Search - Riddle, Nelson :: Hey... Let Yourself Go! / C'mon... Get Happy!

Riddle is a member of the GREATEST GENERATION - nuff said

glenn_e_wilcox | Cranston, Rhode Island | 11/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is basically "Nelson Riddle-The Best Of The Capital Years" reissued. For those who have never heard a Riddle arrangement (sans vocalist), you have missed out! But here is your chance to re-discover what the USA was listening to when the "Greatest Generation" was at its best. Sinatra may have been (and still is!) all the rage in the 50's & early 60's, but THIS is the music that help make his legacy so great. If you've had a busy day at the office, or want to relax during the weekend, listening to Nelson Riddle's arrangements on this CD is better than any medication! Although, there is one side effect! You'll find yourself craving more of this delicious sound!!"

Nelson Riddle Forever

Scott McVittie | Brownsville, Texas United States | 01/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, lessee here: My library holds (on cd) "Hey...Let Yourself Go,""C'mon...Get Happy!""The Joy of Living,""Love Is A Game of Poker,""The Best of Nelson Riddle" (Capitol),"The Best of Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra" (Curb), and on LP: "The Riddle Touch,""Route 66 Theme and other TV Themes," (mono),"The Best of Nelson Riddle" (a promotional copy for radio stations never issued for sale), and "Witchcraft."
That Frank Sinatra could not decide on who "his" orchestra - that of Nelson Riddle or Don Costa, was to be is testament alone to the greatness of Nelson Riddle even without hearing a single arrangement. Not many arrangers come with the trombone as their root instrument (Riddle, Miller) or guitar (Costa). That too ought to tell you of the greatness of Nelson Riddle, ie., he could arrange so many "voices" of an orchestra from the soul of a trombone! Costa did it from the even the more limited range of a guitar!
This is a great album!
Buy it!
Then get the others!
Add to your collection Don Costa, Hugo Montenegro, Andre Kostelanetz, Hugo Winterhalter, Percy Faith, late Lawrence Welk, Bert Kaempfert, and Ray Conniff (especially "Conniff Meets Butterfield"), Jackie Gleason, and any of Stu Phillips' "Hollywood Strings" albums and you'll have a mighty library of contemporary instrumental artists who will fill your home with modern arrangements from the classics to the Beatles. As I said in the title - Nelson Riddle Forever! Enjoy!
Like the commercial says, "Are these guys good, or what?""

Best Riddle All-Instrumental Album?

Rob Keil | San Francisco | 09/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've admired Nelson Riddle's work since I became a Sinatra fan many years ago. I must say though I've been somewhat disappointed with Riddle's all-instrumental albums (where he and his band are not working with Nat Cole, Romemary Clooney, Judy Garland, etc). These two 1950s albums (issued now on one CD) are a cut above all his others, in my opinion. They are jazzy yet sophisticated, and have a nice energy that's great for listening or dancing. This is the Sinatra-Riddle sound minus Sinatra. In fact, several of these tracks ("S'Posin'", "September In The Rain", to name two), were later recorded by Sinatra/Riddle on the "Sinatra's Swingin' Session" album in late 1960. My only wish is that these 2 albums had been recorded in stereo, which would not generally be adopted until 1957. But for mono recordings, these are extremely hi-fi and pleasing to the ear. Definitely a first-buy for pop/jazz instrumental fans who like Henry Mancini, Billy May, or who enjoy Riddle's amazing work with vocalists."