ONE OF KEELY'S BEST
F. Barton | Newport, WA USA | 06/14/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"CheroKeely Swings has got to be one of her best works, originally recorded for the DOT label. This album features HOT swinging charts by Billy May, and some of Keely's most thrilling moments captured behind a microphone. "My Heart Cries For You", which turned into a staple for her must surely make Guy Mitchell cry after he hears how Keely does it, "That Lucky Old Sun", "Stranger in Paradise", every track a gem. Billy May and Keely Smith - how COULD you go wrong?"
A Good Idea, But...
Steve Emerine | Tucson, AZ United States | 02/27/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Keely Smith is one of my favorite female vocalists, and Billy May is fine arranger, conductor and trumpet player. So this 1962 collaboration for Dot records should have been a classic package. Unfortunately, it's not as good as it could have been. Twelve ballads performed faster than the composers intended didn't work in 1962 when Keely was a household name, and they're less effective in this Jasmine reissue. The distinctive voice and phrasing are good, but the "To Each His Own," "Where Is Your Heart," "Stranger in Paradise" and the other tunes are delivered at a pace better suited for the dance bands of the early 1930s. Both Smith and May have done better, but if you're a Keely collector, you'll want this to add to your stash."
CHEROKEELY
Bennett I. Bardfeld | South Jersey | 06/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Loved this album! The politically incorrect cover was almost as great as Keely's singing!"