Nancy Wilson - The Nancy Wilson Show

A Classy Nightclub Performance Done To Perfection

How many times have we used the words "Class" "Style" "Brilliant" "Unique" "Superb" to describe Nancy Wilson? Well, this CD shows those words are in full flower during her 1964 nightclub performance at the Cocoanut Grove in Hollywood (I don't know why they added the letter "A" in Cocoanut??) As I said before, it's too bad Capitol Records only released this CD along with her other stunning recording "Live In Las Vegas" as the only two "Live" recordings from Nancy Wilson. My guess is she probably recorded other concerts/nightclub performances that are waiting to be released. Can anyone verify if there are more Live Nancy Wilson recordings...????

Some of the song choices are electic, but perfect for the nightclub occasion. Nancy is in full command of her vocal gifts and the audience, which she has in the palm of her hand. Her jokes are well timed and just enough to add some chuckles to her sparkling performance. I wish there were more song tracks added to the CD; my guess is there were probably more than 9 songs performed that night, but who knows?

The CD only confirms that Nancy Wilson is one for the ages and the likes of her are probably not gonna come around for a while. In my opinion, she is really one of the last great entertainers -- Sinatra, Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darin (just to name some) -- to come along in our lifetime.

The standout tracks here are: "You Can Have Him" and "Guess Who I Saw Today". She retains the original versions of the LP release, but adds just enough spice and edge to make these versions explode in a live setting. But every track is a standout on this CD release. My only complaint is Capitol Records could have included additional BONUS tracks (as most record companies do nowadays) when a long-lost vinyl recording is first released on CD, but they kept it to 9 tracks only. BUMMER! That is the only disappointment, so hopefully Capitol will include additional tracks from other unreleased material the next time another "Undiscovered" Nancy Wilson recording goes digital. October 25, 2008

Class Act

Nancy shows how live shows are done. Listen up kids; they don't make them like this anymore and they never did make them like this -- she's a complete original. Sure, she's part Dinah Washington and part Jimmy Scott, but she is all Nancy Wilson. Sure, she's totally calculating, but it's a calculation that manages to be fresh and affecting no matter how often you spin the disc. She turns every song inside-out. April 15, 2008

Snap, crackle and JAZZ

Miss Wilson's lush, rich, honey-smooth vocal perfection is at it's peak in this 9 track live recording clubdate. What a great reminder of how elegantly glamorous nightclub acts were back in the day...especially with stunningly beautiful legends like Miss Wilson in full command of her musical gifts which she amusingly sprinkled with a joyful dose of sass, wit and a wink. April 10, 2008

The Diva in Her Prime

Nancy Wilson is and has been one of the greatest non-classical singers of the past 50 years; and I truly hope that my less than salacious comments on "Turned to Blue" and "R.S.V.P." haven't obscured this major truth.

Nonetheless, I tend to blanch when a great singer has a recording released to the general public that hasn't been released in 43 years. I tend to get angry at the record label or the producer when this happens, as it seems to be an attempt to capitalize on the grave or "almost-grave."

Not this time. In 1964, Nancy Wilson was in her prime, not too far off two of the greatest vocal jazz recordings in history, the ones with Cannonball Adderly and George Shearing. But this one, recorded live at the then-legendary Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles, is aimed more at the popular audience who were tuned into the variety shows on t.v. And in this recording, Nancy Wilson proves herself to be a terrific entertainer.

Besides having the greatest breath control of any singer ever, Ms. Wilson shines here with her versatility. Whether torch song ("Don't Take Your Love from Me"), standard-as-torch-song ("The Saga of Bill Bailey"), jazz standard ("I'm Beginning to See the Light"), or hilarious novelty song ("Don't Talk, Just Sing" - even as more and more people may not know who George Jessel or Allen Sherman were), Ms. Wilson never fails to captivate.

But its the three tongue-in-cheek stabs at the differences between the sexes - "Guess Who I Saw Today" (done sardoncially), "You Can Have Him", (the set-ender), and the hilarious "Ten Good Years" - that are the highlights of this set. By set's end, she has the audience eating out her hand - and has me wanting to play the recording again. And again.

Kudos to the venerable Michael Cuscuna, the producer, for this gem. The only knock that could be made on this c.d. is that it's too short - 37 minutes or so. So what. 37 minutes of Nancy Wilson in her prime is better than 74 minutes of most anybody else. I am grateful for this c.d.! RC

March 22, 2008

Thank You

I have waited so long for this album to be put on CD. This is the BEST album Nancy ever made. She was in her prime then and no other artist even came close. Every Nancy Wilson fan should own this album. It is sensational!! February 1, 2008

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