WAS YOUNG – for what he thought was the best-of-the-best of Axel Stordahl's arrangements, on an album chock full of them. The song's Wikipedia entry reminds that this was yet another French song (think AUTUMN LEAVES) that Johnny Mercer rescued from certain oblivion; the original French song writers names are in red – meaning you can't click them, to 'learn more' -- never heard-from again. Wikipedia (Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young" is a popular song composed by Philippe-Gérard [fr], with lyrics by Angèle Vannier [fr]. The English lyrics were written by Johnny Mercer. The original French title was "Le Chevalier de Paris". Apart from a reference to apples, the English lyrics only have minor commonalities with the original French words. English lyrics were originally written by Carl Sigman, but these were rejected by the music publisher, Mickey Goldsen. Sigman suggested Mercer, and Mercer wrote the English lyrics (three verses and three choruses) in three days.[1] The song is from the perspective of an aging Parisian "boulevardier"/"coquette", as they review their life. ---- Maybe more coquette than boulevardier: You could be forgiven for thinking it was a girl song. After Bing Crosby was first to record it in 1951, every single 'cover' for the next decade (nine in all) were from great female singers. But then this. The definitive recording as Frank's show opener here. Really, isn't this luverly? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEq6p8FQ8vY Notable Recordings Bing Crosby - recorded in Los Angeles on October 4, 1951 with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra[2] Peggy Lee - Black Coffee (1953) Polly Bergen - Little Girl Blue (1955) Jane Morgan - The American Girl from Paris (1956) June Christy - Gone for the Day (1957) Eydie Gormé - Eydie In Love (1958) Dinah Shore - Moments Like These (1958) Eartha Kitt - The Romantic Eartha (1962) Julie London - Sophisticated Lady (1962) Anita O'Day - Anita O'Day and the Three Sounds (1962) Frank Sinatra - Point of No Return (1962) Marlene Dietrich - as "Die Welt war jung" (1962) (lyrics by Max Colpet)

Frank Sinatra & Tom Jobim - Bossa Nova Medley [Remastered in HD] Siriusly Sinatra is playing a live TV performance by Sinatra and A.C. Jobim – Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars, in medley with Irving Berlin's Change Partners and Dance, and Cole Porter's I Concentrate On You, and Jobim's most famous song Girl From Ipanema – the last sung in Brazilian Portuguese. Six minutes of TV perfection from 1967. Timeless beauty, you may agree. That first song “Quiet Nights” was one of five Jobim tunes for which my compatriot Gene Lees wrote the English lyrics. Check YouTube and – voila! Posted “7 months ago” when I wasn't looking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mj1M4ejEGg

SINATRA – I'll Be Seeing You I'll find you in the morning sun or when the night is new I'll be looking at the moon … but I'll be seeing you Siriusly Sinatra is playing I'LL BE SEEING YOU my favorite track from Sinatra's last album at Capitol Records – whose vinyl LP cover painting (I used to know the name of the artist) is also my favorite: I can FEEL the cool night air of a rainy autumn twilight in New York City– just outside The Plaza Hotel where my Dad and I rode briefly in an elevator with Richard Rodgers. In 1960, the year before this album was recorded. The final orchestrations from Sinatra's early (1940s) great arranger Axel Stordahl, who died a few months later. As for the song, it is perhaps the most poignant of its kind – speaking as it does, to the hearts of those who have lost a loved one. [Wiki note below.] Wikipedia "I'll Be Seeing You" is a popular song about missing a loved one, with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Irving Kahal.[1] Published in 1938, it was inserted into the Broadway musical Right This Way, which closed after fifteen performances.[2] The title of the 1944 film I'll Be Seeing You was taken from this song [which was] included in the film's soundtrack. The earliest recording of the song was by Dick Todd in 1940 on the Bluebird label.[4] The recording by Bing Crosby became a hit in 1944, reaching number one for the week of July 1.[5] Frank Sinatra's version with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra from 1940 charted in 1944 and peaked at No. 4 ---- Thanks to Sinatra Family Forum alumnus Bob Freed ("Bob in Boston") for a link to this: Guy Deel: His novel art made West come aliveGuy Deel's brush depicted the cowboys, good guys and gunslingers of lead-slinging literature.The artist who illustrated the covers of hundreds of Western novels died Dec. 13, 2005 at age 72 in Cambria, Calif., of complications of Alzheimer's disease.Mr. Deel was born July 7, 1933, in Tuxedo, Texas about 50 miles north of Abilene TX. His grandparents were ranchers, and his father worked as a cowboy before the family moved to Irving in 1939.Mr. Deel graduated from Irving High in 1950. At 17, he attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., on a scholarship.Following art school, Mr. Deel served in the U.S. Army, where he designed recruiting posters at an Army installation on Governor's Island in New York Harbor. While in New York, he picked up freelance art assignments for magazines such as Redbook, The Saturday Evening Post and Reader's Digest.When the magazine market began to dry up for illustrators, Mr. Deel turned to the book market. That's when he headed to California.A prolific illustrator, Mr. Deel produced artwork for more than 250 book covers, most for western novels by authors such as Louis L'Amour, Elmer Kelton and Gary McCarthy. He also created covers for 15 Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The illustrations were created as oil paintings that Mr. Deel allowed publishers to reproduce but not to keep.Lynne Deel, Mr. Deel's wife, said that his fondness for depiction of the American West was part of his heritage."His whole family was sort of cowboy folks," Mrs. Deel said. "He always had an affinity for the West. He spent much of his youth on family farms and ranches."Mrs. Deel said that Mr. Deel's hallmark was historical accuracy in his paintings."If the time period called for a specific gun, that was the gun. The horse's tack would be right for the period," Mrs. Deel said. "He was a very accurate historian."In terms of scale, Mr. Deel's most epic work is a 130-foot mural painted for the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles. The "Spirits of the West" mural takes up three walls of one level of the museum and depicts the story of the American West.Mr. Deel also worked in advertising and film. He received a silver medal award in 1963 from the Dallas-Fort Worth Art Directors Club for advertising illustrations he did for retailer Neiman-Marcus. In 1974, his documentary film Artists at Work was screened at the USA Film Festival in Dallas.Mr. Deel later worked with Walt Disney artists on several animated productions. His credits include The Lion King, Pocahontas, and Fantasia 2000.In 2001, Mr. Deel's old hometown of Irving commissioned him to re-create in a painting the 1903 land auction that was the birth of the city. The painting was unveiled at the city's centennial celebration.Mrs. Deel said that her husband was no brooding artist. He was a happy man who enjoyed the life and vocation he chose."He never made a dime doing anything but painting," Mrs. Deel said. "He enjoyed life. He brought a lot of pleasure to a lot of people."In addition to his wife, Mr. Deel is survived by a brother, James Deel of Houston; two sisters, Louise Gill and Bunis Marykwas, both of Irving; a son, Christopher Deel of Agora Hills, Calif.; a daughter, Kimberly Deel of Westlake, Calif.; and one grandson.

