Search - Martha Raye :: Sweetheart of Song: It's Swingtime With Martha Raye

Swing and sway with Martha Raye !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 05/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sweetheart of Song: It's Swingtime With Martha Raye has some excellent tunes recorded for the Armed Forces by Martha Raye during World War Two. The sound quality is pretty good considering the age of these recordings; and the artwork is very well done.



"Honeysuckle Rose" starts with Martha talking a few lines before she breaks into song--and when she does sing, this number truly takes flight! Martha's voice is in excellent form and she never sings a superfluous note! The big band style arrangement enhances the beauty of "Honeysuckle Rose," too. "Blue Skies" sounds new and fresh even all these years later; this is great dancing music even today! Martha sounds great and in fact I don't know that she ever sounded better! Martha really opens up on this number to showcase the wide vocal range she was fortunate enough to have.



"Summertime" comes from Porgy And Bess; Martha plays with the tempo and adds a few minor key changes to put her own stamp on this timeless number. Martha Raye sings this with panache and this will impress you if you haven't heard Martha Raye sing "Summertime" before. There's also Martha doing a fine job on "I'm Gonna Dance With A Dolly With A Hole In Her Stocking;" Martha swings gently to make this number a very special one. "I'm Gonna Dance With A Dolly With A Hole In Her Stocking" is a major highlight of this album and just one listen proves why!



"My Melancholy Baby" certainly gets the royal treatment from Martha Raye who sings this with heart and soul; and the big band arrangement throws us some sharp tempo changes just to spice up the number a bit--it does work well with this arrangement. In addition, listen for "(I Got A Woman Crazy For Me) She's Funny That Way;" Martha changes "she" to "he" and this number truly strikes me with its natural beauty. I really like "(I Got A Woman Crazy For Me) She's Funny That Way."



"I Can't Get Started With You" is another classic pop vocal that Martha delivers with heart and soul; Martha never misses a beat and the music that accompanies her fits in perfectly with her vocals. "I Can't Get Started With You" is a fine highlight of this CD. There's also Martha doing her usual outstanding best on "That Old Feeling;" I always loved this timeless love song and Martha delivers this with a grand big band arrangement that lacks nothing--it's THAT good.



The CD also ends well with Martha Raye performing "You're In The Army Now;" this song certainly was timely when Martha recorded it for the Armed Force during World War Two! Martha makes good on this number and I am amazed at how well she does this number.



Martha Raye fans will love this CD; and this CD is also a fine choice for people who like classic pop vocals and music from the 1940s.



Enjoy!

"

THE G.I.'S SWEETHEART--COL. MAGGIE

Danny R. Proctor | MADISON, TN United States | 06/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From World War II through Vietnam, Martha Raye logged more time entertaining troops overseas than any other entertainer. It's said she spent more time in Vietnam than anyone who was actually enlisted.
This radio broadcast was yet another way for Martha Raye to entertain and it's specifically geared to American troops far away from home. Her bright banter between songs was her way of giving the listeners a touch of home.
Martha Raye can handle swing or a ballad with equal control and definitely puts her heart and soul into every cut on this album. When she introduces the band, you'll be amazed at the million-dollar talent on board.
A wonderful find and a rare treat for listeners who only remember Miss Raye as the lady with the big mouth on the Polident commercials."