Harry Connick Jr. - When Harry Met Sally: Music From The Motion Picture
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Free Music Notes for When Harry Met Sally: Music From The Motion Picture
Free Music Review: Okay, so it's not THE soundtrack....but it's good
Hit: 5 Stars
Fans of Rob Reiner's 1989 romantic comedy "When Harry Met Sally..." will tell you that this Harry Connick, Jr. album that's sold in the Movie Soundtrack section of most music emporiums (including online stores such as this) is not, in fact, from the original motion picture soundtrack. Instead, Columbia Records released this non-soundtrack as When Harry Met Sally...Music From the Motion Picture. Yes, the songs played and sung here by Connick were heard in the movie...but most of them were performed by other artists. This doesn't mean the album is bad; it's not. It just isn't an "original soundtrack album."
That having been said, this 10-track set is an enjoyable collection of romantic standards, some of them now over six decades old yet sounding timeless. Some of them are cheerful and peppy ("It Had To Be You," which is heard in two versions here), some are riffs on loneliness and separation ("But Not For Me" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"),others still are odes to romance ("I Could Write a Book" and the gently reflective "Where or When"). There is even a little bit of the holiday spirit added in for good measure (a solo piano rendition of "Winter Wonderland").
Connick pulls double duty as vocalist and piano player in most of the tracks (with the exception of "But Not For Me," with Marc Shaiman doing the honors at the piano), ably reflecting each song's emotional context with his old-fashioned stylings and New Orleans accent. Listen carefully to the World War II-era "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" and there's a sense of longing there for an absent spouse or lover. In his rendition of "Where or When," Connick conveys the feeling of awe everyone feels when he or she has fallen in love with someone, yet can't figure out "where or when" the transition occurred.
I suppose I like this album because I am, as Louis Renault said of Rick Blaine in Casablanca, a "rank sentimentalist" -- a charge to which I cheerfully plead guilty. The fact that these songs were around 30 or more years before my birth over 40 years ago and can still touch people's hearts and minds is proof that some things are indeed timeless. Connick and Shaiman (who also produced the album) chose their material well, making When Harry Met Sally....Music From the Motion Picture a fine addition to anyone's library of jazz and easy listening CDs.
Free Music Review: Harry Connick, Jr. Sings The Songs From The Motion Picture "When Harry Met Sally"
Hit: 5 Stars
"In working with Harry, not only did I have the pleasure of being exposed to this incredible talent, but I also had the experience of working with a truly wonderful person." ~ Rob Reiner ~
"When Harry Met Sally" is one of the few movies about a modern-day love story that I don't mind watching every once in a while at my fancy. And I don't mind either listening to this album every so often at my whim.
Rob Reiner is absolutely right about Mr. Connick. He is a multi-talented artist - a singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, composer rolled-into-one. Additionally, he possesses one of the most impressive voices in the music world.
This presentation opens up with "It Had To Be You," a dazzling number with Big Band arrangement that is duplicated in "I Could Write A Book" and "Love Is Here To Stay." His renditions are full of creative twists.
"But Not For Me" is a Gershwin classic that is rendered so beautifully as if the chart arrangement was borrowed from Nelson Riddle. It features Marc Shaiman on piano who also arranged and orchestrated this track, Benjamin Jonah Wolfe on bass and Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums. That's how exquisite these musicians have made this song and the interpretation is infused with classical touches that will enthrall its listeners. I have created my own Playlist for this particular song with various interpretations and this one is on top.
He is in high spirits but seems to be resolute as he sings an engaging number "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" while "When Or When" is executed with a dramatic flair that displays his cool and smooth vocals over a simple yet enchanting piano accompaniment by the singer himself. A song rendered with such heartfelt emotion is definitely a masterpiece of beauty.
This is a lovely album that is listenable every so often at your whim. Wholeheartedly recommended!
Free Music Review: When Harry Met the Soundtrack
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm amused by the editorial review which says that this album is somehow "an enigma". Let's be clear: this album was NEVER marketed as the soundtrack to WHEN HARRY MET SALLY--at least not by Sony/Columbia. Retailers may have mistakenly included the word "soundtrack" somewhere in their listings, but it ain't nowhere on the CD label itself. Instead, this is, as the cover states, "Music from the film WHEN HARRY MET SALLY". There's even a big ol' picture of Harry Connick, Jr. on the cover--which should be your first clue that he's gonna be doin' most of the work here.Clearly, this isn't meant to be a soundtrack, but an interpretation. In fact, it doesn't even include the Connick renditions of "It Had to Be You", "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off", "Love is Here to Stay", "But Not for Me", and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" which actually appear in the film (the film versions are much more up tempo). Indeed, there are only a few tracks on the entire album which have been lifted from the film. "I Could Write a Book" is the most obvious, but the voiceless "Autumn in New York" is there in the background, too.
The point is, there's no reason to be miffed at Sony/Columbia, Harry Connick, Jr. or really anyone involved with the production of this album. They haven't lied about what they were doing. Rather, they've created an innovative product that has very few equals elsewhere. Far from being a rip off, this is an unique opportunity to see an artist reinterpret his own work--and some great old standards.
Free Music Review: Can't say enough...!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I can't say enough about this album! It has had the single most important infulence on my musical taste. My freshman year of high school(1993) a friend let me borrrow this tape and it has affected me ever since. The songs on this album first opened me up to the wonderful world of jazz. Harry's smooth, melodic voice allows you to feel the pain and despair behind songs such as,"But Not For Me", and "Where or When".It also allows you to feel the joy and jubilation on "It Had to Be You". Not only is his singing superb, his piano performance, band leading, and arranging put him in a league all his own. This album began my LOVE affair with Harry Connick Jr. and also with Frank Sinatra, for I never would have sought out his music had it not been for Harry's versions of these timeless songs. In my vast collection of cds I have to say this is one of my top three favorites. Anyone would be privledged to listen to this fine work of art!Free Music Review: Any Harry Fan Must Own This CD
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of my favorite Harry Connick CDs because was my introduction this immensely talented man. The selections on this CD display Harry doing what many consider Harry doing what he does best. Singing fantastic standards the way only Harry Connick Jr can. Of course I realize that many critics say that it is really only Harry singing the way Frank Sinatra did, but critics be darned, Harry is charming and talented in his own unique way. Connick is delightful on songs such as "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and "It Had to Be You" and just draws you in completely during "But Not For Me" and "Where or When" highlighting his lush voice and piano playing. This is an album that you can never get sick of and if you are looking to buy your first Harry Connick CD start with this one.