FRANK & RAY – Moonlight in Vermont My Irene is doing her word search in today's newspaper and just asked, “What's ordinary writing, 'not verse'?” “Prose” I said. “From which we get the adjective 'prosaic' – meaning ordinary.” But she was on to the next word, and cut me short, before I could get warmed up. Made me think of “my favorite song composed by a Blackburn” -- MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT and its unique lyric in which there are no rhymes at all. On the printed page it reads like prose. Best ever version? A tie for first place. So, let's share both. Ray's rendition followed by Frank's 'live' TV performance. You be the judge. I can never decide which one I love best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuoU7XW2ops Frank's 'live' television version with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08D9N4OigC4

RAY CHARLES – Till There Was You Frank Sinatra famously dubbed Ray Charles “the only true genius in the business” (the business of singing). What did Frank have in mind? I believe it was all the songs that other jazz and blues singers might have overlooked completely, but for Ray making them his own. You'd swear he wrote them, words and tune. Including or especially the songs Sinatra himself never got around to singing. Like YOU DON'T KNOW ME – the centerpiece of Ray's iconic album of all Country songs in 1963. At the time, record company executives thought he was crazy. But that album quickly turned into his all-time best seller – increasing Ray's fan base by millions, almost overnight. Future Country stars like Vince Gill would one day attest that “among all the Country records in my home when I was growing up, that record of Ray's was the one we played the most.” At this moment Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio is playing another favorite example from 1974: Ray taking a Broadway show tune from 'The Music Man' (1957) and imparting such pleasurable 'soul' with a pure Ray Charles' arrangement, including an old-fashioned vocal chorus that Ray knew, in his hands, would never be out-of-date. Search for it at YouTube and we find something even more useful – a “live” performance which I see my namesake reviewed “3 years ago”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwDHfKNETsQ

NAT KING COLE – I Remember You There's an interesting story beyond the small Wikipedia entry for Johnny Mercer's favorite of his own compositions – I REMEMBER YOU. Mercer's friend, Hollywood film director Vic Schertzinger had asked Johnny if he could write some lyrics for two tunes he'd just composed for a 1941 movie “The Fleet's In.” Vic died before the movie premiered, at the young age of 53. But not before he had the thrill of being first person to enjoy what Johnny had come up with, for I REMEMBER YOU and TANGERINE. Oddly, Tangerine was the big hit; I Remember You had to wait two decades until Nat King Cole included it as a slow ballad – beautifully arranged by Ralph Carmichael (who left us last year) for Nat's "The Touch of Your Lips" album. Nat was Mom's favorite singer, and Dad gifted her with that black vinyl LP – whose title track Dad told me was playing when they danced in her parents' parlor (living room) and shared their first kiss. Christmas of 1936. I shared that story with Ralph Carmichael a year before he died and the great arranger (and Gospel music writer) replied, “Thank you very much, Mark!” That same year – 1961 – an Australian-born Englishman, Frank Ifield had introduced my generation to I REMEMBER YOU but as a walking-tempo countrified rendition that sold two million records (“1.1 million in the UK alone”). Because of which (I believe) Sinatra never went near Johnny Mercer's favorite of his own songs and the brief Wiki entry states, I REMEMBER YOU has since been covered most notably by Frank Ifield, Glen Campbell and Björk. The Beatles covered the song on stage early in their career, as recorded on an amateur taping made at the Star Club in Hamburg in December 1962. That version was ultimately published in 1977 on the bootleg recording "Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962".[5] Nat's 1961 recording included the seldom-heard opening verse – one of Mercer's best. And one more reason this one's still my favorite version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7LHDEcNc_E The album cover graphic selected by Wikipedia for "The Touch of Your Lips" LP

SINATRA – My Shining Hour My favorite show on channel 70 Sirius/XM is “The Chairman's Hour” with producer, and long-time Sinatra family friend Charles Pignone. At the moment, just when I was thinking of arranger Don Costa's finest hours with Sinatra, Mr. Pignone is playing perhaps my most favorite Costa arrangement of MY SHINING HOUR. [Correction: Billy May 'channelling' Don Costa.] Google to be reminded that “My Shining Hour is a song from Sinatra's 1980 album TRILOGY: PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE.” My favorite song from Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen (1943). “My favorite lyricist” – I told Sinatra in my letter (of Christmas '92) – long before I'd ever heard his version. Isn't it a nice feeling to hear a favorite old recording, and still get goosebumps? This one never fails! [From memory imperfect] This moment, this minute, and each second in it will leave a glow upon the sky. And as time goes by, it will never die. THIS will be my shining hour, calm and happy and bright. And in my dreams, your face will flower, through the darkness of the night. Like the lights of home before me, or an angel watching o'er me, THIS will be my shining hour – 'til I'm with you, again. ---- Indulge me please: There was a speech of Britain's wartime prime minister Winston Churchill's – on a black vinyl LP of his speeches my Dad acquired just for me in my early teens – one of which I can still recite in its entirety -- the content and the cadences were that memorable. From the darkest hours of WWII (in my best Churchill accent): “If we succeed then the whole world will move into broad sunlit uplands. But if we FAIL, then the whole world will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age, made more sinister, and more protracted, through the light of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves, and so bear ourselves, that – if the British Empire and her Commonwealth last for a thousand years – men will still say … THIS was their finest hour!” [Imagine my delight, checking the song's Wikipedia entry and finding this.] "My Shining Hour" is a song composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer for the film The Sky's the Limit (1943). In the film, the song is sung by Fred Astaire and Sally Sweetland, who dubbed it for actress Joan Leslie. The orchestra was led by Freddie Slack.[1] "My Shining Hour" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song but lost to "You'll Never Know".[2] The song's title may have been a reference to Winston Churchill's speech to British citizens during World War II: "if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, this was their finest hour."[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4wpqdu3P7A

