Monro front and center
Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 08/20/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Matt Monro sings beautifully on this "two-fer" CD. This CD is a "two-fer" because it has all the tracks from two of Matt Monro's record albums on one CD; the two albums are entitled En España and Grandes Exitos En Español. Matt's voice remains in excellent form throughout; and we get the rewards of his hard work!
The track set begins with the twelve tracks from En España; the first number is "Sueño Imposible (The Impossible Dream)." The musical arrangement sports a 1960s feel with a particularly good arrangement for the piano. Matt delivers this like the pro that he is and he never misses a beat--excellent! "No Me Pesa, Es Mi Hermano (He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" follows; the arrangement makes good use of the horns for this classic pop vocal while Monro sings this passionately. In addition, "La Sombra De Tu Sonrisa (The Shadow Of Your Smile) gives us Matt at his very best; Matt massages the lyrics to this romantic ballad as only a master could. The strings and the percussion work wonders for this number, too.
The pop vocal "Puedo Ser Feliz (You've Made Me So very Happy)" begins with a great musical flourish and when Matt comes in this number takes flight! Matt sings joyfully of the happiness he feels because he has found his one true love.
The second twelve tracks come from the album entitled Grandes Exitos En Español; and "Qué Tiempo Tan Feliz (Those Were The Days)" stands out as a highlight of this two-fer CD. The musical arrangement reflects good judgment but it is played softly enough so that Matt's vocals remain in the spotlight--great! I predict that you will enjoy "Qué Tiempo Tan Feliz (Those Were The Days)" very, very much. "Nacida Libre (Born Free)" is a Matt Monro instant classic; and when Matt sings this in Spanish he infuses it with a special style that once again makes this ballad all his own! "No Me Dejes (If You Go Away)" showcases Matt's talent to deliver a sensitive, passionate number to perfection in the Spanish language. Impressive!
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. "La Perla Y El Rubí (The Ruby And The Pearl) ends the CD with a wistful, sensitive ballad that Matt performs flawlessly. Terrific!
The liner notes include replications of the record album artwork and you get the song credits, too. I would have liked an essay about Matt Monro but this is a minor disappointment.
Matt Monro will always be remembered fondly as one of the greatest entertainers of the twentieth century. Matt's legacy lives on through his artistry; and this album more than proves that.
I highly recommend this CD for fans of Matt Monro; and fans of classic pop vocals will enjoy this even if their Spanish is less than perfect. Matt's performance is THAT good. In addition, people who like classic pop vocals performed in Spanish will cherish this album for years to come.
Enjoy!
"
Track Listings (24) - Disc #1