Johnny Hartman - Collection: 1947-1972

Heeere's Johnny

I did not know this cd existed until I was browsing for Johnny on Amazon one day. So I took a chance and ordered it to add to my JH collection and let me tell you I was blown away!! It was a thousand times better
than I ever expected. As far as I'm concerned JH never got the acclaim he so deserved. If anyone out there
is a fan of his or is curious about his work -- I think this could be the definitive cd. I love, love, love it!!!! September 7, 2008

The Johnny Hartman Collection 1947-1972

Simply a great collection of romantic songs performed by an artist that has a voice as smooth as silk. August 16, 2007

25 Years of Johnny Hartman

This double CD gives a good longituninatl glipse of Hartman's production
but however, I think, the best songs he ever recorded were on the record
"John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman" and on the CD recorded in Japan (JH sings Trane). August 10, 2007

Great overview of an outstanding singer

Johnny Hartman was, no doubt, one of the most versatile singers of the twentieth century, a man whose warm, deep voice made him feel at home singing a varied range of songs, from pop to jazz to show tunes. He started out as a crooner in the late forties, somewhat influenced by Billy Eckstine but always with a style all his own, and his outstanding career ended in 1983, when he succumbed to lung cancer. In between those two dates, his highly personal voice was heard on stages all over the world, from the States to England to Australia to Japan, where he even recorded a couple of albums backed by Japanese sidemen.

Hartman's recorded legacy is one of the relatively unknown treasures of our time. Although he recorded for several labels over the years, in my opinion, his best work was done for Impulse Records in the early sixties, including an album with the legendary tenor saxophonist John Coltrane. Entitled simply "John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman" and released originally in 1963, it remains a masterpiece that everyone should own and cherish. Two songs from that album appear on this fantastic compilation, which is undoubtedly the most complete introduction to Hartman's work to date, featuring recordings that span 25 years, from 1947 to 1972.

Throughout the 38 tracks contained herein, we can hear how Hartman succeeds in singing very different types of songs with diverse kinds of accompaniment, making all songs his own. We can also witness Hartman's stylistic development, from his early years as a crooner up into his later efforts as a jazz singer - and one of the very best the world has ever known. If you don't own any other CDs by Hartman, then this is definitely where you should start to delve into his music. I am sure it will not be too long before you find yourself looking for other superb titles such as "I Just Dropped in to Say Hello," "The Voice That Is!," or his great collaboration with Coltrane. November 23, 2006

great forgotten singer

Johnny Hartman has an exceptional voice quality that litterally ranges from tenor to bass. He is known as a baritone but his smooth resonant bass is something better known singers such as frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Tonny Bennet, Vic Damone, and many others are lacking. Therefore based on range,ability to sing from loud to soft, Hartman is superior. He also has great breath control,I can't hear any annoying breaths after holding notes, which is amazing considering he smoked so many cigarettes. He always seems to sing with perfect pitch and can sing many styles of music with a resonating baritone. The stacato jazz is a waste of his talent; he is better with poignant ballads which show his true melodious lyrical presence and at times almost operatic sound. He can sing the songs of Frank Sinatra with more power to his voice and certainly more resonance. He also sings on key better than Sinatra and has a much broader range. It is a shame he hasn't received accolaides or praise for being one of the great popular singers of the 20th century. March 19, 2006

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