Search - Debbie Reynolds :: Cocktail Hour

Aww - It's not really sooo bad!

Alan Subola | Minnesota | 09/03/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Another review of this disc found it lacking in content and vocal quality, but I personally found it light and fluffy! This collection includes Debbie's smash 50's hit "Tammy", a breathy teeny-bopper concoction with a cheesy string arrangement that serves as an exemplary period piece (if you're looking for throw-away pop). If a listener were looking for something more adult or with more depth, perhaps Sarah Vaughn or Julie London or Ella would be more your speed. I'd advise would-be buyers to listen to the song samples on the amazon site before purchasing, just in case this type of pop/kitsch isn't your `cup of tea'.



Finally, I thought the recording quality was quite good. Her production team seems to have put a good deal of time into these arrangements, thought they are a little syrupy for my taste. Good luck!!

"

Debbie Reynolds - COCKTAIL HOUR

William F. Klessens | Salem, New Hampshire, USA | 06/12/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I think the problem that many listeners may have with this 2-CD

set is that it is mostly composed of alternate versions of the listed songs. So if you're looking for the beautiful marriage of sentimental, yearning vocal and strings of the original "Tammy", there's a good chance that this breathier

version won't be what you expected. Getting past the admittedly

ersatz feel of ANY CD that contains unidentical takes than the listener expected, these versions aren't bad, just different.

I found her incredibly raucous take of "Aba Daba Honeymoon" (recorded as a teenager - the earliest song on the collection) to be a real revelation - no slow love ballad, this! Along with a maturely-sultry "Moonglow" (a song covered by all singers worth their salt in the 50s and 60s), a sprightly "Hey Jimmy, Joe, John, Jim, Jack", which could've easily been an

excerpt from her biggest film "Tammy", and sweet takes of "Are

You For Real?", "Joey" and "Gimme A Little Kiss", the collection may be enjoyed more after several listens. The indispensable Debbie Reynolds CD remains "The Best Of Debbie Reynolds", which has the original versions of her Top 40 hits (including the proper 1957 "Tammy"). The Cocktail Hour collection is one, however, that any fan of period 50s singing should probably enjoy, once you get past the fact that the versions aren't the ones you remember."