Search - Joanie Sommers :: Here There & Everywhere

Expensive, but worth it

Dennis Petticoffer | Orange, CA United States | 12/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It has been more than ten years since Joanie Sommers released an album of new music, but it was worth the wait. This album features Joanie's distinctive vocal interpretations of moody, late night music, leavened with some lighter uptempo tunes. Her longtime arranger, Bob Florence, provides solid charts, and the Bob Florence Trio plays sparingly, never overshadowing the main instrument: Joanie's amazing voice.



The album opens with "Close Enough for Love," a slow, smokey ballad from the soundtrack of the motion picture "Agatha" (1998). It segues neatly to Van Morrison's "Moon Dance," which melds with the Lennon-McCartney title tune. I always thought the title tune was great because of the harmonies the Beatles added to it, but Joanie proves that even without the harmonies, it is intrinsically beautiful. Her interpretation is quite unique, and highly flattering.



Joanie includes two great Hank Mancini originals, "The Days of Wine & Roses" and "Dreamsville," from "Peter Gunn." The latter tune was covered by Sarah Vaughan many years back. Another highlight is "Pure Imagination," a Newley-Bricusse composition from "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory."



For those who prefer rock to jazz, Joanie has also released a charming album called "Johnny Got Angry." Like this one, it's only available in Japan (at steep prices) but worth seeking. As "Here, There & Everywhere" proves, Joanie Sommers should be crooning along with the likes of Rod Stewart and Diana Krall on adult contemporary radio, but for now she'll just have to be our little secret."