Search - Various Artists :: Sirens of Song: Classic Torch Singers

Listen once and you're hooked

selkie1964 | San Jose, CA USA | 01/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I used to work part-time at Tower Records. Every day when you work at Tower, you get to play a CD sometime during the course of your shift. Whenever I played this CD, customers would flock up to the front counter wanting to know what it was and where in the store they could find it (the first time the copy I was playing was the only copy in the store -- the first customer who asked me for it got to buy it right off the CD player and I had to special-order it for a bunch of other people). It got so popular in the store that the manager ordered a bunch and put the CD on one of the preview-play stations."

Give those gals a spotlight !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 04/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sirens of Song: Classic Torch Singers has fifteen magnificent songs from some of the greatest songbirds of the entire twentieth century. The sound quality is excellent and I love that artwork!



The CD opens with Julie London singing one of her signature songs, "Cry me A River." I don't think anyone ever sang "Cry Me A River" any better than the great Julie London sang it; and just one listen should prove this to you. I really like ho Julie opens up during this song and lets her heartfelt passion spread out to her listeners--it's quite majestic. Sarah Vaughan also does "Black Coffee" with panache; Sarah could sing quite well and this tune was one of her best ever in my opinion. Sarah's excellent sense of timing helps her performance immeasurably and "Black Coffee" is easily a highlight of this album.



Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady Of Song, performs "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You;" Ella sings this so well there's no doubt as to why she was so popular whenever she performed. Ella's voice is rich, warm and very vibrant and I like that a lot. She sure did give her all! Judy Garland also does a sublime rendition of "But Not For Me;" this song was one that Judy first sang in the MGM film Girl Crazy; and Judy still sang it beyond perfection many years later when this was recorded. Great!



Lena Horne performs "Stormy Weather" with heart and soul; and the big band arrangement enhances the natural beauty of this ballad. Lena sings this with her heart wide open and "Stormy Weather" is yet another highlight of this CD. Marlene Dietrich also sings her best on "Come Rain Or Come Shine" Marlene did this up right! I'm very impressed by Marlene's treatment for "Come Rain Or Come Shine."



Edith Piaf sings an English version of "La Vie En Rose;" this was one of Edith's signature songs and her English version of this ballad sounds heavenly to me. There's also Dinah Washington doing "What A Difference A Day Makes;" "What A Difference A Day Makes" sounds exciting whenever I hear Dinah sing this out so strong!



LaVern Baker performs "Soul On Fire" with panache; her fine treatment of "Soul On Fire" rocks gently and the arrangement that goes with LaVern's singing couldn't be better. The CD also ends very nicely with Ruth Brown's "I'll Wait For You." "I'll Wait For You" features Ruth Brown at her very best and that's quite all right by me!



Overall, this is an excellent CD for people everywhere who love classic pop vocals and the songbirds featured on this CD. You won't be disappointed!

"

Emotional Time Worp

selkie1964 | 07/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is wonderful! All of the songs bring one to a place of deep blue emotion. Soothing and Sassy, these torch singers will set soul ablaze with their mezmarizing lyrics and melodies. You'll love it and so will your Mother, Father , Sister , Brother, Spouse...You get now, so get it already!"