The Ultimate Alma Package
Allen Bardin | Columbia, SC United States | 04/24/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Brit's beloved Alma Cogan gets the royal treatment in this lavish lavender box. The first two discs are comprised of
Alma's 4 LPs, disc three has all her novelty song hits, and the last is full of rarities. Alma's vocal style has been likened to Doris Day, but doesn't quite measure up to Day's artistry.
Still, she was a wonderful singer, and a great fun pop personality, and every aspect of her all-too-short career is covered here. From silly pop froth to great standard readings to mod swinging 60's groovers, Alma did it all like the pro she was -- a very glamorous & hip chick."
Four out of this four a delight in their own ways!
uthungus | San Francisco, CA | 10/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's odd how some really famous singers in one place became household names (in the US, at least) and others didn't depending upon what they recorded that became widespread, despite vast recording careers at home! Alma Cogan seems to fall in to that category for female British stars in company with others like Kathy Kirby, for example (another favorite of mine). But I'm glad another collector friend introduced me to more of her work than what I had (1 obscure track on the "Dream Babes 1" set). I can't begin to cover everything she did here on this 4-disc collection, but just to shortly say she was brilliant, capable and exceptionally talented both in her own recordings and the unique way she covered hits others had. Not only in vocal stylizing but arrangements (especially the Beatles hits)! Also, if some other singers had tried to do pop hits in other languages, they likely would have sounded ridiculous at times compared to what Alma could do with the tunes, IMO. Some of my favorites here too are of course the well-composed novelty tunes she did. Not just things cranked out to capture a momentary "fad", but some pretty clever spoofs her vocals skills gave a new lightness to. It's a shame "Couldn't Resist Her with Her Pocket Transistor" isn't available on sound byte above, because it has to go down in history as an all-time campy classic!! Also oddly enough not here, but on an EMI collection is "Lizzie Borden" - "...(her slain parents) they said `Lizzie, cut it out!' And that's exactly what she did...'Cause you can't chop your poppa up in Massachusetts...!" Along with these too - "Twenty Tiny Fingers", "Willie Can", "Tango With an Eskimo" and of course "In the Middle of the House" (...as in the railroad comes through - since the company bought the land...!)! Truly a delight to enjoy her recordings now along with some fabulous photographs in the accompanying book. A very long-lost Diva unfortunately cut down in her prime!"
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1