SINATRA – It's All Right With Me At this moment Channel 70 satellite radio is playing Sinatra's 1984 studio recording of Cole Porter's “It's All Right With Me” – featuring George Benson! I'd know that sound anywhere: unsurpassed electric guitar tone, combined with tasteful, talented technique. From Sinatra's “57th and final solo studio album – L.A. IS MY LADY.” There is a television video of the actual recording session, with opening remarks by co-producer Phil Ramone and arranger Quincy Jones, as well as the husband-and-wife lyricists Frank so loved – Marilyn and Alan Bergman. A five minute video. If you must skip ahead, the music begins at 2:25 – with the great Ray Brown playing bass. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0Vn4nyf3pc Thanks for sharing All That Jazz Don Kaart. Celebrated elsewhere [search] “ Great Melody, Great Lyric, Great Rendition, Songwriting Workshop, Harmony Central ”

ELLA AND OSCAR – There's a Lull in My Life My musical sister's favorite singer is Ella Fitzgerald. She knows that my own favorite recordings by Ella involve solo piano accompaniment. At this moment Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio is playing a perfect example – “There's a Lull In My Life” – from the ELLA AND OSCAR album of 1975. Recorded in one day. No second takes required. I imagine Ella telling her virtuoso accompanist, “Play your solo up front, Oscar. Then I'll join you.” Since the last time I checked, this album has finally acquired a brief Wiki entry (below). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGWXFjTnoPI Ella and Oscar is a 1975 album by Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by pianist Oscar Peterson and, for the second half of the album, double bassist Ray Brown.[2] Fitzgerald's two previous albums with piano accompaniment were 1950's Ella Sings Gershwin (with Ellis Larkins) and 1960's Ella Fitzgerald Sings Songs from Let No Man Write My Epitaph with Paul Smith. Track listing[edit] "Mean to Me" (Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk) – 3:30 "How Long Has This Been Going On?" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 4:59 "When Your Lover Has Gone" (Einar Aaron Swan) – 4:58 "More Than You Know" (Edward Eliscu, Billy Rose, Vincent Youmans) – 4:37 "There's a Lull in My Life" (Mack Gordon, Harry Revel) – 4:58 "Midnight Sun" (Sonny Burke, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Mercer) – 3:40 "I Hear Music" (Burton Lane, Frank Loesser) – 5:12 "Street of Dreams" (Sam M. Lewis, Victor Young) – 4:08 "April in Paris" (Vernon Duke, Yip Harburg) – 8:37 Personnel[edit] Ella Fitzgerald – vocals Oscar Peterson – piano Ray Brown – double bass

CREED TAYLOR – The Music Came First (documentary) “Creed (Taylor) was my absolute favorite jazz producer,” says trumpet great Herb Alpert at the start of a superb in-depth tribute video marking Creed Taylor's passing last summer at age 93. My life-long guitar hero George Benson provided fans with a link -- and is among those interviewed, along with my all-time favorite bass player, Ron Carter – and favorite flute virtuoso, Hubert Laws -- and others, including arranger Don Sabesky and a list of jazz educators who “join Creed's family in painting an intimate portrait in which Creed Taylor takes center stage, "sharing memories of Rudy Van Gelder, Stan Getz, and the classic records Creed produced." Deepest thanks to Mr. Benson for providing a link to this joyful tribute, titled CREED TAYLOR – THE MUSIC CAME FIRST [running time 1:24:31] Press "Watch on Vimeo" below. https://vimeo.com/744434960?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=1123795 Wikipedia Creed Bane Taylor V[1] (May 13, 1929 – August 22, 2022) was an American record producer, best known for his work with CTI Records, which he founded in 1967. His career also included periods at Bethlehem Records, ABC-Paramount Records (including its jazz label, Impulse!), Verve, and A&M Records. In the 1960s, he signed bossa nova artists from Brazil to record in the US including Antonio Carlos Jobim, Eumir Deodato, João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto, and Airto Moreira. Taylor won numerous Grammy Awards for his decades of production work. These include awards for: Focus (Stan Getz, 1961), "Desafinado" (Stan Getz/Charlie Byrd, 1962), Conversations with Myself (Bill Evans, 1963), "The Girl from Ipanema" (Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto, 1964), "Willow Weep for Me" (Wes Montgomery, 1969), and "First Light" (Freddie Hubbard, 1972).[6] Taylor died on August 22, 2022, at the age of 93.[1] Taylor had been visiting family in Winkelhaid, Germany, where he suffered a stroke on August 2.[1] He was taken to hospital in nearby Nuremberg, where he died. https://snapshotsfoundation.com/index.php/articles/154-creed-taylor-documentary?fbclid=IwAR0Q4ByIDhghyzpvoq6cNWsUJ-iI2i98O_j9ishQEPk0C4VHWDLWghspxuE

JOHN PIZZARELLI -- The Song Is You [At around the 13:49 mark] During his 'live-stream' show last evening .... after “a bit of Matheny” – and holding up a bottle of my favorite water AQUAFINA (asking for donations to “help with my incidentals bill”) John Pizzarelli launches into the most wonderful medley of songs by the 'dean' of the Great American Songbook – Jerome Kern. 'Jerry' to his friends was no fan of jazz but I believe he'd be utterly charmed to hear what John does with some of his best in medley: After Dietz & Schwartz's “Give Me Something to Remember You By” (who doesn't love a Tango treatment that alludes at the opening to 'Snowfall'?) John shares his Kern gems sequence: “The Way You Look Tonight,” and “Look For the Silver Lining” – through to (my own favorite melodic test tune for any new guitar) THE SONG IS YOU. Previous favorite version of that one – by Lenny Breau (on TV here in Winnipeg, circa 1969 – finally up there on YouTube in small screen black & white.) Yes, Lenny's version (with Jim Pirie and Ron Haldorson) has finally been displaced from 'top spot' in my heart. What you do on the song's bridge! A goosebump-inducing chord sequence no one else has ever played on guitar. Which is to say, The song is Yours, now. https://www.facebook.com/JohnPizzarelliOfficial/videos/5536293889815953 Stop the presses. Google for “New Jersey Music” to learn at Wikipedia that “New Jersey does not have a state song.” Well it damn well should – and state officials would do well to consider John Pizzarelli's “I Like New Jersey” – performed here as a series of spot-on impersonations – including Billy Holiday (and her sound-alike admirers, all identified by name). Yes, most everyone you could think of from Paul Simon, The Eagles, The Beach Boys, and Bob Dylan ending with Roy Orbison: each preceded by a familiar lick or refrain from one of their hits. I defy you to listen to this (at the 40:00 minute mark) and not laugh. Yet another reason to declare this my favorite “5 o'clock Somewhere” show. Preceded at the 36:34 mark by “The Rainbow Connection” a Muppet Movie Kermit the Frog song, performed without a trace of condescension: as it should. It was 'Best Original Song' Oscar-nominated. Its Wiki entry oddly lists its 'genre' as “Bluegrass.” Odd until you remember that Kermit self-accompanied with a banjo on his knee. Never better performed than by John Pizzarelli.

