Search - Various Artists :: Live From Las Vegas

Live from Las Vegas

D. Reider | Orange County, CA | 03/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A great collection of the best in the classic popular vocalists. The so-called entertainers of today can learn a great deal from these giants of the past. To hear these performers and realize the music comes from lounges and showrooms of some of the great Vegas hotels of the past is something to cherish forever. Get this CD and fantasize about these immortal singers by imagining you are in the audience."

This CD will make your Lucky Day !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 07/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is one of a set of CDs that was produced in 2005 for the centennial celebration of Las Vegas. Fortunately for all of us, this CD has singing and instrumental music that does great justice to that era when "The Strip" was fresh and incredibly vibrant for the first time ever. The recordings on this CD also help us to remember those good times people had when they needed a place to go and forget their problems. Sure, some people may be against gambling--I don't do it myself--but that isn't the product being reviewed here. I'm reviewing the CD; and it's one heck of a CD with fantastic recordings to celebrate the glamour of Las Vegas and even the great nightclubs of ALL the hottest cities!



These recordings are crystal clear and lovingly remastered by Dave McEowen at Capitol Mastering in Hollywood. You would never know these artists made these recordings decades ago! Frank Sinatra sings "Luck Be A Lady;" Dean Martin does a great medley of "Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes/I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine/I Love Vegas (Paris);" and Keely Smith performs "I've Got You Under My Skin." Sublime!



Judy Garland fans will also delight when they hear her sing "Lucky Day," released for the first time ever on this CD. A real plus--she attacks that song with POW!



There is also the theme of "luck" running through the song set. Of course, this is a reference to the gambling aspect of the Las Vegas experience. For example, Sinatra sings "Luck Be A Lady;" The Buddy Rich Big Band performs "Mr. Lucky;" Judy Garland belts out "Lucky Day;" and Louis Prima with Sam Butera and The Witnesses does a great job with "Greenback Dollar Bill." It's all very well done; and the musical arrangements are excellent.



The liner notes include a brief history of each of the hotels and clubs where these recordings were made and there are a couple of great black and white shots of Vegas at that time. You don't get the song lyrics but these artists sing everything so clearly that you really don't need them anyway.



In short, this CD is great entertainment and a great piece of the centennial tribute to the city of Las Vegas. I highly recommend this CD for fans of that era on "The Strip;" fans of classic pop vocals and fans of The Rat Pack as many of the Rat Pack members are featured on this CD. Get this CD and enjoy!

"