All I Do Is Dream Of You - Louis Prima, Brown, Nacio Herb
Make Love to Me - Louis Prima,
I Don't Know Why - Louis Prima, Angelle, Lisa
Tea for Two - Louis Prima, Caesar, Irving
And the Angels Sing - Louis Prima, Elman, Ziggy
I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) - Louis Prima, Daugherty, Doc
Why Do I Love You? - Louis Prima, Hammerstein, Oscar
You're My Everything - Louis Prima, Dixon, Mort
Cheek to Cheek - Louis Prima, Berlin, Irving
I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face - Louis Prima,
Bei Mir Bist du Schön - Louis Prima, Cahn, Sammy
Louis Prima and wife Keely Smith released several collaborations, but this 1960 import reissue showcases one of their very best. Recorded for Dot Records in 1960, Louis & Keely features the duo performing swinging roma... more »ntic tunes such as "Night and Day," "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)," and "And the Angels Sing." Smith's vocal talents are at their peak (she overpowers Prima on several numbers), and the band is in top form. Prima was a master at transforming tried-and-true vocal standards into powerful jazzy numbers; this disc is no exception. The album closer "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon" is one of the pair's finest moments. Though the remastering isn't the greatest, these tunes sound far from dated. One of Prima's best. --Jason Verlinde« less
Louis Prima and wife Keely Smith released several collaborations, but this 1960 import reissue showcases one of their very best. Recorded for Dot Records in 1960, Louis & Keely features the duo performing swinging romantic tunes such as "Night and Day," "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)," and "And the Angels Sing." Smith's vocal talents are at their peak (she overpowers Prima on several numbers), and the band is in top form. Prima was a master at transforming tried-and-true vocal standards into powerful jazzy numbers; this disc is no exception. The album closer "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon" is one of the pair's finest moments. Though the remastering isn't the greatest, these tunes sound far from dated. One of Prima's best. --Jason Verlinde
"The first Dot installment from 1960, this is without a doubt the BEST Louis and Keely collaboration. I was expecting much less from this album, and was pleasantly surprised. Some of the outstanding work can be found on "All I do is Dream of You," in which Keely sings to Louis' trumpet playing. Fantastic!! Their vocal blend on "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon" is fantastic, the arrangement sounds similar to Prima's old duet with Lily Ann Carol on "Hitsum Kitsum Bumpity Itsum" (I believe that's right). The duo is just outstanding, even Butera and his boys do their best. Bobby Morris shines in backing up Louis on "You're My Everything," while Sam and Lou Sino do their beeps and bops to fill out the sound, when the band still featured Les Paul guitarist Bobby Roberts. An outstanding CD, anyway it's looked at. There is even sentimental bliss in their version of "Cheek to Cheek." Check it out!!"
Delightful, slightly weird, but a little staid
madamemusico | Cincinnati, Ohio USA | 07/06/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Louis and Keely were one of the hottest acts in show business during the 1950s and very early '60s, and this is one of their last (and best) collaborations together. As usual, Prima's weird energy and hot jazz inflections spice up the gorgeous but otherwise slightly bland singing of Smith. I especially love the double-time riffs, Prima's rhythmic energy and the use of "Things Ain't What they Used to Be" as a riff in "Make Love to Me" and "I Don't Know Why" (and, in the latter song, a strange sort of New Orleans-styled Italianish pig latin), but I would have enjoyed him playing trumpet obbligato on more than just two tunes, and I miss the hot, mad tenor sax of Sam Butera so evident on the Capitol recordings. Still, for what it is this is a delightful album, and I guarantee that at least half of the tracks will remain in your memory a long time after this disc has finished."
Amazing talent - a great collection for Louis and Keely fans
glassgirl10 | Missouri | 02/19/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I saw the movie 'Hey Girl, Hey Boy' and was bowled over by the movie. I picked this CD because it seemed to emulate the movie's music the best. I was not disappointed.Keely Smith has got to have one of the best voices ever. Add the contrast of Louis Armstrong's...I mean, Prima's and you've got a winning combination. New Orleans style jazz with cool, hip vocals. Their style is fun and funny. What's more...you can get a sense of their personalities in the music. You also will hear their artistic interpretation of the standards they've selected to perform.Night and Day and Bie Mier Bist Du Schon were among the highlights. Also features Sam Butera and the Whipsers....a big plus right there."
For Appreciating Prima's More Subtle Styling Skills
Vranjo | Chicago, IL, USA | 03/04/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Louis Prima's signature mood was "zany." He could take the spark that exists in any song and turn it into a crazy fireworks show. Look at any old video of his live performances and you'll truly understand Prima's genius for creating nearly out-of-control musical wackiness. Especially with Keely Smith playing the "straight man" to Prima's kinetic on-stage persona, it's obvious why everyone who saw his shows were amazed.Yet, many of Prima's albums rely too much on madcap novelty songs, slapstick lyrics, and genre-bending interpretations. On so many albums, Prima does (amazingly) manage to get away with singing songs like "Yes We Have No Bananas," "Banana Split for My Baby," and "Beep! Beep!". But without the benefit of the visual cues that Prima brought to his live shows, I think this kind of music gets old quickly, even in the hands of a master."Louis and Keely" is an exception. For this collection of songs, Louis Prima and Keely Smith spend most of their time interpreting more classic jazz standards. Yes, they inject a lot of humor into their performances, but it is generally much more subtle than usual. And their interpretations are inventive and fresh, but not usually at the expense of losing the original song's essence. I think this is why another reviewer calls this a somewhat "staid" album - a comment I completely agree with, but particularly in relation to Prima's other stuff.I'm not sure whether a listener will appreciate the lyrical and musical humor on this album without a previous appreciation of Prima's more zany material. However, this is the only collection of Prima songs I return to again and again."
Classic Louis Prima/Keely Smith revisited. TERRIFIC!
R. Oaks | Gold Canyon, AZ USA | 09/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Many of their greatest recordings in the style that is purely Louis Prima and Keely. Until I listened to this CD I haven't had the opportunity to hear any of their unique presentations in quite some time. I had a grin on my face the entire time. Most enjoyable music and a very good quality CD. Highly recommended."