DOYLE DYKES -- Over the Rainbow Like our mutual hero Chet Atkins, Doyle Dykes is the most versatile of the great finger-style guitar virtuosos. Case in point: my new favorite version of OVER THE RAINBOW. Versatility: the reason (I believe) that Chet -- when asked if there were guitarists he would pay to see in concert replied, "Oh .... someone like Doyle Dykes." Love the anecdote about Les Paul and Judy Garland sitting next to each other on a plane sharing close musical memories. And thank you sharing about the guitar -- the exact same model of Gold Top with those P-90 pickups that my guitar teacher played -- when I was 17 (a very good year). The best guitarist in Ottawa, Bill Shepherd (in the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame) who sold me my 1959 Slim Jim Guild (Starfire without a Bigsby). Did I say Great video! Thank you Mr. Dykes. The world would be a poorer place without you.

JONI MITCHELL – At Last I remember driving in to work in pre-dawn darkness -- having to pull over to the side of the road, to focus on the mesmerizing sound of a huge orchestra, beautifully arranged, with a singer I couldn't immediately identify: At song's end, the (AM) radio announcer said simply, “Joni Mitchell, from her latest album – “At Last.” No mention of course of who arranged the lush and lovely orchestration, with its 1950s trademark 'chink-chink-chink' piano accompaniment, a throw-back to the early days of rock 'n' roll when other types of pop songs, ballads especially (like Percy Faith's A SUMMER PLACE) were struggling to reach our ears on radio. AM radio. Played through a tiny little speaker (just one) in your dashboard. [ ! ] Flash forward 20 years: Still my favorite recording of AT LAST – by my second-favorite composer Harry (Salvatore Guaragna) Warren. Not among his record 21 Number one hits (by almost as many artists). In recent days my favorite reviewer at YouTube – a kindred soul who touches on all the right notes -- is “Noe Berengena.” No surprise then to find his review is the one spotlighted at Amazon [5 stars and titled] Gifts to my close friends Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2022 Verified Purchase When I first got this CD I must have played the song "At Last" close to ten times. I could not get enough of it. Eventually I ventured to other tracks and several really moved me. Probably tops on that list was "A Case of You," here re-interpreted by an older and wiser Joni Mitchell. The interesting thing about this CD is that I hardly ever play it end to end. It's almost always a particular selection that I want to listen to. Part of that perhaps is that the songs often have very different moods. Some, like "You're My Thrill" have an exuberance about them. Yes, I have listened to that in a parked car, unable to drive because I want to be completely focused. There are light moments as well. "I Wish I Was In Love Again" comes to mind. I zero in on the lyric about the plates flying when lovers quarrel. I highly recommend this CD. (I suppose that is obvious from what I wrote.) 7 people found this helpful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQK4QKGbcTI Wikipedia Both Sides Now is a concept album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell that was released in 2000. It is her 17th studio album. The album won two Grammy Awards in 2001 for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for the song "Both Sides Now" A limited run of copies was released on February 8, 2000, in chocolate box packaging for Valentine's Day with several lithographs of Mitchell paintings. A jewel case edition was released on March 20, 2000. On tour, Mitchell performed the songs in the same sequence as the album, but she opened with the overture "Nuages", the first movement from Nocturnes, an orchestral suite composed by Claude Debussy. "Nuages" is the French word for "clouds". Although the music sets a romantic mood, the use of this piece can be seen as a pun since Clouds is the name of the album on which the song "Both Sides Now" made its appearance. ---- First version offered at YouTube this day – this one – with an informed note about both the song, and the sublime arrangement: 145,735 views Apr 18, 2011 This is an absolutely sublime rendering where Joni enlisted no less than the London Symphony Orchestra with Vince Mendoza as arranger/conductor. Patiently beautiful, it opens with a single orchestral string droning 'A' — then, an intro melody on strings and flutes is played over the drone —melody is repeated with a Trombone-English Horn unison response to the string/flute call and you're already thinking —"Man, this is lush" —As soon as the opening intro concludes, a short harp glissando leads right to my fave touch —the faint, gentle pulse of a 2-note chord (a la "A Summer Place") piano riff in the distance — plink-plink-plink-plink, with the soft, slow wandering melody call of tremolo strings underneath; answered gently by a single English horn... With this perfect lead-in, wonderment is established and the stage is set for the unbridled joy of a Love finally realized —And, this is exactly what you get from Joni's vocal ….

SINATRA – Prisoner of Love It's quarter to three and unable to sleep I'd just been checking a review I wrote in 2009 for “SEDUCTION: Sinatra Sings Songs of Love” – a favorite compilation album, and specifically, one of my favorite tracks from 'Sinatra & Strings' (a favorite album from 60 years ago) the Don Costa arranged PRISONER OF LOVE. Guess what's playing right this minute on Siriusly Sinatra! I mean at the exact moment I am reading these words I'd written 14 years ago! ---- A salute to producer Charles Pignone for making "Prisoner of Love" track Number 1. Sinatra's seductive ways with the Ladies were legendary. Here, however he goes straight to the hearts of all males `consensually enslaved' by beauty. (Hard to believe such words were first sung in prim & proper 1931!) "For one command I stand and wait now From One who's master of my fate now . . . She's in my dreams, awake or sleeping Upon my knees to her I'm creeping, My very life is in her keeping . . . I'm just a prisoner of love." The ache in Frank's voice! Seems he's `been there, done that.' And listen closely, if you will, to the perfectly-mated arrangement by Don Costa (from their 1961 "Sinatra & Strings" album - one of the first Sinatra CDs you should purchase). Concerning which obsession, the writer of the pleasurable liner notes, author Bill Zehme, wrote: "He had a weakness for poise: Elusive Women vexed him . . . drew him in, with their flight, and their casual indifference. Once, at a party at Humphrey Bogart's house, he complained to Lauren Bacall "after following one such specimen around without success: `She's ignoring me!' To which the rueful Bacall said, `Yeah, she's ignoring you right into the sack.' (Her prophesy was realized!)." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koItnoPpfUA

