Search - Gogi Grant :: Suddenly There's Gogi Grant

A great debut album

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 02/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a straight re-issue of Gogi's debut LP (originally released on the Era label) so although twelve tracks lasting just over half an hours may seem short for a CD, the quality makes up for that. Buddy Bregman directed and arranged the album.



The album is book-ended by Gogi's two early American hits - Suddenly there's a valley and Who are we. The first of these is the one most likely to be remembered now - many other singers recorded it including Jo Stafford, Petula Clark and Lee Lawrance, all of whom had British top twenty hits with the song (Petula made the top ten). Gogi's version didn't chart in Britain. Indeed, her only British hit was Wayward wind (a number one American hit) but it hadn't even been recorded when this album was originally released, although it was soon afterwards.



In between Suddenly there's a valley and Who are we, there are ten excellent interpretations of classic songs including Wrap your troubles in dreams, All of me, I don't want to walk without you, There will never be another you and Love is the sweetest thing.



If you enjoy classic songs sung by the finest torch singers of the fifties such as Jeri Southern, Julie London, June Christy and Peggy Lee, you will also enjoy listening to Gogi Grant. Torch time is generally regarded as Gogi's best original album. I agree, but the others (including this one) are not far behind."

A great singer's debut

Jim Andrews | Chicago, Illinois USA | 01/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gogi Grant finally broke through with "Suddenly There's A Valley" on Era when she got the kind of material and arrangements a big voice and dramatic style needed. I vaguely remember the album first coming out without "Who Are We" and then "Who Are We" replacing another track. "Who Are We" was recorded the same time as "The Wayward Wind" but "The Wayward Wind" wasn't regarded as the centerpiece of the session (amazingly). The album cover is unmistakenly an echo of the covers M-G-M Records did for Joni James and Gogi was being aimed for the same audience. With her full, rich voice; riveting attention to lyrics; and impeccable musicianship Gogi emerged a full-fledged major talent from this first effort on. Bregman was one of the best arrangers in the business and did Ella's early songbooks. He loved working with Gogi. This was her only Era album; she had been on RCA with no results but RCA was quick to grab her back and there she made even bigger music news there."