Search - Susannah Mccorkle :: No More Blues

Quality jazz from a fine singer

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 06/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although Susannah had a lot of sadness in her life and ultimately committed suicide, the recording of this album appears to have happened during a happy period if the song selection is to be believed.While Susannah has recorded several albums devoted to particular composers, this is one of her eclectic albums drawn from a variety of sources. Fascinating rhythm (a top ten hit for Cliff Edwards in 1925 and frequently covered in the years since then) is perhaps the most famous song here. One of two tracks composed by George and Ira Gershwin (the other is Who cares), it opens the album and sets the mood, although more up-tempo than most of the material here.Among the other great songs here are Swing that music (Louis Armstrong), Do nothing till you hear from me (Duke Ellington), Breezing along with the breeze (a Dizzy Gillespie song that was a number one hit for Johnny Marvin in 1926), Don't let the sun catch you crying (Ray Charles) and Everything's been done before (Louis Armstrong). This is, as some of the song titles suggest, a much more cheerful album than usual for Susannah but is of the same high quality as all her other original albums, all of which I've now reviewed except for a Harry Warren tribute that has never been released on CD.If you are new to Susannah's music, you could buy one of her compilation albums, but each of her albums has its own identity. This album would make an excellent introduction to Susannah's music."

A great album - fresh and exciting look at old favourites

Peter Durward Harris | 11/04/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mainly 30's and 40's rehash of old romantic favoutites, but done with a fresh and lively flavour, that brings it right up to date. Thouroghly enjoyable and something you can listen to again and again. The best easy going listening."

Chases Away the Blues

Don A. Frascinella | The City By The Bay, USA | 09/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Susannah has done so much for her fans over the years by giving them some wonderful tunes of all types. Although she could not chase away her own blues, she helps us chase away ours with this delightful CD, which is a a series of uptempo and breezy tunes that will play great in your car or in your home.As she usualy does, Susannah choses songs from a wide variety of composers. The title tune, by Jobim is a standout. Susannah continues her love for Gershwin by giving us a couple of his efforts - "Fascinating Rhythm" and "Who Cares". And we get a song from Satchmo - "Swing That Music" and of course, the Duke, with "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me". Dizzy Gillespie's "Breezin' Along with the Breeze" just about sums it all up and is one of my favorites. And finally, "Can't Take You Nowhere", by Dave Frishberg (who is heard on piano on this one and plays on seeveral of Susannah's CDs (Aside - Dave Frishberg is an artist worth checking out. If you've heard Peel Me A Grape, Quality Time and Van Lingle Mungo, you know who this is). Her duet with him on "Everything's Been Done Before" is definitetly worth hearing. There is also a song titled "P.S. I Love You", which is not the Beatles song but a beautiful and poignant song written by Johnny Mercer in the 1930's. Listen to the lyrics and they are just as relevant today as when they were written nearly 70 years ago. We were very fortunate to have had among us an artist like Susannah McCorkle who had enormous talent and who could seemingly handle any type of song given to her. We should be grateful that she was able to introduce us to the works of so many composers and with her help, many of them found a new popularity. It is wonderful that so many of these great songs, written so many years ago, have survived and we have Susannah and others to thank for it."