Contrary to Verve's blurb on the sticker of this CD, this is not the first songbook album devoted to the lyrics of Johnny Mercer; indeed, none other than Verve was responsible for an Ella Fitzgerald/Mercer songbook back in 1964. Needless to say, Ella is here, as is an all-star gallery of Verve, Mercury. MGM and Mars artists in an anthology spanning some 40 years of recording history and about 16 years of Mercer's work (1936-52). There are some enterprising choices like Buddy Rich singing "Goody Goody" quite competently in ...
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Contrary to Verve's blurb on the sticker of this CD, this is not the first songbook album devoted to the lyrics of Johnny Mercer; indeed, none other than Verve was responsible for an Ella Fitzgerald/Mercer songbook back in 1964. Needless to say, Ella is here, as is an all-star gallery of Verve, Mercury. MGM and Mars artists in an anthology spanning some 40 years of recording history and about 16 years of Mercer's work (1936-52). There are some enterprising choices like Buddy Rich singing "Goody Goody" quite competently in front of a big band, the first recording of the lyrics to "Early Autumn" via a rare Woody Herman recording on his own Mars label, and Helen Merrill drifting over the dissonantly loose Gil Evans Orchestra in "Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home." Of the most famous songs identified with Mercer, Louis Armstrong's marvelous meeting with the Oscar Peterson Quartet on "Blues in The Night," Anita O'Day's buoyant "Come Rain Or Come Shine" with Jimmy Giuffre's off-center ensemble, and Billie Holiday's hard-boiled treatment of "One For My Baby" (with sweet and sultry obligatos by Harry "Sweets" Edison and Ben Webster) stand out. Other artists heard here include Bing Crosby, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Billy Eckstine, Margaret Whiting, Mel Tormé, Joe Williams, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Throughout, when not distracted by the musical quick-changes, the listener is seduced by Mercer's facility with lingering images and interior rhymeplay. And even though a single disc isn't quite enough to sum up Mercer's achievement - after all, it isn't easy to choose 16 songs out of some 1, 500 - this is only Volume One. ~ Richard S. Ginell, Rovi
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Add this copy of Blues in the Night: the Johnny Mercer Songbook to cart. $3.00, good condition, Sold by Bookmans rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tucson, AZ, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Polygram Records.
Add this copy of Blues in the Night: the Johnny Mercer Songbook to cart. $6.97, like new condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Verve.
Add this copy of Blues in the Night: the Johnny Mercer Songbook to cart. $6.97, good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Verve.
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Seller's Description:
Good. Good condition. audioCD. Case Good. Disc slightly scratched. Case cracked/scuffed. Quality guaranteed! In original artwork/packaging unless otherwise noted.
Add this copy of Blues in the Night: the Johnny Mercer Songbook to cart. $8.50, very good condition, Sold by Music Fiendz rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from South Hackensack, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Polygram Records.
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Very Good. Size: 5x4x0; All orders professionally packed and shipped from the USA within 24 hours. Multilingual, friendly, and intelligent customer service!
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