Various Artists - Too Marvelous for Words: Capitol Sings Johnny Mercer

sublime !!!

Too Marvelous for Words: Capitol Sings Johnny Mercer is an excellent CD of some of the best vocalists of the entire twentieth century singing numerous tunes by the great Johnny Mercer. Johnny Mercer's artistry always stuns me with its beauty; he was some talent! The quality of the sound is perfect; and I love that artwork, too!

Ella Mae Morse starts things off with her interpretation of "Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive." This classic tune by Johnny Mercer always was a favorite of mine; I love it! Ella Mae Morse delivers this very well and it makes a great start for this CD! Listen also for Johnny Mercer himself with Jo Stafford And The Pied Pipers as they do "Blues In The Night." Johnny Mercer could sing and when Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers back him up it makes for a strikingly beautiful number! The immortal Judy Garland also performs "Come Rain Or Come Shine;" this 1950s recording features great percussion and Johnny Mercer's sensitivity is paralleled by Judy's treatment of this number.

Nat King Cole sings "Day In Day Out;" this tune shines brightly when Nat King Cole sings and swings brightly to make this number huge! The big band arrangement makes the number even prettier than it already was, too. Matt Monro also does great on "Days Of Wine And Roses;" this timeless ballad gets a fine treatment from the great Matt Monro; oh, wow, how Matt could sing!

"Goody Goody" features Benny Goodman & His Orchestra; and there's a great hit when Dean Martin sings "In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening." "In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening" sounds so well when Dean croons this to perfection--and beyond! I especially love this number on this album; it's very well done and it's strong, too.

Lena Horne does a great rendition of "Moon River;" this tune from Breakfast At Tiffany's impresses me and Lena delivers this without a single flaw. Her voice is very rich, warm and vibrant. Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers return again to perform a great, warm rendition of "On The Atchison, Topeka & The Santa Fe" from the MGM movie entitled The Harvey Girls. It can't get better than this!

Kay Starr does "P.S. I Love You" with all the grace of the legend that she was; and the guitar work is very pretty. In addition, Louis Prima & Keely Smith performing a jazzy, swinging interpretation of Johnny Mercer's "That Old Black Magic;" and this lacks nothing--it's THAT good. The CD ends very well with Andy Russell's "Too Marvelous For Words." Terrific! Andy's voice is pure silk.

Obviously, this is truly just some of Johnny Mercer's best--but wow, what an album this is! This is great for Johnny Mercer fans and people who enjoy classic pop vocals will cherish this album as well.
April 23, 2008

Absolutely Brilliant

Johnny Mercer was probably the best of the American Songwriters, whether he wrote alone or with such great partners as Harold Arlen or Hoagy Carmichael(no slouches in music either). Johnny wrote enough songs for at least a 4 or 5 volume collection, but this will do in a pinch. One of my favorites of the many Mercer collections out there, I own this on tape & am ready to get it on cd. Highly recommended! March 12, 2000

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