Maureen Sprankle

Canadian composer Clifford Crawley (1929-2016) is known for his command of a wide range of styles and the way he used them for both serious and playful purposes. He often said that he wrote for performers and audiences, hoping to move them, to reach them not just intellectually but as feelingful and imaginative people. To this end, he often draws on familiar elements, such as well-known dance idioms, that he inflects in highly original ways. Most of the works on this recording demonstrate Cliff’s genius in writing miniature forms, making impactful statements in short movements.

Mercury's 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Maureen McGovern bypasses most of the artist's cabaret and classical offerings, focusing instead on the breezy pop and folk that she perfected during the mid-'70s. Known primarily for her 1973 Oscar-winning smash hit ("The Morning After") from The Poseidon Adventure, McGovern released a number of other singles during the period that failed to chart as high – a number one debut is a tough act to follow.