CAROL SLOANE -- R.I.P. Carol Sloane has died. We celebrated her greatness on the previous page (37) January 17 and shared with her on Facebook my appreciation of her work -- as it turned out, less than a week before her passing. There's a life lesson there. Got the news from Bill Charlap's Facebook page where he shared his own celebration of their friendship. ---- I was first introduced to the artistry of Carol Sloane in my 20s by my dear friend and mentor Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. One afternoon when we were relaxing at his Upper West Side apartment, Richard said to me, “We’re going to hear Carol Sloane tonight at Fat Tuesday’s.” It was clear to me that this was both a gift and a command by Sir Richard, who knew more about singers and the song and pretty much about all music than anyone I had ever known… but I had no idea how deeply affecting, uplifting, and life-changing that night would become for me. We grabbed a cab and went downtown. There was a palpable buzz of expectation in the room. When the set began, a diminutive elegant lady walked onto the bandstand and sang with such exquisite taste, warmth, complete control of her instrument, perfect pitch and effervescence that I was filled with that magical weightless floating feeling when you experience a singular artist, with that most elusive and deepest sense of extemporaneous swing. My heart was full, and each breath took the next breath away. That night was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. At Sir Richard's suggestion, Carol Sloane reached out to me to play with her at one of her next engagements. We got on like a house on fire! The chemistry was instant, and thus began a wonderful four-year period where we performed and recorded frequently. She trusted me and nurtured me musically. But it wasn’t just a professional relationship, we became true friends. I often think about one of the things that Fred Rogers talked about… that is, people who loved you into being. Carol Sloane was one of those very special people in my life. She was a model of confidence coupled with humility. Her sound, always soulful and rich. Her spiritual generosity, lifting. Listen to the way she sings “Deep Purple” on her debut recording with the incredible orchestral arrangement of Bill Finnegan… or the deep probing lyrical nuance with which she approaches “When I Look In Your Eyes” from the first album we recorded together. The spirit of Carol Sloane will live on forever in the beautiful music which she left us. I will love her and miss her forever. https://www.facebook.com/mark.blackburn.3910/

TONY BENNETT / BILL CHARLAP – All The Things You Are After dinner once – while my Dad played his Steinway grand piano in the living room, and my mother and I were still at table, Mom suddenly asked whether I had a favorite song? Yes, I said, without thinking twice – All The Things You Are. “Why that's MY favorite! Your father's too!” she said, beaming with joy. (Mom always said 'There are no coincidences!' You know what she meant.) Mom and Dad didn't live to hear my favorite 'vocal-with-solo-piano' version, recorded when Tony Bennett was turning 90. From his Grammy-winning album with Bill Charlap. It's a measure of Mr. Charlap's greatness that for this track, on the instrumental bridge, he channels Bill Evans perfectly. Just as Evans -- the most influential pianist of all time -- would have performed it with Tony, had 'All The Things You Are' been included on their (2) alone-together albums in the mid 70s. Shared with Tony tonight on his Facebook page, this version from YouTube. I see my namesake wrote a review “4 years ago” (below). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLF1VMYuBi8&t=67s Mark Blackburn (4 years ago) My parents' favorite song (mine too) -- Kern & Hammerstein's ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE. From a stinker of a Broadway show that closed after only a few performances, composer Jerome Kern thought it would be too complicated ever to be a popular song. It really is a riot of modulations/key changes that, simultaneously, make it easy-to-whistle or hum -- but oh-so-difficult to play. Which is why it's always been a favorite of virtuoso jazz musicians, amazed at how it winds up back in the same key. In the hands of a piano virtuoso like Oscar Peterson, almost every note could be a chord. Tony Bennett has been accompanied by some jazz piano giants -- most notably by Bill Evans. And most recently, the piano giant has been Bill Charlap (whose late Dad wrote some of the tunes for the Broadway musical Peter Pan. Bill is married to Canadian jazz pianist Renee Rosnes and they performed here in Winnipeg about a decade ago).

TONY BENNETT -- The Shadow of Your Smile On his Facebook page Tony Bennett noted that today (1/31/2023) marked the anniversary of an album many of us consider his very best -- and asked our opinion about it. I responded a moment ago: THE MOVIE SONG ALBUM -- arranged (mostly) by Tony's friend, the great Johnny Mandel. Johnny's all-time favorite version by Tony of Johnny's Oscar-winner THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE. And speaking as a guitarist, I loved that one of Brazil's greatest finger-style guitarists was present to arrange Tony's take on Luiz Bonfa's THE GENTLE RAIN. I wasn't there when the album was a 'wrap' -- the last take of the final track fading to silence. But I'll bet the all-star cast of musicians hung around long afterward. Listening to my favorite track, for which Tony included the opening verse. The 'waving' flutes on the closing orchestral flourish. Mandel at his finest! Still goosebumps, after all these years! Wikipedia The Movie Song Album is a 1966 studio album by Tony Bennett.[4] The album consists of songs from films, opening with the theme from The Oscar, in which Bennett had recently appeared. With this project of such high quality of song material and collaborators, he was to describe the album in his autobiography as his "all time favorite record".[5] Johnny Mandel was the musical director, and he and Neal Hefti and Quincy Jones arranged and conducted their own compositions on the album. Luiz Bonfá played the guitar on his two songs, "Samba de Orfeu" and "The Gentle Rain". The pianists Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Rowles and Lou Levy all collaborated, each on one song. Bennett's recording of "The Shadow of Your Smile" won Mandel and Paul Francis Webster the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 1966, and Bennett performed the song at the 38th Academy Awards, where it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

