Search - Lena Horne :: Stormy Weather (Dig)

Outstanding

04/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don't be fooled by the many compilations titled "Stormy Weather" by Lena Horne. This is the original 1956 album. The version of Stormy Weather is the best along with the one she did in the second part of her Lady and Her Music show. The said part is many Lena Fans probably don't know that this album is now on cd. The see the "Stormy Weather" title and they think 'Oh no not another one'. Finally an American Version of one of her original albums on cd done the right way. Many of her original RCA ablums are available in other countries on on Amazon UK and other international sites. This album and Lena Lovely and Alive are in my opinion her best studio RCA albums. Please give this album a try and you won't be disappointed. Let's get those reviews rolling."

Lena Horne at her peak on a wonderful, generous CD !!!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 05/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lena Horne could sell a song without even trying--and that's no small thing! On this CD we get all the original songs from her record album entitled Stormy Weather plus previously unreleased material and quite a few bonus tracks. This makes the CD a very good value and a delight to listen to over and over again, too!



The CD track set begins with "Tomorrow Mountain;" and this song has an excellent musical arrangement which backs up Lena's golden voice. Lena's voice is lush, warm and vibrant as she sings of a happy place where hopes and dreams are fulfilled. "Summertime" also gets the regal treatment from Lena as she interprets this classic ballad as only she could. Her voice simply never sounded better and the musical arrangement makes great use of the horns and percussion. Moreover, "Mad About The Boy" is a marvelous love ballad; and Lena delivers this so flawlessly you truly are convinced that she is deeply in love with her man.



Of course, Lena also sings "Stormy Weather." For the better part of the song Lena sings this with a high octane level of energy that she didn't display in the movie of the same name. However, as the liner notes correctly point out, later on in the ballad after Lena sings the word "love" four times she reverts to the much slower, angst filled rendition of the song. The comparison between the two "renditions" of this song both within a single track amazes me and you will be sure to enjoy it, too.



Lena belts out "Just One Of Those Things" with great panache and the musical arrangement makes great use once again of the horns and percussion. The quality of the recording lacks a little because of some distortion caused by Lena's microphone. Oh, well. It's still heavenly if you ask me.



Lena delivers "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top" so perfectly that you're bound to want to listen to it again the very instant the song ends; what an elegant performance!



The CD also features two tracks previously unreleased: an extra rendition of "Stormy Weather" and "Come Runnin." A fantastic extra that makes this CD a "must-have" for Lena's fans everywhere!



The liner notes give you the song credits and you get wonderful black and white photos of Lena dressed so elegantly you think you're looking at the most glamorous lady ever. There is a reproduction of the reverse of the album cover for the LP entitled Stormy Weather and Farah Griffin contributes a great essay about Lena.



I highly recommend this for fans of Lena Horne; and people who want to hear Lena at her best would do well to choose this album for starters. People who enjoy classic pop vocals will absolutely cherish this album.



Enjoy! Great job, Lena!!!!

"

The Real Thing!

Ronnie in Weho | west hollywood | 05/11/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This RCA re-mastered release has the most perfect sound this album ever has had (the one-star comment must be referring to a different cd). This is the original RCA Album recorded in 1956 and 1957 and released as "STORMY WEATHER." Besides the original 11 songs from the 1957 studio album, this cd contains 10 additional cuts, most of which were not on cd before, and several of which were previously unissued--and none of which has ever sounded better. Lena was in prime voice and surrounded by first-rate musicians that made these versions standout gorgeous. [Though the Rodgers and Hammerstein songs are best on Lena's live album "AT THE SANDS" --in a medley-- that is perfection.] The cover is the original album art, a photo of Lena that is completely elegant. Yes, Lena was one of the most beautiful women of the 20th century--and people got confused by her beauty and sometimes overlooked that she was also one of that century's greatest vocalists. I almost always loved Lena's live recordings best, so look at her great live recordings for heaven on earth! At the Waldorf Astoria / At the Sands"