Search - Annette Hanshaw :: Ain't She Sweet

How sweet she is !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 06/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ain't She Sweet has twenty-seven wonderful songs all performed by Annette Hanshaw, a true songbird who was quite popular in the early part of the twentieth century. Annette had a voice that was as clear as a bell; she always made everything she sang just beautiful. The quality of the sound on this CD is pretty good considering the age of these recordings; and I like the artwork, too.



"Thinking of You" begins the track set with Annette singing sweetly; and that musical accompaniment fits perfectly with Annette's vocals. Terrific! "Am I Blue" gets the royal treatment from Annette; she sings this early classic with panache and I'm very impressed. I really like "Am I Blue" and it's a major highlight of this album. In addition, "The Song Is Ended" features Annette handling tempo and key changes like a pro, and listen for Annette to do a splendid job on "There Must Be Somebody Else." "There Must Be Somebody Else" is timeless; Annette sings this with all her heart and soul. "Tip Toe through the Tulips" is yet another classic; and I really like "That's Why I Love You." "That's Why I Love You" has Annette Hanshaw squarely front and center--right where she belongs! "That's Why I Love You" is very pretty. "I'm Gonna Meet My Sweetie Now" gets a very spirited arrangement although "You're the Cream in My Coffee" has some surface noise. Fortunately, the surface noise doesn't interfere with my ability to enjoy this tune. Annette handles it all very well.



"Ain't He Sweet" is, of course, the female version of "Ain't She Sweet;" and I love it when Annette sings this flawlessly! "Little White Lies" is another early classic that Annette aces as effortlessly as if it were mere breathing--but of course we know it really wasn't so easy; Annette's talent always carried her through. The piano on "Little White Lies" is just perfect for that arrangement, too. "Walking My Baby Back Home" is easy on the ear and romantic at once; "Walking My Baby Back Home" is another big hit on this CD. Moreover, "I Wanna Be Loved by You" helps once again to showcase Annette's talent; Annette delivers this to perfection--and beyond! Annette couldn't have done this any better.



"My Idea of Heaven" is very pretty and romantic; and I love to hear Annette perform "Just Like a Butterfly." She sings this closer to the higher portion of her vocal range and despite some surface noise Annette's performance is terrific. "Rosy Cheeks" is another tune with a fine piano arrangement; and there's yet another bright gem when Annette sings "Body and Soul." "Body and Soul" has Annette delving deep into this ballad to make it very special; and it all holds its own very well. "Nuthin'" has another terrific arrangement and the CD ends very well with Annette Hanshaw performing "Button up Your Overcoat." I always liked "Button up Your Overcoat" and when Annette sings this it leaves nothing to be desired--this music is all THAT good.



Annette Hanshaw deserves to be remembered so much more than she is. Hopefully that will change with sales of her albums like this one. I highly recommend this for her fans; and people who like pop and jazz music from the early part of the twentieth century will not be disappointed."

She is.

Nina Shishkoff | Mount Airy, MD | 10/02/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Annette Hanshaw had a nice voice, but not much technique, yet she managed to turn that to her advantage. She was the girl-next-door who grew up into a slightly naughty flapper. She's best in artless, sweet songs ("walking my baby back home", "lovable and sweet" "fit as a fiddle"), but she could also take a racy song and make it strangely wholesome ("six feet of papa"). She had limitations- she doesn't sound like she's ever suffered, and so isn't very believable in "Body and Soul". Still, she represents a unique voice in jazz: she didn't copy african-american vocal styles, but she swings nonetheless."