GEORGE BENSON – Since I Fell For You In a world where few people care to ask my favorite question – 'Who wrote that song?' – fewer still, care to ask about the arrangers and musicians. Questions like the one I asked myself a moment ago: 'Who's that on piano, backing George Benson on SINCE I FELL FOR YOU?' – one of my two favorite pop songs from 1963 (the other is Ray Charles' You Don't Know Me). I do know that Lenny Welch turned it into a million seller. From a decade ago – George Benson's 'Guitar Man' album (whose opening track is a two minute reprise of Tenderly). Google to be reminded that the 'piano man' is Joe Sample – his last recording with George three years before his death. [I imagine the conversation between two musical giants who wouldn't have needed to rehearse a song they've loved since Buddy Johnson's Blues Band introduced it in 1947 (a very good year).] JOE: “So, how you want to do this, George? GEORGE: Just you, Joe. JOE: No guitar? GEORGE: Maybe few notes at the end. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCuDFhsBguw&t=183s Wikipedia Joseph Leslie Sample (February 1, 1939[1] – September 12, 2014)[2] was an American keyboardist and composer. He was one of the founding members of The Jazz Crusaders in 1960, the band which shortened its name to "The Crusaders" in 1971. He remained a part of the group until its final album in 1991 (not including the 2003 reunion album Rural Renewal). Beginning in the late 1960s, he enjoyed a successful solo career and guested on many recordings by other performers and groups, including Miles Davis, George Benson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Michael Franks, B. B. King, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Anita Baker, and the Supremes. Sample incorporated gospel, blues, jazz, latin, and classical forms into his music. Sample died of mesothelioma in Houston, Texas, at the age of 75. His survivors included his son, bassist Nicklas Sample (with ex-wife Marianne), who is a member of the Coryell Auger Sample Trio featuring Julian Coryell and Karma Auger.[2][6][7][8] He also left a wife, Yolanda, and three stepsons: Justin, Jamerson III and Jordan Berry. Sample was Catholic, and supported Catholic charities and churches throughout his life.[9]

GEORGE BENSON – Here, There and Everywhere Some people's favorite track on the TENDERLY album (it is mine:) George singing and playing one of his favorite Lennon/McCartney songs. I'd just been thinking of my earliest favorite of his albums, “The Other Side of Abbey Road.” If you've never heard what George did – Americanizing, blues-ifying every great song on that final Beatles album … well, if you can locate a copy, I guarantee you will love. Or double your money back. Favorite comment from a kindred soul, below the “Tenderly” cassette version at Amazon: "I found this in a $2 bin at Gibson's Discount store years and years ago. JOYOUS moment. I had considered stealing it from the Library because it was out of print and there was no internet or ebay back then. I don't care that GB didn't write the songs. I still say it's his finest album ever. I pray that when I die my kids put my headphones in my ears and press play on this bad boy. GB wherever you are bless your soul and may you never be 'out of print'.”

NATALIE COLE – He Was Too Good to Me Just for me (I'd like to think) Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio is playing my favorite track from my favorite Natalie Cole album – a love song from my favorite composer Richard Rodgers with lyric by Lorenz Hart – HE WAS TOO GOOD TO ME. From Natalie's “Stardust” album with liner notes that we cited (above) for her “full page of fine print thank you's.” Natalie singled-out trumpet great Wynton Marsalis' solo on the musical bridge and his coda at song's end. “It brings me to my knees,” she said. You know what Natalie meant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqIV8IZ7q2Q

SINATRA – One Note Samba It's midnight and Siriusly Sinatra is playing a favorite song by Brazil's Cole Porter (as I call him) Antonio Carlos Jobim -- ONE NOTE SAMBA. Its brilliant lyric was composed by Jon Hendricks -- a jazz vocal giant who died of old age a few years ago. His story is fascinating. [Wiki note below.] Permit a ramble on 'Hendricks, Pizzarelli and Sinatra.' ---- Each Thursday evening John Pizzarelli and his wife Jessica Molaskey live-stream for an hour their “5 o'clock Somewhere” show – which always features a “bossa nova” segment – a couple or three jazz sambas as only John Pizzarelli can deliver them. Often they are Bossa Nova classics as definitively recorded by Sinatra; including “One Note Samba” where John replicates on his 7-string guitar, orchestral chords from the original arrangement. Listen to the musical bridge on Sinatra's recording – arranged by Brazil's Eumir Deodato (still with us, alive & well in Rio) as the orchestra plays the melody in chords: John transposes that to guitar! You have to see it to believe it. And of course, he makes it look so easy – what I call 'artless.' You watch and think, “you know, with practice maybe I could play that." Oh no you can't. ---- The lyric was penned by jazz vocal genius Jon Hendricks who left us in 2017 age 96. His Wikipedia entry doesn't even mention ONE NOTE SAMBA (I didn't spot it) but is so worth reading [snippets below] : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8_iQn9YgKs Wikipedia John Carl Hendricks (September 16, 1921 – November 22, 2017), known professionally as Jon Hendricks, was an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and replaces many instruments with vocalists, such as the big-band arrangements of Duke Ellington and Count Basie. He is considered one of the best practitioners of scat singing, which involves vocal jazz soloing. Jazz critic and historian Leonard Feather called him the "Poet Laureate of Jazz", while Time dubbed him the "James Joyce of Jive". Al Jarreau called him "pound-for-pound the best jazz singer on the planet—maybe that's ever been".[1] As a soldier during World War II, Hendricks took part in the D-Day landings of June, 1944, and was later attached to the quartermaster's headquarters in France. When he and some black fellow soldiers were shot at by white US military police for consorting with white French women, they went on the run [ ] eventually recaptured and court-martialled in November 1945. By then the war was over. He returned home to attend University of Toledo on the G.I. Bill as a pre-law major.[2] Just when he was about to enter the graduate law program, the G.I. benefits ran out. Jon met his first wife Colleen "Connie" Moore in Toledo. They were married and eventually had 4 children.[2] One night in 1950, Hendricks got up and scatted at a Charlie Parker gig in Toledo. Parker encouraged him to come to New York and look him up. Hendricks moved his family there two years later and resumed his singing career. With Dave Lambert, who conceived the idea to record a selection of Count Basie's instrumental numbers with voices replacing the Basie orchestra's wind instruments, Jon wrote the lyrics, and they sold the idea to Creed Taylor, who had recently started working as an A&R man for ABC-Paramount Ampar. The result was a best-selling album, Sing a Song of Basie. Its success prompted them to form the legendary vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross (LH&R). With Hendricks as lyricist and Lambert as arranger, the trio perfected the art of vocalese and took it around the world, earning them numerous awards and accolades. In September 1959, they appeared on the cover of Down Beat under the headline "The Hottest New Group in Jazz", which they adopted as the title of their Grammy-nominated fourth album. Hendricks typically wrote lyrics not just to melodies but to entire instrumental solos, a notable example being his take on Ben Webster's tenor saxophone solo on Duke Ellington's original recording of "Cotton Tail", as featured on the album Lambert, Hendricks and Ross Sing Ellington (1960). His lyrics to Benny Golson's "I Remember Clifford" have been recorded by several other vocalists, including Dinah Washington, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, The Manhattan Transfer and Helen Merrill.[4] In 2017, Hendricks' full lyricization of the album Miles Ahead, including Miles Davis' solos and Gil Evans' orchestrations, was completed fifty years after he had first conceived the idea. It was premiered in New York by UK-based choir the London Vocal Project, with Hendricks in attendance, with a studio recording to follow. Hendricks died on November 22, 2017 in Manhattan, New York City, aged 96.[13] Hendricks was recognized with an NEA Jazz Master award in 1993,[14] multiple Grammy Awards,[15][16] and in 2004, he was honored in France with the Legion of Honour.

