I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
Over The Rainbow
Twilight Time
My Buddy
After You've Gone
What'll I Do
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Smile
You Made Me Love You
I'll Be Seeing You
We'll Meet Again
Track Listings (16) - Disc #2
Snowbird
Danny's Song
A Love Song
You Won't See Me
You Needed Me
I Just Fall In Love Again
Daydream Believer
Broken Hearted Me
Could I Have This Dance
Shadows In The Moonlight
A Little Good News
Just Another Woman In Love
Another Sleepless Night
Time Don't Run Out On Me
Now And Forever (You And Me)
Nobody Love Me Like You Do
Anne Murray, whose singular voice made her a country-pop icon in the 1970s and '80s, returns with a dual-disc set of 16 of her greatest hits, paired with 15 Tin Pan Alley pop standards. While her own signature tunes ("Sno... more »wbird," "Danny's Song") withstand time's brutal test in artistry and currency, Murray doesn't fare nearly as well with the pre-World War II tunes. She finds the modern blues heart of "What'll I Do," but she's often sidetracked by cheesy arrangements (the Dixieland treatment of "After You've Gone" is particularly onerous), and ultimately the collection fails to engage. Such hoary songs as "Dream a Little Dream of Me" and "You Made Me Love You" are too quaint and schmaltzy for a woman who came of age in the 1970s. Unlike the great Rosemary Clooney, who could infuse the most shopworn classic with new meaning, overall, Murray lacks the emotional resonance or experience in her voice to convey authenticity. Her corduroy alto remains a thing of wonder, however, and may make even her most casual fans yearn to hear it employed on a stellar album of contemporary material. --Alanna Nash More Anne Murray
Anne Murray, whose singular voice made her a country-pop icon in the 1970s and '80s, returns with a dual-disc set of 16 of her greatest hits, paired with 15 Tin Pan Alley pop standards. While her own signature tunes ("Snowbird," "Danny's Song") withstand time's brutal test in artistry and currency, Murray doesn't fare nearly as well with the pre-World War II tunes. She finds the modern blues heart of "What'll I Do," but she's often sidetracked by cheesy arrangements (the Dixieland treatment of "After You've Gone" is particularly onerous), and ultimately the collection fails to engage. Such hoary songs as "Dream a Little Dream of Me" and "You Made Me Love You" are too quaint and schmaltzy for a woman who came of age in the 1970s. Unlike the great Rosemary Clooney, who could infuse the most shopworn classic with new meaning, overall, Murray lacks the emotional resonance or experience in her voice to convey authenticity. Her corduroy alto remains a thing of wonder, however, and may make even her most casual fans yearn to hear it employed on a stellar album of contemporary material. --Alanna Nash More Anne Murray
The Best...So Far
What a Wonderful World
Country Croonin'
What a Wonderful Christmas
I'll Always Love You
Let's Keep It That Way
A winning combination of standards and her greatest hits
Paul Tognetti | Cranston, RI USA | 08/02/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A couple of years ago while on a trip to Nova Scotia my wife and I happened upon the little mining town of Spring Hill. Much to our surprise and delight this little berg turned out to be the hometown of none other than one of the most popular Canadian recording artists of all-time, Anne Murray. And smack dab in the middle of town we came upon the Anne Murray Center. Staffed by local townspeople, the Anne Murray Centre offers visitors a unique opportunity to view an impressive array of awards, photographs, memorabilia as well as audio and visual highlights of Anne Murrays remarkable career. If you are ever in that area I would heartily recommend it! We had seen Anne perform in our area just a few years earlier and were thoroughly impressed with her performance. She is the consummate pro. If you are a big fan like we are you might be wondering just what is the best available collection of the music of this talented lady. In my judgement "All of Me" would easily get the nod.
"All of Me" features 16 of Anne's all-time greatest hits. These are the original Capitol recordings that you would remember from the radio. The fact that they have been digitally remastered will only enhance your enjoyment of memorable tunes like "A Love Song", "Broken Hearted Me", her spirited remake of the Monkees "Daydream Believer" as well as her very first hit record "Snowbird" from all the way back in 1970. Anne Murray would be a fixture on both the pop and country music charts during the entire decade of the 1970's and for much of the 1980's as well. Among the dozen other hit singles included in this collection are "Just Another Woman In Love", "You Won't See Me" and the moving "Can I Have This Dance". And what Anne Murray package would be complete without her memorable 1973 hit "Danny's Song" which as you might recall was written by Kenny Loggins.
Now if that were not enough, Straight Way records has also included a seperate disc containing Anne's interpretation of 15 of the most beloved songs of all-time. I have to say I loved each and every one of them. Enjoy once again brand new versions of perennial favorites like "My Buddy", "As Time Goes By", "Over The Rainbow" and of course "All of Me". When my wife and I saw Anne Murray in concert several years ago she performed a number of standards. Her love for this music was quite apparent and it comes through quite clearly in these recordings.
