GOOD MUSICAL PROGRAM/UNEVEN IMPORT PRODUCTION
comtad | 05/27/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I have mixed emotions about this cd. On the one hand, the musical program is pretty decent with a mixture of both up tempo swingers and ballads. What's more, the tunes are uncommon but noetheless memorable and are given first rate arrangements and interpretations by Rosie. "With You and Me" is an extroverted up tempo romp with excellent big band accompaniment. "With the Night" is a moving, melancholy torcher with Ms. Clooney at her best. "Love Eyes" is a bawdy saloon style affair that is lustily explicit. Its raunchiness doesn't fit the rest of the program. In some ways it is reminiscent of some of the things Clooney did in the 1950's.That said, I have a couple of gripes concerning the cd production values. The cd cover says STEREO but the tunes were re-mastered in "24 bit" (Whatever that means) MONO. This album was originally available from MGM Records in stereo (I have a battered radio station copy) and the stereo version offers a much fuller and clearer sound.My last gripe is that there are no recording dates, player personnel, arranger or song credits given. All you get are copies of the original (as mentioned above, misleading) album cover with typical 1950's and 1960's pop album liner notes (the album was released in 1960). The arrangements and performances are good enough to warrant mention. But knowing MGM, it's unlikely this information was ever available. The cd itself contains a reproduction of a Verve lp label stating among other things, "microgroove" and "33 1/3 r.p.m." The cd also contains an insert with the words to the songs in both Japanese and English.So it comes down to this: I would rate the overall cd *** stars for "what you pay for v. what you get"; the music itself from *** 1/2 stars to ***** stars.In spite of what I consider the shortcomings, Rosemary Clooney fans will want this one and fans of the genre will find it rewarding."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