PAUL MCCARTNEY – Accentuate the Positive Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio is playing a favorite track from Paul McCartney's “Kisses on the Bottom” album of standards (and should-have-been-standards his musical father enjoyed) – a Johnny Mercer lyric that is among my favorites, (You've Got To) ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE. Or as it was titled on the original sheet music, “Ac-Cent-Chuate The Positive.” Music by one of Johnny Mercer's greatest collaborators Harold Arlen. They were nominated for Best Original Song Oscar multiple times. At the 18th Academy Awards for movies in 1945, it lost – to my favorite film song by Rodgers & Hammerstein, It Might As Well Be Spring. That year there were 14 nominated songs – a record – and, as Wikipedia notes, Being the first Oscars after the end of World War II, the ceremony returned to the glamour of the prewar years; notably, the plaster statuettes that had been used during the war were replaced by bronze statuettes with gold plating. Paul McCartney's 2012 cover of Accentuate the Positive is still my favorite: his vocal swings beautifully – you can hear the smile in his voice as he savors great jazz accompaniment from Diana Krall on piano and John Pizzarelli's (7-string) rhythm guitar. I had just checked to see “what are they playing just for me” at one a.m. Frozen Prairie Time on Siriusly Sinatra: Immediately following my favorite version of Ray Charles' and Diana Krall's duet of YOU DON'T KNOW ME – as if to say 'hope you're listening, Mark!” they played this gem. YouTube has the Grammy-winning video version. Oh yes! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBru0k8KZh8&t=24s Wikipedia "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" is a popular song which was published in 1944. The music was written by Harold Arlen and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was nominated for the "Academy Award for Best Original Song" at the 18th Academy Awards in 1945 after being used in the film Here Come the Waves. It is sung in the style of a sermon, and explains that accentuating the positive is key to happiness. In describing his inspiration for the lyric, Mercer told the Pop Chronicles radio documentary "[my] publicity agent ... went to hear Father Divine and he had a sermon and his subject was 'you got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.' And I said 'Wow, that's a colorful phrase!'" On March 25, 2015, it was announced that Mercer's version would be inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry for the song's "cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation’s audio legacy". Paul McCartney covered it on his 2012 album Kisses on the Bottom.[8]

GEORGE BENSON – Tenderly [Note to grand kids (8 of them):] DOCTOR: You have three minutes to live. ME: Play this. ---- A sound engineer at the TV station where I spent the 80s here in Winnipeg had a black vinyl copy of George Benson's TENDERLY album. I was blown away by the title track. The single best jazz guitar solo by the man I called “the Oscar Peterson of the guitar.” At the nearby K-Mart (remember those?) I found a cassette version in a bargain bin. When it came out on CD it didn't sell well; though it remains my all-time favorite George Benson album – for reasons so well-explained in an Amazon review at the time (see below) No one in the history of electric jazz guitar achieved the tone George does on this solo – the best combination of warmth and clarity since Chet Atkins played his Gretsch Country Gentleman through a Fender amplifier. Coincidentally George Benson acquired his own signature model of Fender amp – and for this recording was playing his then- brand new, crafted in Japan, signature model IBANEZ which comes in two varieties: Great and Even Greater (ultra expensive). He wanted Gibson L-5 tone “but better” and Japan delivered the goods. Yes, if you happen to be nearby when I'm shuffling off this mortal coil – and if there's time – please grab my Sennheiser PX-100 earphones, and 'play this for me one more time.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbEUfyITJSs Spotlight review at Amazon U.S. "Rebecca" 5 stars - titled: "You Wander Down The Lane And Faraway . . . Leaving Me A Song That Will Not Die" Reviewed in the United States ?￰ﾟﾇﾸ on March 5, 2008 George Benson's rhythmic style, lyrical phrases, catchy riffs and ingenious improvisations are his best qualities in guitar-playing that makes him one of the most impressive guitarists America ever produced. He's a great vocalist as well and known for his effortless scatting ability. This wonderful CD is a perfect testament of his guitar and vocal artistry. I had the chance to listen to a live interview with Mr. Benson way back in 1993 at L.A.'s Jazz-FM 103.1 when he was promoting his current album then, Love Remembers . He shared with the listeners some interesting and lesser known facts about him -- he started playing the ukelele at age seven and the greatest influences in his guitar artistry are Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery and Grant Green. His favorite contemporary singers are Al Jarreau, Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson, to name a few. According to him, if he were born 20-30 years earlier, he would have been a pianist or a violinist. He had voice lessons with a professional instructor who also trained Stevie Wonder. That instructor really did a great job. This is evident by the countless hits he recorded such as "On Broadway," "This Masquerade," "Moody's Mood," "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You," "Unchained Melody," and all the songs in this timeless CD starting off with "You Don't Know What Love Is" down to "This Is All I Ask." All the songs here are some of the best interpretations ever recorded. I was so touched by his beautiful and heartfelt interpretation of the famous Lennon/McCartney classic, "Here There And Everywhere" that I listened to it repeatedly. The instrumental part is so impressive that I can't help mentioning the equally talented back-up jazz musicians namely, McCoy Tyner (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Lenny Castro (percussions), Herlin Riley, Louis Hays and Al Foster (drums), and of course Mr. Benson himself on guitar and vocals, and not to mention the superb and sparkling chart arrangement by Marty Paich. In my opinion, this track is the very highlight of this CD. Congratulations to all of you guys for a stellar performance! Another notable track that shows off his awesome vocal artistry is Mitchell Parish and Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust," one of the best vocal renditions ever recorded for this gem of a song. "You wander down the lane and far away Leaving me a song that will not die Love is now the stardust of yesterday The music of the years gone by" According to George, "he felt so good doing this project as well as playing with some of the finest jazz musicians with whom he had long-time relationships." Thank you, Mr. Benson for doing an excellent job! This CD is essential not only to George Benson's fans but also to all jazz buffs. You will have a lifetime of listening pleasure!

