Search - Rosemary Clooney :: The Classic Rosemary Clooney

Nice compilation of Rosie's second career stage...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 12/18/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This disc has 14 songs from Rosie's RCA Victor releases in 1958, '59, '60, '6l, and '62. She is in super voice throughout, but the selections cover at least five different styles, which is why I did not grant five stars. On a few of the tunes, she is accompanied by the now-infamous "backing vocals by a chorus" which was a popular '50's technique to soup up the sound. Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash and Elvis all suffered from similar production mistakes in that era. I was in high school back then, and I didn't know any better either. Nowadays the unadorned voice of the star, with only instrumental accompaniment, is valued more highly. Her duets here with Bing are great, and the songs without the choir are great. A couple have a Latin jazz feel which is perhaps too heavily applied, and a couple are country and western standards given a "pop" gloss. So this is a mixed bag, as are all compiled discs...yet it's not a bad bag at all. Some real gems are here: "Give Me the Simple Life" and "April in Paris" and "Too Marvelous for Words" and "I Get Along Without You Very Well" are super. Rosemary had a distinctive, warm tone with superb diction and phrasing. This disc represents her in early maturity, before the demons of drugs and alcohol put her in a 15-year decline. In her early Columbia years she was used more for novelty and nonsense songs. Her late career she spent as an "artiste" who distained large sales although the work was often great. This package was inbetween those extremes, and therefore, very much in the mainstream. For fans of great girl singers, her death earlier this year was a huge loss. Rosemary, we won't "Get Along Without You Very Well" but we are grateful for the preservation on record of your gifts."

I only have EARS for Rosemay

Anna M. Allred | Talbott, TN USA | 10/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Truthfully, I purchased this CD becuase of "I Only Have Eyes" for you, which had me addicted thanks to its appearance in a tv commercial for some medication. At any rate, this CD is a treasure. It contains a lot of upbeat, Latin inspired selections. I never skip any of the songs when I am listening in my car. The only bad thing I can say is that it makes me miss the great talent of Rosemary Clooney so much!"

Rosemary at her best!

John Dziadecki | Louisville, CO USA | 03/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a treasure throve selection of Clooney's RCA 1958-1962 recordings. Rosemary is in her vocal prime. Abetted by Bob Thompson, Billy May, Perez Prado and Nelson Riddle, this diverse grouping of styles works well for this disc. The main thing here is the voice and Rosemary's voice is breezy, bouncy and personable. Two tracks from the Crosby/Clooney "Fancy Meeting You Here" are infectous highlights on this toe-tapping excursion. This, indeed, is the classic Rosemary Clooney.



Packaging and presentation are great. The four page insert has very informative liner notes and six photos. My only complaint here is the short playing time of 35 minutes. RCA has 100 years of music and they couldn't include a few more of their own Rosemary tracks? Still, what's here sounds great. Really great. Highly recommended."