Search - Richard Conrad, Noel Coward, William Merrill :: Coward: Songs "A Room with a View"

Unsurpassed vocal artistry!

F. Behrens | 08/13/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These selected Noël Coward songs are beautifully rendered. Mr. Conrad's singing is unique and of an artistic caliber seldom heard in any genre let alone in popular and stage music. He sings as if he's lived these songs, all the wit and pathos of Coward's writing manifested with immediacy and heart. Mr. Merrill's piano accompaniment is also wonderful. Listen to the enticing play with rhythm that occurs between these two artist. This album will last. I only wish there were many more like it."

Noel Coward without Noel

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

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Coward was not only a clever chap with lyrics ("Mad Dogs and Englishmen") and now and then with a hauntingly beautiful melody ("Some Day I'll Find You"), but he was also a masterful interpreter of his own songs. On this Newport offering, we must be content with Richard Conrad, a pleasant singer who makes this Coward-sans-Coward concert very easy to take. Running a little short at 52:04 minutes, this CD gives us 17 tracks of vintage and not so vintage Coward that is a wonderful salute to the man by "the acclaimed Coward stylist...in celebration of Sir Noel's 100th birthday" (as the liner notes say). With a capable piano accompaniment, Conrad's delivery is well sung (perhaps a bit too well, compared with Coward's famous non-singer delivery); but as with most offerings of this kind, do not attempt the whole disc at one hearing. Perhaps someone will put out a "Sons of Gilbert" program with Coward, Porter, Wodehouse, and Larry Hart lyrics. Perhaps."

Richard Conrads singing is heavenly

F. Behrens | 06/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Beautiful Melodies of Richard Conrad make these Noel Coward songs so wonderful. I just loved it!"