Looking at You - Mabel Mercer, Davis, Michael [Tro
When Love Comes Your Way
I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple
Use Your Imagination
Ace in the Hole
Just One of Those Things [*]
From This Moment On [*]
All of You [Live][*]
Down in the Depths [Live][*]
Born at the turn of the century, Mabel Mercer dwelled at the heart of cabaret culture, first as a dancer in Paris's legendary Bricktop's and then as a singer in New York, influencing artists from Frank Sinatra to Bobby Sho... more »rt. Her precise articulation and developed sense of a song's drama defined cabaret singing, and those skills are ideally suited to Porter's songs, what with their sculpted ironies and casual melodies. Her art is especially apparent on Porter's less-celebrated songs--like "Ours" and "I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple"--the crisp minidramas and period pieces that haven't become standards. Beneath their polished surfaces and perfect diction, Mercer's performances are able to suggest different depths of character and restrained passions. --Stuart Broomer« less
Born at the turn of the century, Mabel Mercer dwelled at the heart of cabaret culture, first as a dancer in Paris's legendary Bricktop's and then as a singer in New York, influencing artists from Frank Sinatra to Bobby Short. Her precise articulation and developed sense of a song's drama defined cabaret singing, and those skills are ideally suited to Porter's songs, what with their sculpted ironies and casual melodies. Her art is especially apparent on Porter's less-celebrated songs--like "Ours" and "I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple"--the crisp minidramas and period pieces that haven't become standards. Beneath their polished surfaces and perfect diction, Mercer's performances are able to suggest different depths of character and restrained passions. --Stuart Broomer
"I am crazy about this album. I didn't know Mabel Mercer until I heard a song on the radio recently and bought this album (which does not contain the song that led me to her in the first place). The delivery is so simple - you might almost imagine at times that it's hardly sung at all - but listen a few times and it gets right under your skin. And what colour and inflection on the words (which are always crystal-clear). The heart-break on the final 'goodbye' in Every Time We Say Goodbye; the infectious leaping joy on the words 'gossamer wings' in Just One of those Things which makes you just grin and hug yourself. Every song (and they are marvellous songs) contains moments like these. Why oh why are there so few of her albums re-released? Perhaps since it is her centenary this year they'll do some more. Let's hope so."
Brilliant selection of Porter songs sung with unique style
rrs2@prodigy.net | New York, New York (Where else?) | 06/25/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you were too young to hear Mabel Mercer sing in an intimate nightclub setting--she was performing until the early l980's (her early 70's)--this is the only CD (shame on you, Atlantic) available of this unique artist. Mabel was singing Cole Porter songs when they were new in the l930's, and Mr. Porter considered her-- along with Bobby Short--to be the best interpretors of his music. Frank Sinatra openly admitted learning much about musical phrasing from this very special artist. Each song is almost spoken rather than sung, and listen to "Experiment" to understand how each becomes what Porter intended--a wise, witty lesson in life for the sophisticated student of love's strange way of levelling the playing field for even the smartest and most over-privileged among us."
Amazingly delightful
I should be at the gym | New York, NY United States | 09/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm surprised that there are so few Mabel Mercer recordings out there. Frank Sinatra called Mabel Mercer nothing less than, "the greatest cabaret singer of all time." Her sensual, intelligent, unique, and somewhat "spoken" style of singing is perfect for interpreting lyrically clever or involved songs, as were most of Porter's songs. (And some of the BEST of Porter's stuff is on this CD.) At the time of this recording Mercer was already quite old and, frankly, past her prime. BUT HER MAGIC IS STILL EVIDENT--VERY! Any Porter or Mercer fan must have this great CD."
She's The Tops!
MOVIE MAVEN | New York, NY USA | 09/26/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I never got to hear Mabel Mercer live, but I did collect alot of her records-having been introduced to them in grad school by, what I was sure was, a real sophisticate! Mercer and Porter are a perfect combo. The sad thing is that this is the only CD issued of Mercer's many, many LP recordings."
Marvellous interpretations of fine songs
MOVIE MAVEN | 06/25/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mabel Mercer (1900-1984) is a remarkable singer, an English-born artist who has achieved legend status. She sings her songs with great subtlety and style, managing to infuse everything she sings with an almost uncanny sensibility of what the writer was trying to express. Her vocal powers are limited, but that is not the point; Miss Mercer is telling us a story when she sings, not trying to impress us with vocal pyrotechnics. Every song she performs on this CD is given her special treatment, dignified, witty and heartfelt. Not that the songs deserve less than this, for they are some of Cole Porter's finest. Mabel Mercer did sterling work during her lifetime, constantly singing great (and often obscure) songs from the pens of America's finest writers, even when most singers would settle for more commercial material. Miss Mercer's delivery of the little-known "Where, Oh Where?" is a delight, and she includes all the choruses of "It's De-Lovely". A superb album, full of grace, style and warmth."