SINATRA -- A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square Playing right this minute on Siriusly Sinatra -- maybe my favorite track from the only studio album Frank ever recorded outside LA or NYC -- "Great Songs from Great Britain." Googled to find my review (2010) and first version offered at YouTube. With zero comments -- let's change that! ---- On any serious Sinatra fan's "Top 10" list (it's that good) 5 stars Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 30, 2010 Verified Purchase Just received an alert from Amazon that this classic CD is once again available -- and for the modest price of 14 bucks. (New copies have traded elsewhere for more than 100 dollars). This "import" edition is sales-ranked a respectable 60,000 (among the 3 million or so CDs available at the world's biggest website). It's been seven years since I obtained my "Made in USA" copy and wrote my own review for this timeless classic. Hope it's still "helpful." [At the time, Bob Farnon, a friend of my father's was still alive; he predeceased my Dad by one year, in 2005. I wrote to him to share this review with Mr. Farnon; he responded with a beautiful note of appreciation from his 'island home.' (2010/04/30)] --- All the world's great arrangers -- most of whom got to work with Frank Sinatra (the rest wish they had)-- are (or were) American. A notable exception: Canadian-born Robert Farnon. At last report, Bob was still alive and well, and living at "La Falaise" on the Channel Island of Guernsey (a letter with only that address can reach him). Now 85, he still makes the occasional foray into London to do what he's always done best. Andre Previn, told the late, great lyricist Johnny Mercer that "Robert Farnon is the greatest living string arranger in the world." The great ones who admit to Farnon's influence have included Nelson Riddle, Don Costa, Quincy Jones, Marty Paich, Neil Hefti, Torrie Zito and Johnny Mandel (just to name the best who worked with Frank Sinatra), plus, (among those who didn't, but wished they had) Henry Mancini, Roger Kellaway, John ("Star Wars") Williams, Patrick Williams and (British born) Jeremy Lubbock. Great popular singers who share that opinion, include Sarah Vaughn and Tony Bennett. The list of musicians who feel the same way is too long, but start with pianists Herbie Hancock, Oscar Peterson and George Shearing. Sinatra's voice on "Great Songs from Great Britain" may be functioning at only 80 per cent (my estimate) but it's still better than on some of his later recordings, and no worse than on his roughest days at Capitol in the 50s. Listen again to the Billy May "Come Fly With Me" CD and the lone Nelson Riddle arranged song -- Cole Porter's "I Love Paris." Sure, it's "rough" (was Frank up all night?) but still, you love it, right? Same with this CD: Precisely because he's the greatest interpreter of popular song, Sinatra makes adjustments to his delivery, transforming weaknesses into strengths before your very ears. Fascinating! So why wasn't this album released in America prior to year 2000? Having read all speculations here and elsewhere, I think the critics are simply uninformed. Because the singer has left true fans some `between-the-lines' clues to how much he loved these recordings. Let's begin with the speculation that Sinatra had `second thoughts' about what his American fans might make of the material----obscure, almost quaint, English songs, some dating to the First World War, which have Sinatra "gathering lilacs" or keeping a stiff upper lip "until we meet again" i.e. songs that might not survive a trans-Atlantic crossing, let alone achieve posterity. Well that ignores some important facts: Sinatra selected all these songs himself, in advance of his world tour (30 stops, the last in London, in aid of children's charities). Don Costa---Farnon's biggest booster in America (and the most heavily-influenced of his proteges) invested a lot of time, as Sinatra's `middle man,' cabling between LA and Farnon's island home, to ensure this recording `happened.' (In the end, Costa couldn't be there; but Nelson Riddle made it to one session at London's "CTS Bayswater" studios). The singer's only objection was uttered as he sipped some "JD" and listened to the playback of "Roses of Picardy" (now considered by some critics to be the loveliest `rose' of the bunch). Sinatra said: "Scrub `Roses of Picardy'---I don't like it" (meaning, he didn't feel he'd done it justice). So "Roses" was not included on the original LP, released only in Britain). The suggestion that Sinatra was in any way "embarrassed" by these recordings, is belied by his personal selection of "If I Had You" for inclusion among his 19, all-time favorite recordings, preserved on the 1996 compilation "Everything Happens to Me" (please see my review for that one). The singer himself approved the inclusion of two others, "Garden in the Rain" and "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" for the 4-CD Reprise box set. And the latest Sinatra compilations ("Romance" and "Love Songs") include this version of Ray Noble's classic, "The Very Thought of You." Enjoy great liner notes? There's none better written for any Sinatra release: You get literate musician Benny Green's original, 1962 notes, plus American James Isaacs' superb, 1992 supplements, closing with thoughts about Sinatra's achievement on "If I Had You." "If Sinatra's wistful, daydreamy first (take) in 1947 was truly in the subjunctive (IF I had you,) and if his cocky medium-bounce Riddle-arranged '56 take might be dubbed "I can have you," then this rendering, with its brandy-by-the-fireside feel and older-but-wiser protagonist, is more like "If I'd HAD you." Notwithstanding a lyric that's far more Tin Pan Alley than Tintern Abbey, Sinatra's (and Farnon's) conception is, to borrow from Wordsworth, "emotion recollected in tranquility."

DOYLE DYKES -- a 1947 Gibson J-45 with new strings "sounds so fine!" It's a sound I will never tire of hearing: an old Gibson with new strings. In this case, visiting a friend in Texas, Doyle Dykes brought along a set of his own GHS signature strings to brighten up a Gibson J-45 (from the year of my birth). The sort of instrument Chet Atkins had in mind when he advised me (during a radio interview in Ottawa Canada the summer of '71) to “get an old Gibson, one that has been played a lot. They sound so fine!” In the lifetime of that Gibson it never had such skilled hands to bring out its absolute best; if guitars could speak this one would confirm that “I never sounded so good!” Love the way Doyle goes to the heart of a Tennessee tune, interweaving (with a song I wish I could name) the opening notes of the 'Wildwood Flower' – the most played melody in country music history: Most everyone when they take up guitar, can play a few bars. But what a joy to hear a Master picking those familiar phrases to perfection! Don't you love the way Mr. Dykes' facial expression becomes more peaceful, as he slows the tempo, to segue into a hymn. The title of this one is just out of reach of my memory. But as Chet would say: “It sounds so fine!”