Search - Blossom Dearie :: Whisper for You

Expensive whispers

Hoc Stercus | Hudson, NY USA | 12/28/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This made-in-Japan Polydor CD is actually a compilation of two earlier Blossom Dearie recordings. The first twelve tracks come from a 1970 Fontana release entitled "Just the Way I Want to Be," and the remaining tracks come from a 1957 Verve recording entitled "Give Him the Ooh-la-la" (which you can buy separately by itself from Amazon). Since I already have the "Give Him the Ooh-la-la" CD, my primary interest was in the first twelve tracks. Some like "Hey John" and "Sweet Georgie Fame" are available on several other of Ms. Dearie's CD's. Some like "Both Sides Now" and "Dusty Springfield" seem unique to this production. While the remastering of this material is first-rate, there is only one song among the first twelve that I really like: "Both Sides Now." She gives it just the right touch. I was looking forward to hearing "Yesterday When I Was Young," and was disappointed to hear an arrangement where she just "bops" her way through it with no regard for the meaning of the lyrics. If you don't have the "Give Him the Ooh-la-la" CD, this recording may be worth the money. Otherwise, you may find it an expensive disappointment."

Be careful. Be very, very careful.

Hoc Stercus | Hudson, NY USA | 12/28/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Back in 1957 Ms. Dearie recorded an album for Verve enitled "Give Him the Ooh-la-la." (It can now be purchased as a CD from Amazon.com). In 1970 she issued a recording on the Fontana label entitled "That's Just the Way I Want It to Be." This present CD is a compilation of those two albums.My primary interest in this production was is the handful of songs which can be found on no other Blossom Dearie album. Regretfully I heard only one number among the unfamiliar material that had that magical Blossom Dearie touch: "Both Sides Now." The other "new" tracks left a lot to be desired. In the final analysis, the cost of obtaining one additional great Blossom Dearie track for my collection proved to be quite dear indeed. By the way, if sound quality matters to you, I will grant the remastering job on this production is quite well done."