Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive - Nancy LaMott, Arlen, Harold
That Old Black Magic - Nancy LaMott, Arlen, Harold
On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe - Nancy LaMott, Mercer, Johnny
Days of Wine and Roses/Whistling Away the Dark - Nancy LaMott, Mancini, Henry
Come Rain or Come Shine - Nancy LaMott, Arlen, Harold
Talk to Me Baby - Nancy LaMott, Dolan, Robert Emmet
Autumn Leaves/When October Goes - Nancy LaMott, Kosma, Joseph
Hit the Road to Dreamland - Nancy LaMott, Arlen, Harold
P.S. I Love You - Nancy LaMott, Jenkins, Gordon [1]
As an interpreter, Nancy LaMott shunned extremes. Whatever clouds may have darkened the sky, she always sounded as if they couldn't possibly lead to a thunderstorm--only a gentle rain that would eventually becomes, well, s... more »hine. And so her tribute to lyricist Johnny Mercer typically avoids emotional extremes, exploring instead subtle in-betweens. The low-key version of "Moon River" that starts things off is indicative of this album's subdued mood. LaMott was well aware she wasn't a swinger, so her take on finger-snapping classics such as "Accentuate the Positive" (instead of the song's usual spelling "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate") and "That Old Black Magic" is sensitive rather than jazzily buoyant. Her minimalist approach reaps maximum rewards on "P.S. I Love You" and "On the Atchison, Topeka & the Santa Fe," on which she basically engages in duets with carefully selected instruments (an acoustic guitar and a stand-up bass, respectively). --Elisabeth Vincentelli« less
As an interpreter, Nancy LaMott shunned extremes. Whatever clouds may have darkened the sky, she always sounded as if they couldn't possibly lead to a thunderstorm--only a gentle rain that would eventually becomes, well, shine. And so her tribute to lyricist Johnny Mercer typically avoids emotional extremes, exploring instead subtle in-betweens. The low-key version of "Moon River" that starts things off is indicative of this album's subdued mood. LaMott was well aware she wasn't a swinger, so her take on finger-snapping classics such as "Accentuate the Positive" (instead of the song's usual spelling "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate") and "That Old Black Magic" is sensitive rather than jazzily buoyant. Her minimalist approach reaps maximum rewards on "P.S. I Love You" and "On the Atchison, Topeka & the Santa Fe," on which she basically engages in duets with carefully selected instruments (an acoustic guitar and a stand-up bass, respectively). --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 06/28/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This was the first Nancy Lamott album I purchased, after hearing her do "Moon River" live on the Charles Grodin show. A week later she was dead. Unfortunately, her recordings nearly suffered the same fate, apparently the result of legal problems surrounding her estate. I considered myself lucky to have latched on to them before they temporarily went out of circulation. They're back, but for how long? The combination of her luminous, crystal-clear voice, passionate yet intelligent interpretations, and Johnny Mercer's timeless musical poetry makes this album indispensable if not "urgent" for any serious collector of the art of American popular song. I would place it just slightly behind "My Foolish Heart" among the spare but priceless recordings she left behind."
Beautiful and moving
L. Blatt | Maplewood, NJ United States | 08/29/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"American standards, intelligently delivered with well-thought-through arrangements. The highlight, for me, is one of the few recordings of both parts of "Hit the Road to Dreamland," as it was originally written for the movies. I wasn't familiar with the haunting "Whistling in the Dark" until I heard her sing it; it's wonderful. There isn't a bad cut on the CD. Her untimely death was a tragedy, but her voice and sense of style will live on in this must-have CD."
Nancy sings standards like they were supposed to be sung!
L. Blatt | 06/17/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Many have tried to sing these old familiar songs; few have succeeded in doing so. Nancy achieved something that most could not: honest, informed, and thoughtful interpretation. She didn't change them; she made them better."
My encounter with Nancy
Kyran Connelly | Bensalem, PA USA | 03/22/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In the winter of 1994, having been a Nancy Lamott fan for a number of years, I was thrilled to find out that she was appearing at a now long departed (and greatly lamented) cabaret atop the Bellvue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. It was a intimate room with great sound and no bad seats. I was lucky enough to get a table for my wife and me that placed us no more than 6 feet from the small stage. About halfway through the performance, Nancy asked for requests. I sheepishly blurted out, "How about the 'Autumn Leaves/When October Goes' medley". She gave me a knowing smile and then proceeded to quietly send the room to a place we had never been before. It was magical. Shortly thereafter, the performance ended and I waited a short time to thank Nancy as she spoke to some folks near the stage. Their conversation went on a bit longer than I expected and my wife and the rest of our party began to get impatient. So, I left without the chance to thank her. After all, I'd see her the next time she was in the area. Well, as we all know, there wouldn't be a next time. All too soon, she was gone. I'll always regret that small impatient moment. Please don't you let yourself regret this chance to hear a once in a lifetime talent. That magical medley is on this album. Before some idiot lets her recordings go out of print again or the "downloadistas" take over what's left of the recording business, buy this CD and every other one of hers you can get your hands on. She was touched by God and now she's with him. But a small echo of her essence remains in these recordings."