Search - Helen O'Connell :: The Best of Helen O'Connell on Capitol

Helen after big band

Beth | Mesa, AZ United States | 05/02/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This cd follows Helen O'Connell in her post big band career with Capitol 1950-1955. During this time she mostly performed covers of other songs at the time. According to the booklet only 3 of these songs made the top 30. Despite this she sings with pep. She redoes some of her Jimmy Dorsey songs like Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry and Green Eyes. For me the highlight of this cd was her funny duet with Dean Martin "We Never Talk Much" in which they sing about being a boring couple. There's also two Bob Eberly duets. The cd ends with three Gisele Mackenzie duets. Although I love both of these singers I found these songs to be overdone. This cd is 3.5 rounded up to 4."

Fine collection of Helen O'Connell on Capitol

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 02/27/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Helen O'Connell performed magnificently with Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra, but this album proves she still had what it took to please her adoring fans in the 1950s! I also really like that this album has songs performed by Helen with more than just one band; we see how effortlessly she could adapt to any orchestra and that's truly very special. In addition, the sound quality is really pretty good and I like that artwork as well.



The songs on this album are all equally wonderful; there isn't a dud in the bunch. Still, of course, I have my personal favorites. Helen does a sublime job on "Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)" with Dave Cavanaugh & His Orchestra. Her voice is as clear as a bell and she handles the tempo and key changes like the pro she always was! "The Loveliest Night of the Year" has quite an upbeat, bouncy and relentlessly happy flavor to it; Helen aces this as effortlessly as breathing--and how's about that musical accompaniment by Harold Mooney & His Orchestra? Other great tracks include "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry" with a slightly Latin beat by Harold Mooney & His Orchestra; and we get a rendition of "Green Eyes" that charms me. I also enjoy "We Never Talk Much, We Just Sit Around" which features the immortal Dean Martin doing a duet with Helen.



"Wonder Why;" "In a Little Spanish Town" with Bob Eberly and Harold Mooney & His Orchestra; "Hey, Good Lookin'" with Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Cliffie Stone Orchestra and that terrific classic country melody; "I'll Always Be Following You" with Bob Eberly; "Anytime" with Helen O'Connell squarely in the spotlight; the country styled "You Two Timed Me, One Time Too Often;" "Be Anything (But Be Mine)" and "Star Eyes" really amaze me. Helen makes these numbers shine brighter than silver and gold combined with her sophisticated phrasing and she never lets go of a single superfluous note!



"I Just Can't Remember the Words" is very easy on the ear, to say the least; and I love that percussion. "Get It While You're Young" has Gisele MacKenzie doing a great duet with Helen; and there's the electric "Lipstick-A-Powder-'N-Paint" again with both Gisele and Helen. "No Other Love" has Les Baxter & His Orchestra making very good use of the strings as Helen sings this to perfection--and beyond! The CD ends strong, too, with Helen O'Connell performing "Kiss or Get Off the Spot" again with Harold Mooney & His Orchestra.



Helen O'Connell was truly a wonderful songbird; it puzzles me why people don't remember her the way she really should be remembered. This album is a must-have for Helen's fans; and people who like classic pop vocals with a decidedly upbeat (and sometimes countrified) twist will cherish this CD for ages!"