"…As Far As I’m Concerned… It’s A Lovely Day…"
Originally released on CD in June 2005 - this budget-priced August 2010 reissue features all Fifties Mono recordings remastered to perfection by one of Universal's top engineers - ELLEN FITTON.
I've raved about her work before in many reviews - the 14 volumes of "The Complete Motown Singles" - The Marvelettes "Forever" 3CD set -"This Is The Story…" 3CD Box set by The Supremes etc - and her remastering here is right up to those standards.
The 8-page foldout inlay gives full recording credits with a short set of liner notes and the band on several tracks featured such luminaries as OSCAR PETERSON (Piano), HERB ELLIS (Guitar), RAY BROWN (Bass) and LOUIE BELLSON and BUDDY RICH (Drums). Most of the tracks were recorded in August 1956 (some in 1950, 1951 and 1957) and it makes for a lovely listen – the two jazz giants playing off each other’s vocal styles.
The sonic delight of “The Nearness Of You” open proceedings very nicely and “Isn’t This A Lovely Day” is as pretty as they’re combined talents produced (lyrics above). The songs are all smoochy in that ‘dinner suit and cocktails’ kind of a way - and I suppose you could argue that the disc could have been filled out more, but the compilers have gone for an ‘album’ feel – and they were right - it works precisely because less-is-more.
A lovely disc and a very sweet listen indeed – recommended.
