Nice later collection of Mercer
MusicFilm Fan | Wash., DC | 08/30/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This short (30-minute) CD is a nice collection of Mercer (joined occasionally by Helen O'Connell and fellow songsmith Bobby Troup) singing Johnny's own songs, backed by a small jazz combo. There's no session information, but I'd guess that the album is from the mid-60s, since it includes 60s movie songs like "Moon River" (from Breakfast at Tiffany's) and the heartwarming "Sweetheart Tree" (from The Great Race). Even though this record is from later in Mercer's career, he's still in good voice, and the jazz players behind him support him very ably. If you want a more comprehensive collection of Mercer's jazz-based sides from his prime years of the 40s (when he was riding high as not only a singer and major songwriter, but also a founder of Capitol Records), check out the excellent 3-CD set that just came out in Mosaic Records' "Select" series. But there's no overlap here, so this disc is also well worth it for Mercer fans who want to hear his rich voice with a jazz backing. (I'd give this five stars for the performance alone, but the CD mastering -- which seems to have a pretty abrupt start on the first song -- is quite acceptable but not great.)"
Disappointing Mercer
Discerning Listener | New York City | 06/23/2010
(2 out of 5 stars)
"As a huge Johnny Mercer fan, I was looking forward to this outing with jazz players, but it's a strange mixed bag. No recording dates are given, but the quality of sound varies as do the instrumental accompaniments. The most satisfying tracks are the duets with Helen O'Connell ("Accentuate the Positive" & Two of a Kind") & oddly enough, Bobby Troup ("Jamboree Jones") whose presence suggests that perhaps his piano and group are providing at least some, if not all of the backings. Mercer does not sing "Moon River" or "Autumn Leaves" leaving these lyrics to O'Connell alone. His solos here often seem tired and lackluster rather than just laid-back. There are much better versions of Mercer's solo tunes available - the originals on Capitol's "Collector's Series" for example. The Mosaic set referenced by another reviewer appears to be instrumental settings by Al Cohn - at least that's all I heard on Amazon's samples. But then, it's hard to have too much Johnny Mercer in any format!"
