Search - Irving Berlin, Various Artists :: Irving Berlin Always

Nostalgia! Great songs with great singers.

Mr. Wynn | State of Confusion | 11/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A great collection of songs. Irving Berlin wrote some of the millenium's greatest love songs. And, some of our greatest crooners have recorded his music. They are all here. Some even collaborate with each other for beautiful duets. Highly recommended for any audiophiles."

The Best of Sounds on one title...

SimMoon | Versailles, KY USA | 06/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I sat down to this, I was expecting good. I wasn't expecting this to blow me away! One great Berlin song following another -- It was almost more than I hoped for, but knowing the performers and the writer of these songs, you get what you pay for. This is the best musical experience of Berlin's on cd I have ever heard. I recommend this to the most discriminating buyer who has maybe heard only a song or two. I promise, you wont be disappointed. You'll be thrilled... Always..."

Essential, timeless and sophisticated

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 01/24/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It practically goes without saying that Irving Berlin was one of the greatest songwriters ever; this album more than proves his talent! We get some of his most beautiful songs here all performed by wonderfully gifted singers who share their talent with us. The quality of the sound is excellent and I like the artwork, too.



The album starts with Louis Armstrong singing out a fantastic rendition of "Top Hat, White Tie, And Tails." Louis never skips a beat and his sophisticated phrasing improves his performance all the more! I love it. The music fits in with Louis' vocals and that's grand. Sarah Vaughan's "They Say It's Wonderful" charms me with its natural beauty; those strings are very well used in the musical arrangement. Similarly, Ella Fitzgerald performs "Blue Skies" with panache; I could never tire of hearing The First Lady of Song deliver this faultlessly! "The Girl That I Marry" by Billy Eckstine is truly splendid; Billy's ability to convey all the subtle nuances of this tune is remarkable, to say the least.



Bing Crosby sings "Heat Wave" with a playful tone in his voice; this amusing song is timeless and Bing's treatment of "Heat Wave" impresses me greatly. That big band musical arrangement works wonders for this number, too. Sarah Vaughan returns to perform the classic "Easter Parade;" Sarah makes this shine with her beautiful voice and I think you'll like this track if you haven't heard Sarah sing "Easter Parade" before. In addition, there's also Fred Astaire doing a great job on "Puttin' On The Ritz;" Fred sings very well and those drums sound magnificent as he sings!



Dinah Washington's "Say It Isn't So" is another charmer; Dinah never sounded better! "Say It Isn't So" showcases Dinah's natural talent and it's a lovely highlight of this CD. "Cheek To Cheek" gets the royal treatment from Louis Armstrong; and how's about that very elegant musical arrangement? It's all very well done.



Other beautiful tracks include the duet of "Always" with all those strings and horns to embellish this song and show it off as the classic it truly is; and listen for the stunning "Remember" performed flawlessly by the immortal Billie Holiday. "White Christmas" features Ella Fitzgerald swinging right in the spotlight to a beautiful jazzy arrangement; her excellent diction enhances her performance even more! Fred Astaire's "Change Partners" is absolutely perfect--how romantic, too! The piano arrangement is beautiful and it all serves to make "Change Partners" incredibly memorable.



Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong weave their magical spell on "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm;" and Billie Holiday sings "How Deep Is The Ocean?" straight from the heart. The CD ends strong with Ella Fitzgerald performing a beautiful rendition of "Let's Face The Music And Dance;" it truly leaves me wanting more!



Irving Berlin will always remain a giant amongst giants; this CD is wonderful for his fans as well as people who love classic pop vocals. This is also a fine album for fans of the singers who perform on this disc.



Thank you for everything, Irving Berlin! We will never forget you!"