LOVELY LENA LINGERS ON SOME EXCELLENT 60's AND 90's CUTS
A. POLLOCK | PLYMOUTH, DEVON United Kingdom | 07/23/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having celebrated her 90th birthday in June, the legendary Lena remains an iconic figure with a long career dating back to her period as a dancer in the famous Cotton Club revues during the Thirties before moving on to become a solo singer with appearances with the Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway Orchestras. In Hollywood during the 40's, she sparkled in the 20th Century Fox musical melodrama STORMY WEATHER while her memorable MGM screen musicals included CABIN IN THE SKY, TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY and WORDS AND MUSIC. Later she triumphed as a supper club entertainer with stage work in JAMAICA (1958) and her 1981 one woman show, THE LADY AND HER MUSIC adding kudos to a fabulous career.
Despite involvement with the US Civil Rights Movement during the Sixties, Lena recorded some lively albums with one disc of this excellent overview devoted to tracks from three United Artists albums (FEELIN' GOOD, LENA IN HOLLYWOOD and/SOUL) released in 1965/66. Songs include up-tempo versions of new songs ON A WONDERFUL DAY LIKE TODAY, FEELIN' GOOD, HELLO YOUNG LOVERS and THE BOY(GIRL) FROM IPANEMA with tasty ballads I WANNA BE AROUND, SOFTLY AS I LEAVE YOU and a notable reading of Lennon and McCarthy's AND I LOVE HIM providing fine contrast. Fresh reinventions of oldies and goodies SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, and WILLOW WEEP FOR ME join movie songs MOON RIVER, IT HAD BETTER BE TONIGHT and IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD, with a more contemporary viewpoint proving no problem when Lena zips through the rhythmic machinations of I GOT A WORRIED MAN, Bacharach and David's WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE and a bluesy UNCHAINED MELODY.
Thirty years later, Lena's voice had mellowed and despite some loss of power, the necessary element of style, perfect phrasing and innovation still remained intact with the added attraction of an older and wiser reflection on life which transferred to some Blue Note albums and the second disc dips into some outstanding cuts from WE'LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN, AN EVENING WITH LENA HORNE, BEING MYSELF released during the 90's and SEASONS OF A LIFE in 2006. Of the songs, DAY FOLLOWS DAY has Johnny Mathis on board for a samba-styled opus and PRELUDE TO A KISS is just one of several tracks which reappraise the Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn legacy. Lena also grabs Sondheim's current OLD FRIEND but whether in recording studio or before an audience, generally prefers to look back, choosing AUTUMN IN NEW YORK, THE LADY IS A TRAMP and other standards, with naturally a reworking of her signature song, STORMY WEATHER to conclude the disc.
Other compilations may offer recordings from Lena's earlier work, but this excellent budget-priced review of her later career is a satisfying opportunity to appreciate her forward-looking approach which does much to confirm why she has enjoyed such longevity as an amazing entertainer.
"
In Memorium
Giordano Bruno | Wherever I am, I am. | 05/10/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Today's newspapers (May 10, 2010) carried the announcement that Lena Horne had died at age 92. I'm sad, not so much for her death - it comes for all of us - but for the long anguished struggle of her life. She was intelligent, talented, conscientious, beautiful... and "sepia" of complexion, as described by the producers in Hollywood who consigned her to walk-on roles in second-rate musicals. That 'sepia' constrained her life as an actress. She was too 'classy' to be tolerated by the bigots of the Land of the Free. I don't know how her last years were spent; I hope she was cognitively intact enough to rejoice at Halle Berry's Oscar (which she should have been able to win) and at Barack Obama's election. Those who scorned her because of her DNA, who deprived themselves and us of her talent, were NEVER cognitively intact. They still aren't.
Ave atque vale, Lena Horne!"
Lena Horne was always so special--BRAVO AND R.I.P., LENA HOR
Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 05/10/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Best of Lena Horne is a fine two CD set with so much of her incredible singing; and there's not a dud in the bunch! Lena could take anything and turn it into the most beautiful symphony; her ability to interpret lyrics was all that good. I am shocked and very saddened by her passing early this morning although she will live on through her great work including the songs on this two CD set. In addition, the quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done.
"On a Wonderful Day Like Today" starts the first CD with a terrific electric number that grabs my attention and never lets it go until the second CD is finished! My personal favorites include "I Wanna Be Around" is so very romantic in Lena's capable hands; "Feelin' Good" with that excellent musical arrangement; "Willow Weep for Me;" "The Girl from Ipanema" that certainly gets the royal treatment from Lena; "Softly As I Leave You" which makes great use of the strings; the classic "And I Love Him;" "Hello, Young Lovers" from "The King and I;" "Singin' In the Rain" which Lena sings with panache; "Somewhere" from "West Side Story;" the hit "Wives and Lovers" which I first heard performed by Jack Jones; "Moon River" from "Breakfast at Tiffany's;" a red hot rendition of "A Fine Romance;" "I Love Paris;" "What The World Need Now Is Love" which sounds so perfect when the great Lena Horne sings it and the first CD ends with Lena Horne performing "Unchained Melody."
Of course, this being Lena Horne, the second CD contains so many more gems. "Day Follows Day" has Lena singing with Johnny Mathis; they do this faultlessly and that's grand. "Old Friend" is very well done; and I really like the romantic and very sensitive "You're the One." "I'll Always Leave the Door a Little Open" has Lena handling complex tempo and key changes like the pro she always was; and those live recordings of songs like "Come Runnin';" "Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear from Me;" "I've Got the World on a String;" "We'll Be Together Again" and "The Lady Is a Tramp" showcase Lena's natural ability to establish a superlative rapport with her adoring audiences. I love it!
"Some of My Best Friends Are the Blues" has Lena at her usual very best; and "As Long As I Live" is very special. "Autumn in New York" and "Sleepin' Bee" are two more classics; Lena delivers these flawlessly and I'm very impressed. "How Long Has This Been Going On?" is one of the tracks with a very creative arrangement that lets Lena show off the wide range of her voice; and "Something to Live For" is not just beautiful; it's bliss. The second CD closes with Lena Horne singing her heart out on "Stormy Weather;" and it leaves me wanting more!
Lena Horne's genius was one we rarely hear and enjoy; we are so much better off for her having shared her various talents with us. This is terrific for any Lena Horne fan; and even newcomers to Lena's artistry will not be disappointed."
Track Listings (40) - Disc #1