Search - Buddy Greco :: Big Band and Ballads/Buddy's in a Brand New Bag/Away We Go

When Buddy is great, he's fantastic!

Tim H. Roehm | San mateo | 06/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When it comes to lounge singers and pop vocalists, Buddy Greco is often overlooked. And I'm not sure why. I will say this: He has recorded so much material over the past 50 plus years, and some of it, frankly, is mediocre. However, he has indeed done some great stuff, and the LP Big Band & Ballads is as good as it gets! (I will say this, too: the other TWO LPs that are included seriously pale in comparison! I won't even bother talking about them).

I originally bought a used copy this vinyl disc (you know, the old-fashioned 33 1/3 LP) at a garage sale about five years ago. The guy selling it said, "Gee, I hate to part with that one, but I've got nothing to play it on." I took it home and quickly discovered one of the best cocktail records of all time! (If someone knows a better one, please tell me!) It opens with the swinging "Wild Is Love". It was a few years later that I realized that Nat "King" Cole had recorded an earlier version. Buddy's version, however, is far superior than Nat's (and that is some kind of compliment, but true, none the less!)

Next is "It's a Beautiful Evening", which, incidently was penned by the same duo that wrote "Wild is Love". I have never heard of "Wayne/Rasch" before or since, but their TWO songs are superb. Everything else on this LP is gravy... Nice gravy, indeed!

Buddy's smooth and humorous rendition of "Girl Talk" is next. Then comes the poignant "I Only Miss Her, When I Think of Her". "Watch What Happens" is next, and it, too, is a gem-mint ten! The piano with strings solo is way too cool! Rounding out "side one" is the punchy "What Did I Have That I Don't Have". Buddy's version of "L-O-V-E" pales compared to NKC's definitive classic, but he picks up the quality pace with "Funny (Not Much)" and carries right on through to the final cut, "Satin Doll". So many factors go into making this such a superb record. Song selection, arrangements, vocals (of course), and playing order of tunes.

I am so excited to own this recod in CD form, that I can hardly express myself without using silly superlatives, but then that should be an indication of how great this record is. There are a few listenable tunes on the other two LP's that are included, but Big Band & Ballads is all you really need... that and a nice cocktail and someone to share this fine mood music. Indeed, Watch What Happens! (By the way: I will insist on having "It's a Beautiful Evening" played at any wedding reception that I'm paying for -- And I do have three daughters!)



"

Love's gonna live here again

H D. MEIJ | Jipsinghuizen, Holland | 10/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At last the Cd version of Buddy's Lp's recorded for the Reprise label. I prefer the Away we go and Big Band & Ballads albums. It would have been a great idea to issue the Reprise singles from Buddy Greco at the second CD. It's just about 35 minutes!.

The arrangement's from Allyn Ferguson are splendid."

Mixed blessing

P. S. Arnott | New Zealand | 11/26/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD because the "Big Bands" LP was a winner in the '60s and it was a bit of nostalgia. Horrified to hear him in the other two discs,

not suiting Buddy at all. If the big band CD had been on its own I'd have given it 5 stars. Incidentally it's not "Gigi" on disc two- it's Dindi (Jobim), pronounced "jinji" so what do the producers know?"