And so to sum up, I can do nothing less than heartily recommend this 2 disc set. The sound quality is wonderful and the choice of material is superb. Add to that the fact that the price is quite reasonable and what you have here is a terrific collection that is also a great value."
BRILLIANT
Claude Bourggeois | Moncton, Canada | 01/28/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This collection of Tin Pan alley favourites is a beautiful tribute from Anne to one of her late friends that recently passed away from cancer. Her vocals are very strong, the arrangements magical and her version of "Over the Rainbow" would rival any other out there. "All of Me" is a great upbeat number, as is the brilliant "After You've Gone". Anne particularly shines on "My Buddy" which is the emotional climax of the album, as well as poignant moments in "What'll I Do" , "Smile" and the tearjerker "I'll be Seeing You Again" . The album ends in great Patsy Cline-type fashion with "We'll meet Again". Any critic who pans this album has got to be deaf. You need to give this album time to realize how great it is. It is the beauty of simplicity. And of course, Anne's greatest hits on disc 2 are still as fresh as the day they were released. Great job, Anne !"
Great Arrangements
Norman Harrold | SW Oregon | 02/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You can safely ignore the Amazon Editorial Review. This CD is one of my very favorites. Not only does it include many of the songs that I grew up with and recall fondly to this day, but they are arranged in what I'd consider an almost perfect balance to both the lyrics and to Anne's presentation, complementing but not overpowering her singing. Very professional and creative arrangements. In fact, I listen to this CD as much for the arrangements as for Anne's performance. I hope she'll do another one like it, with some more of the old classics on it."
The best yet
Lakewood_Greg | Lakewood, OH United States | 01/29/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Most vocalists treat pop classics with such deference and reverence that they end up sounding self-conscious, but not Anne Murray. This is no ordinary tribute to the chestnuts of the early 20th century, but an update by a confident recording artist who somehow takes risks while sticking to the basics.
The fiddle introduction and swaying rhythm of the opening track signal that this is a western swing album, reminiscent of Bob Wills' heyday. The band is a curious blend of piano-centered rhythms with clarinet, flugelhorn, and accordian flourishes that evoke a cabaret setting while staying grounded in the western idiom. This is dance hall music at its best. She and Tommy West are savvy producers.
Anne's reading of All of Me is simple and melodious - as if she'd just discovered the original sheet music. After that, Anne and the band settle in to swing gently in As Time Goes By and Dream a Little Dream.
The ballads linger in your memory like an aural addiction. What'll I Do is framed in a lovely music box arrangement. I'll Be Seeing You, the title track of the Canadian release, is one of this songbook's highlights - every syllable exquisitely phrased. And if you thought that Over the Rainbow is a Judy Garland song, you're in for a very pleasant surprise.
But the showstoppers are the uptempo numbers. Murray delivers an inspired vocal on the honky tonk, Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter. Her perfect pitch and clarity on Twilight Time elevate this minor classic to a higher level. After You've Gone, drenched in New Orleans jubilation, is possibly the best track of all. And Duke Ellington would be proud to hear how comfortably Anne transcends musical genres with Don't Get Around Much Anymore.
Anne shrugs off previous covers of You Made Me Love You with a mid-tempo version that is as good as it gets. Finally, there's the perfect closing number, We'll Meet Again, with a shuffling rhythm that recalls Owen Bradley's best work with Patsy Cline.
Anne Murray is at the peak of her interpretive ability. I don't think it's a stretch to say that she is the Sinatra of her generation. She respects the integrity of a song and eschews vocal excess, thereby re-affirming what is classic in classic pop. You will always be able to listen to these songs without tiring of them. Her phrasing is peerless: the vibrato sustains the melody, her perfect pitch nails each note, and her vocal punctuation pushes the rhythm forward.
This is a well-crafted album, from start to finish. Though fans will find the second disc of hits superfluous, others will surely find it interesting to compare the progression from Nashville packaging to self-directed artistry. Buy it and enjoy!"
Anne only gets better like fine wine
Snowbird101 | Pittsburgh, Pa | 03/01/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anne is the tops and there are no others who can compare to this lady. She does everything to perfection. She can take a song and wrap her voice around it and make it a gem, no matter what....This album is full of wonderful suprises and the instrumentals are just out of this world. Anne is full of emotion on every note, what a tribute to a best buddy.
We love her and hope to hear more of her over the years to come...do yourself a favor and buy one of these albums for everyone you know......and when Anne guys on tour, make sure you catch her there too, because it is something you will never forget....