This album's full title should read Songs I Heard When I Was a Kid and Never Forgot, as Harry Connick covers a selection of familiar, if unlikely, chestnuts. Who can deny the appeal of classics such as "Supercalifragilisti... more »cexpialidocious" and "Spoonful of Sugar" (from Mary Poppins) and "Oompa Loompa" (from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)? Connick proves his worth as an arranger, especially on the tracks that get the full New Orleans swing treatment. Boasting several excerpts, The Wizard of Oz must have made quite an impression on young master Harry: "Ding Dong" becomes a zippy big-band number and "Over the Rainbow" begins with a thunderous intro before segueing into the familiar melancholy tune. But the best is the obscure "The Jitterbug," a brilliantly catchy number that had been cut from the movie's final version. Still, as good as they are, Connick's arrangements don't quite match Herbert Stothart's original ones. The CD ends with The Sound of Music's "Edelweiss" and "Do Re Mi," the latter in a swell finger-snapping version. Connick's silliest record to date is also his most warmly endearing. --Elisabeth Vincentelli« less
This album's full title should read Songs I Heard When I Was a Kid and Never Forgot, as Harry Connick covers a selection of familiar, if unlikely, chestnuts. Who can deny the appeal of classics such as "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "Spoonful of Sugar" (from Mary Poppins) and "Oompa Loompa" (from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)? Connick proves his worth as an arranger, especially on the tracks that get the full New Orleans swing treatment. Boasting several excerpts, The Wizard of Oz must have made quite an impression on young master Harry: "Ding Dong" becomes a zippy big-band number and "Over the Rainbow" begins with a thunderous intro before segueing into the familiar melancholy tune. But the best is the obscure "The Jitterbug," a brilliantly catchy number that had been cut from the movie's final version. Still, as good as they are, Connick's arrangements don't quite match Herbert Stothart's original ones. The CD ends with The Sound of Music's "Edelweiss" and "Do Re Mi," the latter in a swell finger-snapping version. Connick's silliest record to date is also his most warmly endearing. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Connick fans will love this! It's perky. It's nostalgic!
Korki Ressler | Toledo, OH USA | 11/03/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you are a Harry Connick Jr. fan, you're really going to enjoy this CD. The first time I heard Supercalafra...it was on the "Regis and Kelly" show. My first impression was "what is he doing?" "why this song?" but as I reviewed the other cuts from the CD I loved it! Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, and The Sound of Music were my three favorite childhood movies.
Harry Connick still keeps his smooth and very suave jazz style going strong on this CD. The best part is they are all songs we grew up with and they are songs that are "ageless". These are songs your little ones will sing and bounce to. Very perky and upbeat. A real toetapper. Way to go Harry!
I am one of his biggest fans. Please go out and buy it you won't be disappointed.
Sincerely yours,
Korki in Toledo, OH : )"
One of the best!
Monty Moonlight | TX | 12/17/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a Harry fan for quite a while, and when I heard of this CD I was very excited. When I saw it in stores I couldn't wait to get it! I finally picked it up two days ago and have been listen to it over and over ever since! It's truly wonderful and I'm amazed at how he obviously has very similar taste in favorite musicals as I do. These are some all time faves of mine. On this recording he performs songs from Annie, Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. He puts his own spin on all the songs, and this is a CD every musical fan, Harry fan, or big band fan must have! The highlight is probably his rendition of The Jitterbug, which was REALLY perfect for this format! Do yourself a favor and rush out and get this! I haven't even got his "30" CD yet, I had to get this one first! I only hope he does a follow up to this CD featuring other musicals! And while you're buying this CD, be sure to pick up Harry's When My Heart Finds Christmas, as it is simply the best Christmas CD ever made!"
One of my new favorites...
Elissa Harbert | Austin, TX USA | 07/16/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was very apprehensive when I saw the tracks on this album. I have always loved Harry Connick, Jr, but I was afraid he might be venturing a little bit too much into Frank Sinatra's well-worn territory. After listening to the first few minutes of the cd, however, I knew it was different. It captures the essence, the feelings he had when listening to these songs as a child. This is the first CD in a long time that I've listened to, start to finish, while doing nothing else. I just sat and listened, and loved it all."
Give this CD a chance
Trista N. Wagner | St. Louis, MO United States | 10/30/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ok, I was a little skeptical of a jazz cd with the "oompa loompa" song on it, but if nothing else I thought my kids would like it. This cd is great! I love it. What a cool idea, to take songs that we used to hear in movies and sing when we were kids, and set them to great music. It brings back so many memories hearing all these songs again, but done in a way that is not childish sounding. My kids are two and four and they love this music. Adults will love this music, I am going to play it at our next coctail party. Harry Connick, Jr. is wonderful. He has the smoothest voice. I had several of his cd's before this one, but I am now a Harry fan."
Harry Connick pulls a Bobby Darin. Gutsy!
Kelly Dillman | Pittsburgh, PA | 05/28/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm not a HCJ fan, this is the only CD of his I own. I've been to two of his concerts, because he puts on a fantastic show; his arrangements of the standards are usually outstanding and the musicians are fantastic. But I'm extremely impressed by his move to do a CD of tunes from classic kiddie movies. Bobby Darin did this when the original Dr. Doolittle came out. The critics thought it was a major gaffe, the studio didn't think his style suited the songs, and no one could understand why he'd want to do this when he was so successful with "grown-up" songs. They didn't get it. He simply wanted to do it and figured to hell with the critics! That seems to be the attitude HCJ is taking, and I LOVE it! The songs are fun and fused with the New Orleans jazz that Harry mainstreams so well. The music doesn't have the depth and draw to make it a regular in my player, but it will be a CD that will suit my mood when I just want to kick back and forget that I'm supposed to act like an adult and take things seriously.
If you're interested, check out Darin's "Swinging the Standards" CD for "Talk to the Animals" and "After Today" from DR. DOOLITTLE."