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Mabel Mercer Sings Cole Porter
Mabel Mercer
Mabel Mercer Sings Cole Porter
Genres: Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists
 
  •  Track Listings (17) - Disc #1

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 »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Mabel Mercer
Title: Mabel Mercer Sings Cole Porter
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Rhino / Wea
Original Release Date: 1/1/1956
Re-Release Date: 6/21/1994
Genres: Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists
Styles: Vocal Jazz, Vocal Pop, Cabaret, Traditional Vocal Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 081227169022

Synopsis

Amazon.com
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

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CD Reviews

Marvellous Mabel
Timothy Blake | London, UK | 01/14/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."