Search - Eydie Gorme, Don Costa :: Eydie Swings the Blues

Darn right she can SWING the blues!

Giovanni | Chicago, IL | 06/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eydie Gorme stretches out her vibrant vocal wings here in one of her very first outings as a grand lady of song, and the results are magnificent! Paired here with her usual conductor and good friend Don Costa, it's one swingin' tune after the next. From the opening "I GOTTA RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES" right to the seldom heard obscurity "A NIGHTENGALE CAN SING THE BLUES" the theme is obvious; the sentiment apparent. Costa and Gorme would go on to record many more albums together, as would Costa and Gorme's hubby Steve Lawrence. This album was, undoubtedly, a precursor for great things to come from Costa's baton and Gorme's pipes, and served notice for such other gems as "GORME SINGS SHOWSTOPPERS" and my personal favorite, "EYDIE GORME ON STAGE" (both recently available as imports on CD!) Standouts here include Harold Arlen's "WHEN THE SUN COMES OUT" with its torchy, soaring vocals and blazing brass all around Miss Gorme, and the sly underlying of "I Let a Song Go Out Of My Heart" in the arrangement of another Duke Ellington classic "DON'T GET AROUND MUCH ANYMORE". Listen how effortlessly Eydie glides over vocal triplets on the tags of the old standards "AFTER YOU'VE GONE" and the Gershwin's "THE MAN I LOVE". There are very few of Eydie's albums available on CD. Don't let this one sit on the shelf!"

Gorme or gourmet

Jim Holtz | Madison, Wi United States | 09/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"... Anyone who truly loves great singing knows who Eydie Gorme is. Just as anyone who loves good wine & food know what that gourmet is. With the former, that addiction will have no evil side effects, only sublime benefits such as listening to this extraordinary album. A gourmet could always develop gout or alcoholism; a Gorme fan can only rhapsodize on her superior talents. Maybe, just maybe, there are other singers who can technically sing better but no one in the long history of pop vocalizing can put all the great aspects of singing into a song; drama, humor, vocal range, adventurous & original arrangements. Therefore, the listener has the best version of the song he or she has ever heard. When Eydie has been the first to record a song, usually, no one else dared to record it; i.e., Nightingale can Sing the Blues. Or, she takes an over done song, Man I Love, doing it as somthing brand new while still making it the best over all previous & future versions. I woud never dare say others can't do excellant versions on a classic but Eydie makes those others appear lacking because she show off more via her overall talent of being able to do more to a song. Her After You've Gone & Stormy Weather does all that the song writers expect the singer to do to acheive success. She sells the song; too many singers just luck out because of doing great material. First listening of Blues in the Night sounds as if her faultless voice is faltering but she is doing an extremely difficult arrangememt that others couldn't begin to handle. People who love Babs, Frank, Ella, Sassy, Billie, Tony, Peggy, Lena, Mel should buy this cd & adore the best versions of 12 of the best songs ever written. Just as only Vivien Leigh could give us a great Scarlet; only Eydie could give us a great swing the blues."

Eydie Proves She has Every Right to Sing the Blues!

R. Rosen | Petaluma, CA USA | 04/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Probably one her best LP's. Eydie's voice is suited for heartbreak and unrequited love. Her sense of drama coupled with her gifted range and clarity makes this for awesome listening. What makes this project even more impressive is to realize that Eydie recorded this album when she was merely 26 years old. Her versions of standards such as "Stormy Weather, You Don't Know What Love Is, When the Sun Comes Out," outshines veterans Lena Horne, Billie Holliday and Ella. Quite an accomplishment and achievement for someone so young. The Don Costa arrangements are fabulous and are on par with Eydie's vocal magic. For anyone doubting the brillance of Miss Gorme needs only to listen to these vocal gems to become a devoted believer."