After being forgotten for a long time, Kay Thompson is appreciated once again thanks to Liza Minnelli's loving tribute act her godmother in her current show and on her best-selling CD. The 75 tracks on this 3-CD set includ... more »e rare, previously unreleased material from private archives. Hollywood director Sam Irvin, who has written a biography of Thompson to be published in 2010, wrote the liner notes and the CD booklet contains rare photographs from private archives.« less
After being forgotten for a long time, Kay Thompson is appreciated once again thanks to Liza Minnelli's loving tribute act her godmother in her current show and on her best-selling CD. The 75 tracks on this 3-CD set include rare, previously unreleased material from private archives. Hollywood director Sam Irvin, who has written a biography of Thompson to be published in 2010, wrote the liner notes and the CD booklet contains rare photographs from private archives.
"gets the treatment on CD she HIGHLY deserves!!! Here is one mega-overdue CD that all the MGM musical lovers, Eloise lovers, and just plain-good music lovers have been waiting for. Not only she created what was the "MGM Sound" of the late 40's, in close-jazz harmony, but (sometimes accused of being over-produced) glorious arrangements of some of the best musicals of the studio of that era. Not one, not two, but we get three (count'em, THREE!!) wonderful CDs, starting with the most sort out Kay Thompson MGM album from the late 50's, which in used record stores would go for some astronomical price, but only if the store carried it. (I personally have never seen one in any used record store in 20 years.) Then if that was not enough, we go through rare radio transcriptions, CADENCE recording sessions, and, foremost, we get gems from the private collections of Mr. Feinstein, the one to go to if one is looking for rare sounds from the golden era. Wow. This set really is the collectors' dream come true. All the previous "unfortunate" releases of her recordings, which either suffers from lack of materials or extremely bad sound mastering, could not even begin to compare with this set. Beautifully bound, with great photo and liner notes, Sepia Records has done it again. Kudos to you."
Boldly original -- buy this title and learn about the singul
California Greg | USA | 09/21/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Kay Thompson was truly a renaissance woman...she did it all. She was an author, a terrific singer, a great musician and composer, a great coach and vocal arranger and a wonderful talent and presence. She wrote the "Eloise" books and was friends with the whole world -- Lena Horne, Andy Williams and most importantly, Judy Garland. Kay, along with Roger Edens, helped bring Judy's talent to its apex and Liza Minnelli, who was Kay Thompson's god-daughter, once said that the best thing her mother ever gave her was Kay Thompson. Liza brilliantly revived Kay's arrangements and night club act last year at her Tony-winning turn, "Liza's at the Palace."
Listen to her work here. She sparkles and shines and you can see how she set the tone for modern performers right on down.
But for "Funny Face," she's almost forgotten as a film presence and what a shame she didn't make more films. She's the real deal...
"
Kay Thompson....What A Woman!
C. Hackman | easton, pa USA | 10/02/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Think Pink Kay Thompson Party is a must have for anyone who remotely herd of Kay, I had no idea she recorded so many songs and her night club show was phenomenal. Seeing Liza do a tribute to her at the Palace last year got my interest up but this set not only satisfies my interest, it went way beyond anything I knew abuot her. She was a gem we'll never see the likes of again. The Set is a must have, you really enjoy it!"
Great Performance! ... but quality issues ...
David Price | Houston, TX USA | 10/02/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Like so many others I greeted the release of this delicious material by Kay Thompson with great pleasure. The set has a superb assortment of material by this seldom-heard artist. Sadly, I have been through two sets already in an effort to get one that played properly and have failed both times. Amazon is great about exchanges and refunds but I've given up -- to my dismay. Both times the discs have had visible flaws on them which translate to skips and repeats when played. There seems not to be much in quality control on this release and so I would just warn potential buyers to listen carefully after you receive it to be sure you get an acceptable copy. If you do get a good one, you'll have a real gem!!!"
Kay Thompson - The Record Speaks for Itself
Bruce K. Hanson | Petersburg, VA | 02/01/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Of course I knew who Kay Thompson was; she appeared in Funny Face and just about stole the film from Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. She was a vocal arranger at MGM who was primarily responsible for "the sound" in all of those forties musicals including Good News, The Harvey Girls, The Pirate, and Till the Clouds Roll By. Now I also know who Kay Thompson is; for the recordings on this new three CD release, Think Pink, are as fresh in spirit (and mostly in sound quality) as if they were recorded yesterday. What an incredible force she was, this Thompson lady. And what an incredible experience is still provided in recordings that range from 1939 through 1958.
First, the album opens up with selections from a wonderful old MGM album from 1954, Kay Thompson Sings. She shares several of the tunes with a young Andy Williams, among others. "I Love a Violin" is wild and vivacious and the other tracks equally exciting. Still other tracks cover her time with Columbia records including "I See Your Face Before Me" and "Back Home in Indianna" and for Decca Records she recorded (Where Are You) Now that I Need You" (From the film, Red, Hot, and Blue) and "That Old Feeling".
Her Verve recordings are here too and include "Bazazz" and some alternate soundtrack recordings from Funny Face including her audition of "Think Pink!" and "'S Wonderful". There's a duet with Judy (Garland, who else?)on "In the Valley" and her take on "Sun in the Morning" in 1946. Other delights find Thompson singing with the Williams Brothers and playing her famous character, Eloise.
The CD booklet is chock full of interesting tibits of Thompson's career courtesy of Sam Irvin whose book on Thompson is to be published sometime this year. (I am going to have to buy this one, that is certain.) And the photographs are just as plentiful with our star performer sharing frames with The Williams Brothers, Eloise, Frank Sinatra, June Allyson, Judy, Audrey, Astaire, Gable...well you get the picture. That anyone would think of creating one CD featuring Kay Thompson is in itself a treat to think about. But Sepia Records (with plenty of helpful servings of material from Sam Irvin and Michael Feinstein) has outdone itself with this amazingly generous three CD set. Kat Thompson is alive and well singing on this new album. For oldtimers, you have the advantage of memory to what a versatile performer she was. For those just discovering Thompson's talents, the record speaks for itself."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1
