Mel Torme Songbook

Terrific versions of classic Cole Porter songs recorded by jazz's greatest vocalists… Louis Armstrong, Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Helen Merrill, Dinah Washington, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Horn, Billie Holiday, Fred Astaire, Blossom Dearie, Morgana King, and Betty Carter.

Mel Tormé - The Great American Songbook: Live at Michael's Pub (1993) is a remarkable live album by Mel Tormé, one of jazz and pop music’s most legendary vocalists. Released in 1993, this album captures a live performance at Michael's Pub in New York, where Tormé's stunning vocal talent is on full display. The album features Tormé’s interpretations of classic American songs from the Great American Songbook, a collection of standards from the early 20th century that has been a cornerstone of jazz, pop, and cabaret music.

Mel Tormé was always at his very best in a live setting and this 1982 set is no exception, as he covers a number of favorites from the Great American Songbook, joined by pianist Mike Renzi, bassist Jay Leonhart, and drummer Donny Osborne. His weaves a bit of playful scat into "Lulu's Back in Town." He only adds slight embellishments to a lush treatment of "Sophisticated Lady," using Duke Ellington's ballad in a medley with two Harold Arlen gems ("Stormy Weather" and "When the Sun Comes Out"). Tormé's pseudo-French accent at the beginning of "Autumn Leaves" is riotous, then he works his way into Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" in the midst of the performance. He uses a scatted take of "Manteca" to introduce "Day In, Day Out." He also revisits his emotional original ballad "I'm Gonna Miss You," which he had written in 1945 for Vic Damone, though neither Damone's record nor the composer's earlier version ever gained much notice. ~ AllMusic Review by Ken Dryden

Timeless collection featuring the most beloved songs sung by legendary artists. 100 songs on 5 CDs.
The Great American Songbook is the canon of the most important and influential American popular songs & Jazz standards from the early 20th century. This 100 song collection presented on 5 CDs contains the most beloved songs sung by legendary artists. Includes standards recorded by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Shirley Bassey, Sammy Davis Jr, and more.

UK collection. Ace's highly regarded and extremely popular Songwriter Series continues apace, with several exciting projects in place for release in the second half of 2022 and beyond. This month we welcome Jimmy Webb onto our expanding list with "Clowns Exit Laughing", a deep dip into this prolific tunesmith's extensive catalogue of the past six decades. After a period of establishing his credentials as a writer with Motown's West Coast office, Jimmy really came into his own in the mid-60s with classic songs like 'By The Time I Get To Phoenix', 'Wichita Lineman' and 'Up, Up And Away'. Everyone wanted to record a Jimmy Webb copyright, and a great many people did as this CD demonstrates. Although Jimmy has never stopped writing, "Clowns Exit Laughing" naturally concentrates on a time when a new Jimmy Webb classic seemed to appear every other week. As is always Ace's policy with the Songwriter Series, each featured artist performs only one song but we are sure that inclusions by the likes of Tony Joe White, Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield and other major names will disappoint nobody. Also included for collectors are several rare, seldom-heard original versions of songs primarily associated with other artists, such as Don Ho's original of 'Galveston' and James Darren's first recording of 'Didn't We'.

Verve Music Presents The Cole Porter Songbook album 3CD original hits and the original artists genre Jazz, Blues

While pundits and experts debate whether the United States of America has entered an age of decline as a world power, New York saxophonist, composer, arranger, bandleader and inveterate troublemaker Ed Palermo makes an incontrovertible case for un-American ascendance. With The Great Un-American Songbook Volume 3: Run for your Life, slated for release on guitarist/vocalist Bruce McDaniel’s Sky Cat label on November 6, 2020, he turns his attention to the music of the nation’s former colonial overlords. Focusing on material by Lennon and McCartney (and several acts that followed in The Beatles’ footsteps), one of jazz’s finest working big bands delivers another batch of reverently irreverent arrangements with enviable precision and improvisational aplomb.

Millennium Digital Remaster Presents Dorothy Fields Songbook (All Tracks Remastered) contains the defining tracks of the decade and features some of the biggest hits from artists including Tony Bennett, Benny Goodman, Alice Babs, Julie London and many more.

Following on from the huge success of Ballroom Bonanza, Len returns with a brand new compilation in 2016, to feature his all-time favourite Crooners, Swooners and Big Band classics! This hand-picked compilation of songs in Len Goodman’s Crooners & Swooners is set to make anyone’s heart strings tingle and get toes tapping with the inclusion of tracks from Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Bette Midler, Etta James and Barry Manilow, being sure to get more than a ‘seven!’. Known to millions as the Head Judge of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, Len has sashayed his way to the top of the dance world. Beginning his dance life at the age of 21, he has gained years of vast knowledge and experience in Ballroom and Latin American dancing through teaching, competing and judging, making him a four-time British Champion. Len’s passion for dance and the music associated with it has been demonstrated in programmes made for BBC4 including Len Goodman’s Dance Band Days, Len Goodman’s Big Band Bonanza, Dancing Cheek to Cheek with Lucy Worsley and Dancing in the Blitz with Jools Holland and Lucy Worsley. Len has also appeared on BBC Radio 2 presenting his favourite music including some of the music featured in Strictly, those that influenced his life and include a variety of styles from Jazz to American Songbook to Pop.

Following on from the huge success of Ballroom Bonanza, Len returns with a brand new compilation in 2016, to feature his all-time favourite Crooners, Swooners and Big Band classics! This hand-picked compilation of songs in Len Goodman’s Crooners & Swooners is set to make anyone’s heart strings tingle and get toes tapping with the inclusion of tracks from Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Bette Midler, Etta James and Barry Manilow, being sure to get more than a ‘seven!’. Known to millions as the Head Judge of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, Len has sashayed his way to the top of the dance world. Beginning his dance life at the age of 21, he has gained years of vast knowledge and experience in Ballroom and Latin American dancing through teaching, competing and judging, making him a four-time British Champion. Len’s passion for dance and the music associated with it has been demonstrated in programmes made for BBC4 including Len Goodman’s Dance Band Days, Len Goodman’s Big Band Bonanza, Dancing Cheek to Cheek with Lucy Worsley and Dancing in the Blitz with Jools Holland and Lucy Worsley. Len has also appeared on BBC Radio 2 presenting his favourite music including some of the music featured in Strictly, those that influenced his life and include a variety of styles from Jazz to American Songbook to Pop.