"I knew Kate Smith during the 50's when I was a small child. She was a warm and wonderful woman who loved children, and to cook for others in her "summer home" in Lake Placid, NY. And could that woman SING! She came to embody America during the 40's and and 50's ... to the point that when FDR introduced her to the then King and Queen of England (Elizabeth's parents) he said, "This is Kate Smith. This is America."This CD brings it all back for me ... brings Kate back as clearly as my memories. It captures the power of her voice, the warmth of her smile, the very essence of the irreplacable Kate Smith."
Kate Smith and Nelson Riddle are great together!
S A McMillan | 12/05/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"All of the tracks on this CD, except for "God Bless America," were arranged by Nelson Riddle. It's unfortunate that they did not do more albums together, for their collaboration resulted in twelve wonderful tracks. His arrangements gave her the chance to explore her range from intimate to all-out exuberance. "Ridin' High" and "Who Cares" are two of my favorites on this CD."
Kate Smith Remembered
Kenneth C. Kimball | USA | 04/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I remember Kate Smith from my Mother's recollection of her in the 1930's...A vivacious dancer, even though she was on the 'heavy' side, always physically 'weight challenged'. But, Kate Smith had an awesome clear singing voice, and, despite her weight challenges in the 30's, had an incredible agility and ability for dancing...............Her best signature in her later years was 'honorable' guest singer for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL. When She sang "God Bless America", The Flyers always were inspired and so were the fans.. My friends tell me that Kate was NOT the inspiration of the saying..."The game is not over until the FAT lady sings.........This was supposedly attributed to the operas...I think that "Kate" made the saying a "reality" in Philadelphia! We love you, Kate!"
Kate at her best!
Good Stuff | 03/02/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Many of the greatest singers in the 1930s and 1940s are all but lost to us today because of the primitive recording techniques of the time.
Fortunately, one such singer is not Kate Smith. She began making records in 1926. Most of her biggest hit records come from the '30s and '40s.
She moved into the LP era in the '50s and, finally, into the stereo era in the early sixties. During the 1960's she made several stereo LPs for RCA records. Many became best sellers. After nearly forty years of singing, her voice was still in remarkably good condition. The songs presented here are culled from those albums, which is fine and good.
However, we need the complete albums. I remember she was a many time guest on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, and would always seemed genuinely excited and thrilled to tell him of her latest recording project. I recall two albums, Kate Smith with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops and Kate Smith at Carnegie Hall (which, if I'm not mistaken, achieved Gold Record status) as two particular favorites.
So, until the moon comes over the mountain, enjoy this compilation. But let's all hope RCA sees their way to digging into the vaults and rewarding this tired old world with a comprehensive reissue of their great collection of Kate Smith.
We could use it."
Rembering Kate Smith
D. Marth | Woodbridge, VA USA | 01/17/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I ordered the CD for my husband as a Christmas gift. We were both pleased to hear the voice we loved years ago. I ordered it to hear God Bless Ameruca, but we both enjoed all the songs especially (When The Moon
Comes ver the Mountain). We are both in our 70's and wish that there would be more of the good music on TV."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
