Search - Gogi Grant :: Her Very Best

Gogi--a wonderful singer then and now

Randal F. Kleine | Milford, OH United States | 03/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first learned about Gogi recently during a re-play of a PBS special "Pop Stars of the 1950s" recorded in 2004. Many of the singers and groups were still very good (Patti Page, the Four Coins, the Maguire Sisters, etc), but 79-year old Gogi literally knocked my socks off with her rendition of her hit, "The Wayward Wind." Hers is a stage presence rarely equalled in this day of "American Idol." I immediately ordered "Gogi Grant--Her Very Best" (all 18 tracks are superb), and now have ordered her collection of country hits' "A City Girl in the Country." My parents and my wife's parents are entering their 80s, and I distinctly remember hearing Gogi sing over the radio in the mid 1950s. What a pleasure to know she's still singing, especially since she still sings so well! Read biographies of the singers of the 1940s and 1950s--you will be amazed at how hard they worked to achieve their success, and how little they often received monetarily (compared to the manufactured singers of today). And they achieved their tremendous sound with recording equipment that is primitive by today's standards. You'll never be sorry that you ordered Gogi's CDs."

Superb collection of songs by Gogi Grant

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 06/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gogi Grant: Her Very Best has a good selection of songs by Gogi. Her voice is in excellent form and the quality of the sound couldn't be better. Gogi had the ability to sing almost anything and make it sound sweet; this CD proves it. The artwork is very nicely done.



The CD starts with one of Gogi Grant's biggest hits, "The Wayward Wind." "The Wayward Wind" features Gogi singing about a man she knew; and this is a very sweet ballad. "The Wayward Wind" is the perfect beginning for this album by Gogi and the backup singers do a fine job of harmonizing well. "Suddenly There's A Valley" is a very pretty ballad and Gogi gets to show us the operatic qualities of her voice. The backup singers do a great job but I don't think Gogi needed them on this number; she was quite capable of handling this on her own but the style of the times was to use chorus backup singers on certain songs. "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams" features Gogi front and center with a very elegant musical arrangement. The music fits in perfectly with Gogi's vocals, too.



"All Of Me" gets a fine rendition by Gogi Grant; she aces this easily as she swings gently to make this tune shine bright! There's also "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart;" Gogi sings this without a superfluous note and I really like "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart."



"I Gave You My Heart" is a torch song that Gogi delivers with panache, heart and soul. "I Gave You My Heart" is very strong and the strings are used to great advantage. This song is a major highlight of this album. "Love Is The Sweetest Thing" again showcases Gogi's sublime singing; she performs this well and the piano arrangement is rather sophisticated. "When The Tide Is High" gets the royal treatment from Gogi Grant who sings this with a fine backup chorus to enhance the beauty of this number--great!



"The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else)" is another torch song that stuns me with its beauty; I always enjoy hearing Gogi sing this with all her heart. "The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else)" is another major highlight of this album. "I'll Never Be The Same" has Gogi singing her very best and the woodwind instruments work wonders for this ballad. Gogi's voice is as clear as a bell.



"There Will Never Be Another You" is very well written and it seems that Gogi Grant would be the only female vocalist who could deliver it quite this well. The CD also ends with another solid number from Gogi, "I Don't Want To Walk Without You." This beautiful ballad is a timeless classic and I could never tire of hearing Gogi sing it! "I Don't Want To Walk Without You" gets a very elegant arrangement and it makes the perfect ending for this album.



Overall, this is a superb compilation album of just some of Gogi Grant's best songs and hits. I highly recommend this for her fans; and the casual fan just discovering Gogi Grant would do well to start with this CD. People who enjoy torch songs will also find much to like about this album.

"

Quality music from a different era

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 03/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gogi had a huge international hit with Wayward wind, topping the American charts and making the top ten in Britain, where it was her only hit. Gogi's other monster American hit, Suddenly there's a valley, failed to chart in Britain as it lost to competition from Petula Clark and Jo Stafford, both better known in Britain.



Those two classics are the first two tracks here but if you're worried about a drop in standard thereafter, fear not. Gogi was a singer of real quality and proves it with her renditions of such classics as All of me, Love is the sweetest thing, Wrap your troubles in dreams and What's new?



Gogi was either unwilling or unable to embrace rock'n'roll so her career was brief. In a different era, she would have surely made many more records than she did. Still, the quality is what counts and that's what you get from Gogi.



This compilation contains a selection of Gogi's music but, much to my surprise and delight, most of her original albums are also available on CD. This situation may not last - if you enjoy Gogi's music, make the most of the opportunity."