Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart! BRAVO, JONI JAMES !!!
Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 04/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Joni Swings Sweet/Bossa Nova Style is a fantastic twofer CD that features all of the tracks from two of Joni's record albums entitled Joni Sings Sweet and Joni James Bossa Nova Style. The quality of the sound is very good; and I like the artwork, too.
The track set begins with a stunning rendition of "Somebody Loves Me." This has a big band style musical arrangement and Joni never sounded better! She was always one of my very favorite singers; and this proves why beyond any doubt. "After You're Gone" gets an interesting treatment with a tempo that I haven't heard before I heard this album; Joni nevertheless aces this perfectly and the brass enhances the natural beauty of this number. Moreover, "Sentimental Journey" glistens like gold when Joni James sings this to perfection. Joni sings with all her might and you can tell it's true when you hear her belt this one out!
"Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart" is a number Judy Garland liked to sing; and Judy would have been proud of Joni's rendition of this classic love song. "It Had To be You" features Joni's vocals front and center--just where they're supposed to be! Joni never sings a superfluous note; and her delivery of "It Had To be You" has just the right tempo and key changes to make this a beautiful, most romantic interpretation of this stunning love song. You're bound to enjoy it.
"You Make Me Feel So Young" celebrates the joys of finding your one true love; and listen also for Joni to perform "I Could Have Danced All Night" with all her heart and soul. The effect of Joni singing slightly away from the microphone works well for this number. Listen also for "While We're Young;" Joni sings this with great sensitivity and every minute of this song is heavenly to listen to--over and over again!
"The Girl From Ipanema" gets just the right treatment from Joni who sings this just slightly off key which, believe it or not, actually enhances the natural beauty of this classic ballad. The music also is mighty fine on "The Girl From Ipanema."
"My Romance" sounds like silk when Joni sings this; I love Joni's version of this ballad. The strings are used to great advantage on "My Romance;" and the album concludes very nicely with Joni singing her heart out on "You're Nearer." This lesser known love song is really very pretty and it makes a great ending for this twofer CD by the great Joni James.
Joni James deserves more recognition that she gets; her talents are grossly underrated. However, there's an easy antidote for that--just pick up a CD or two of hers today and listen! You'll be spellbound just as I was when I first heard Joni sing. I heartily recommend this for Joni's fans; and people who like classic pop vocals are going to love this album for years to come.
"
Joni Swings Sweet (CD to replace LP)
James C. Owen | TX | 09/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first time I went to a foreign nation I was right out of the service and I could find only two records in English; "Joni Swings Sweet' LP and a Neil Sadaka LP -this was long before CD's came around. So now I have a GREAT recording of one of my favorite LP's that I can play anytime I like."
Track Listings (24) - Disc #1