Nick Lucas - Tip Toe Thru the Tulips (25 tracks) +Album Reviews

I've paid this much for one 78 of this guy!

Michael Heminger | Pardeeville, WI | 04/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How delighted I was when a friend sent me the link for this item. Of course, I (pre)ordered it immediately, knowing what a talented songbird this Lucas guy is. When they say "they don't write them like they used to" I now understand what they mean. The craft and delicacy of these songs was lost before most of us were born. Recordings on 78 are rare enough, and these depression-era nuggets are even rarer for obvious reasons (who had money to buy records then?) so this is a golden opportunity to hear one of the best. Lucas could croon with the best of them, and his sweet tenor tones add a unique feel to these standards (some of which he had the distinction of making a 'hit' first!). His nimble guitar playing serves as a minimal backdrop, as opposed to the 'sweet band' sound of the era, allowing his voice to shine through. The ASV/Living Era folks really bring the sound out of these historic tracks (totalling 76:20!) and include chart positions and dates for all titles. Two cuts from the 'Hit' series of laminated paper records are included here (purchased at newstands in 1932), one of which I just found on e-bay, but this recording is superior and digitally cleaned up. The highlight here is, of course, "Tip-Toe Thru' The Tulips" - the very first recorded version (I have at least 5 others by various 1920's artists) from the 1929 "Gold Diggers of Broadway" which went to #1 on the charts in that year. This collection spans his career from 1924 (an early guitar instrumental) to 1939 (his version of "Over The Rainbow"), an era of American music long forgotten and nonetheless vital."

A singer/guitarist way ahead of his time!!

J. breslin | bosstown, ma USA | 02/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this man,compared to others of his era,i feel is in a whole higher plain.his vocal delivery,although old fashioned,has many very modern twists and turns,so inventive...and his guitar playing??absolutey brilliant....elegant...if quality of sound was comparable to today,some of his playing you'd think was done recently.this great musician deserves to be a household name...he can play django like or christianlike but i like his basic vocal/guitar accompanyment the best.i promise you...you'll wonder why this guy is not of legend status![one of the best things about his versions,of all the now standards,is that they all are preceded by the not often heard lyrics of the intro leading up to the beginning we more often hear,i can't remember the term for these clever little set-ups for the main verses]"

Beautiful voice; soulful singing that understands the lyrics

Jmark2001 | Florida | 07/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nick Lucas sang the original version of "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" in his beautiful tenor. Tiny Tim tried to emulate that voice forty years later and turned what was a lovely song into a carnival side-show. Tiny Tim screeched and warbled/wobbled through the high notes. His physically bizarre appearance made the song an oddity rather than a sweet ballad.

But let's get back to Nick Lucas. If you have only heard "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine" in an upbeat tempo, you need to hear Nick sing it as a ballad. He brings out the poignancy and pathos of every line beautifully. The introduction to the song is usually left out but it shouldn't be as it makes it clear that the song is a courageous attempt to keep one's chin up when things are going poorly.

Nick Lucas was a wonderful singer and interpreter of songs. He was also a great guitarist. This is a fine album."

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