Search - Bolcolm, Morris :: After The Ball plus Highlights from Vaudeville

Possibly the best rendition of these songs

F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 06/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the concert that on LP introduced me not only to this marvelous mezzo but got me interested in musical Americana. What with my personal listening and my seminars, I played the LP until it became unlistenable; so the appearance of the CD was quite a boon. Morris sings these old-time tunes as they should be: with utter commitment and the feeling that not only were just written today but that today is yesterday. The latter means that while we can smile indulgently at the seeming innocence of the lyrics, we can also understand how tears were shed back then at the Bird in the Gilded Cage and other victims of the social system and how smiles were elicited by the "purer" sort of eternal love that made a man still love his wife as he did when she was Sweet Sixteen. This is an absolutely marvelous time-trip; and any social studies teacher who does not use this CD when covering turn of the century (last century, that is) America should be forced to do so."

A triumph!

blue-59 | Blount Springs, Alabama, United States | 03/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thirty years after this wonderful collection appeared, it still warms hearts and wets eyes across generations. This classic recording is likely to be around forever, and it certainly deserves to be. Joan Morris provides full emotional commitment along with smart style and a beautiful voice. William Bolcom is an ideal accompanist: he's obviously of a heart with Morris but never intrudes.One overlooked asset of this recording is the superb sonics. Listen through state-of-the-art speakers and subwoofer, and the space in the room is recreated extraordinarily well. You will seldom hear piano and voice recorded this well.You may not admit it to your friends, but you'll listen to this masterpiece over and over. It goes straight to the Hall of Fame."

The Gilded Age Album of Albums

Christian Anderson | San Diego, CA | 03/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first bought this album as a record in the early 1970's, and enjoyed it over and over. I tried to buy another copy but couldn't find it and gave up years ago. Suddenly I find... it and I can hardly wait to get it once more.... and with bonus tracks, too. Great! The best thing about this recording was how authentic it sounded... not "updated" in style or rendition, but with the genuine music hall ambiance that one would imagine these catchy tunes must have sounded like at the time. I guarantee if the CD is half as good as the record, this is a real treasure! There are 2 songs that were recreated for Judy Garland in "Meet Me in Saint Louis", and the originals as Joan Morris sings them will give you visions of the old Vaudeville theatre, complete with peanut gallery."