Search - Rosemary Clooney :: Greatest Songs

Good--but way too brief (three and one-half stars)

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 05/19/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Greatest Songs by Rosemary Clooney is apparently yet another stingy CD from Curb Records who insist that any artists of any value out there couldn't possibly have had more than ten or eleven hits ever during their career! This time it's Rosemary Clooney's ill fortune to be chopped up by this record label. What we do get on this CD is excellent music; but there's just not enough here for Curb to honestly call this a "greatest hits" collection. Fortunately, at least the sound quality is good and the artwork is nice, too.



"Hey There" starts the CD off with Rosemary Clooney delivering this like the champ and songbird that she always was and still remains! It is numbers like "Hey There" that prove just how special Rosemary Clooney was. Incredible! In addition, "Come On-A My House" was a huge hit for Rosemary; this has an infectiously upbeat and catchy melody ands the keyboard work includes some mighty fine organ playing! Excellent! "Come On-A My House" is clearly a major highlight of this album and Rosemary Clooney sings this fast paced song with all her heart and loads of positive energy! In addition, there's also "Half As Much;" "Half As Much" again lets Rosemary showcase her exceptional vocal talents and I'm very impressed.



"This Ole House" was another Rosemary Clooney hit that set her apart from so many other average recordings artists; "This Ole House" has a great melody and Rosemary never sounded better! Her voice is as clear as a bell and that amazes me; she really had talent! Listen also for Rosemary Clooney doing a smash-up job on "Botch-A Me (Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina);" "Botch-A Me (Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina)" is yet another unforgettable tune with its fine arrangement and Rosemary handle tempo changes like the pro she was and still remains! "Botch-A Me (Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina)" is one of my very favorite songs on this album.



"How Are Things In Glocca Morra" is a number I first heard sung by Bing Crosby; but when Rosemary sings this out I'm sure she must have made Bing proud! "How Are Things In Glocca Morra" is a classic pop vocal song that I always liked and I could never tire of hearing Rosemary perform this wonderful ballad. "I Will Follow You" continues to showcase Rosemary Clooney's fine talent; "I Will Follow You" is very pretty in its own special way and it makes a fine addition to this ever so brief album.



"A Hundred Years From Today" gets a brilliant treatment from Rosemary Clooney; and the CD ends strong with Rosemary performing "Look To The Rainbow." "Look To The Rainbow" makes a fine ending for this album and it leaves you wanting more!



Rosemary Clooney was so talented that it's truly a shame that this Curb Records release didn't do her more justice by adding at least one or two more songs. Shame on them! However, this CD may still have a purpose as being good for the casual fan and newcomers just discovering the artistry of Rosemary Clooney might want to start with this as a type of "starter CD."

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