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Free Music Notes for Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 15: Wild Cool & Swingin' TooFree Music Review: LOVE ULTRA-LOUNGE! Hit: 5 StarsLove this kind of music - can't get enough - have most all of the CDs. Excellent New Jersey-based company with excellent foresight and retro-understanding for the best party and jazz combos. Excellent choice for any kind of day or evening, party or relaxation time.
Free Music Review: Great Compilation! Hit: 5 StarsI would recommend this CD as well as the original "Wild Cool & Swingin'".
You'll like them both!
Free Music Review: I love the Ultra-Lounge series. Hit: 5 StarsThe sound quality of the Ultra-Lounge series is excellent, even though the songs were recorded mostly in the 50's and 60's. Capitol Records packs each CD with carefully chosen tracks consistent with the theme of the particular volume in the series. Many of the selections that appear here aren't available elsewhere, either because the original album on which the song appeared is out of print, or because the song was issued as a single and never collected in an album. A few 'previously unreleased' tracks also appear here. This series is a wonderful introduction to the music of a by-gone era, and each album includes detailed notes on each track (artist, writers, date recorded, how released, etc.). I heartily recommend it to anyone who has an interest in this type of music.
Free Music Review: Wild, Cool & Swingin' Too is #1 in my book Hit: 5 StarsDon't get me wrong - I've got most of the Ultra-Lounge discs and I love them all - but this one is the best. Each disc focuses on a facet of Lounge music (Bossa Nova, Mambo, Exotica). Most of these are a kick in a "They sure did some crazy music" way, but the two Wild Cool discs focus on the more popular acts of the era.
The disc is hopping starting off with Eydie Gorme in a blistering read of the latin classic "Frenesi". Steve Lawrence follows with a barnstorming take on "Night and Day". I can't even listen to Sinatra's version without falling asleep now. The pace doesn't let up with Bobby Darin's phenomental "Charade" and Nancy Wlson's "A Lot of Livin' To Do".
Dinah Washington contributes the hot jazz classic "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" (a.k.a. the song from the Tom & Jerry classic) and the sultry "Destination Moon". Tony Bennet does "Plenty of Money and You" which was featured on the Swingers soundtrack. Mel Torme sings the cheeky and hilarious "Midnight Swinger".
Other standout tracks include everything. No seriously, there isn't a bad track on the disc with one outstanding cut after another. If you want some classic lounge tracks, you've found them. I think this is better than Wild, Cool & Swingin', but it's great, too, so why not buy both of them?
Free Music Review: Perfect for the midnight swinger in all of us! Hit: 5 StarsThis CD is chock full of great songs performed by some of the greatest talents of the 20th century. There is a total of twenty-one (yes, twenty-one) tracks on this CD making it both a lot of fun and a great value. It's also excellent for lounge music lovers and fans of classic pop vocals.
The CD starts off with Eydie Gorme doing a smash "Frenesi." The song is beautifully arranged and Eydie's voice is in excellent form. Her other half, Steve Lawrence, follows up quickly with the beautiful "Night And Day." Awesome!
The songs on this CD are all wonderfully musically arranged and the quality of the sound is excellent. No excess noise here! Bob Norberg at Capitol Recording Studios did an excellent job of digitally remastering these tracks.
I loved Nancy Wilson's electric version of "A Lot Of Livin' To Do;" and Peggy Lee does some hot job of "The Boy From Ipanema." Bobby Darin fans will delight that two of his songs are on this CD: "Charade" and "Call Me Irresponsible." Dinah Washington fans get an equally nice treat; Dinah sings both "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" and "Destination Moon" on this album.
Wayne Newton does a particularly good job with "Strangers In The Night" and I also liked the style with which Louis Prima delivers "5 Months, 2 Weeks, 2 Days." One playful number that I really enjoyed was the medley of "Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" by Louis Prima. A chorus accompanies Louis on this number and the result is thrilling!
The liner notes are very, very good. You get song credits and the dates the songs were recorded by the artists. There's an extensive essay by R. J. Smith--and there are even two drink recipes: one for a "blue blazer" and the other for a "millionaire." Not bad, not bad.
I highly recommend this CD for fans of classic pop vocals, lounge music, and the great vocalists of the 20th century such as Tony Bennett, Dinah Washington, Louis Prima, Dean Martin and Bobby Darin. All these performers and many more can be found attacking their songs with all their might here on this CD! Get this CD, turn down the lights and enjoy your favorite drink--and maybe enjoy a little romance while you do!
More Free Music Notes: 1 2 3 4
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