Search - Nancy Umeki :: Early Days 1950-54

Soothing Vocal Caresses of Miyoshi (Nancy) Umeki

Gregory G Sawin | San Mateo, CA United States | 08/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After enjoying two excellent Miyoshi Umeki CDs ("Miyoshi" [1960?] and "Miyoshi Sings for Arthur Godfrey: Miyoshi Umeki Sings American Songs in Japanese" [1956]), again I am impressed by her first-rate singing in this third CD of 22 songs she recorded in the early 1950s--before she was a hit on Arthur Godfrey's TV show, "Talent Scouts"; before her Oscar-winning performance in the movie, "Sayonara"; and before her starring role in "Flower Drum Song" on Broadway (and the movie). In this "Early Days" CD, some of the songs are entirely in Japanese; others are entirely in English; and the rest have a combination of Japanese and English lyrics. These are my favorites: With a Song in My Heart (EJ), Again (J), Why Don't You Believe Me? (E), Kiss Me Again Stranger (E), Sayonara (E), and My Foolish Heart (EJ). The other songs are Sleepy My Love (E), It Isn't Fair (E), Sentimental Me (E), Manhattan Moon (J), I'll Walk Alone (EJ), My Baby's Comin' Home (EJ), I'm Walking Behind You (EJ), Doggie in the Window (EJ), My Ichiban Tomodachi [My Best Friend] (E), Vaya Con Dios (EJ), I'm Waiting for You (E), and five Japanese songs (Under the Moonlight, Don't Say That Person's Name, Evening Whisper, I Feel Like Crying, and One Night of Sorrow and Misery) (J). I was pleasantly surprised to discover that these recordings of Miyoshi proved that even in the early 1950s (when she was in her early 20s) she was already a superb singer. The CD comes with a 32-page booklet of biographical material in Japanese, photos, lyrics to the songs (EJ), and discography (EJ). This CD is a treasure chest of Miyoshi's sweet music."