[jegreenwood]

When I saw the list I was excited to see Patsy Cline on it. I thought her voice would be perfect for it. I don't own much music by her, but on my two disc best of set, she does a lovely intimate version of Cole Porter's "True Love" (originally sung by Bing Crosby). This song never needs to go louder than piano, and she blew it.

I also expected to like Bing, but he didn't dig into the lyrics. I hate to be so predictable, but I again ended with Ella who benefits from a small combo, which keeps things intimate even when they swing a book. The voices of Mandy Patinkin and Della Reese did nothing for me. Pat Boone seemed bland (surprise, surprise). Bobby Darin's arrangement was too much. At least Frank seemed to have fun with it (with the help of Nelson). So he gets my second vote.

 

[jegreenwood]

I try to give everyone a chance - The only requirement is that they made a legitimate effort to interpret the song to the best of their ability - I don't let personal preferences affect the selection process and I try to open it up as wide as I can but I always try to maintain a certain standard for every performance.

And it's much appreciated.

 

[jegreenwood]

Can anyone sing "Always" in a way that keeps me from saying "never"? Can someone make me think, "OK, sometimes," or at least "just this once"?

. . . .

As I mentioned in the thread for part 1, Berlin wanted to include the song in the stage version of the Marx Brothers' "The Coconuts," but the book writer, George S. Kaufman, refused, suggesting Berlin change the lyric to, "I'll be loving you Thursdays."

 

[jegreenwood]

Listening to the verse, I think Shaughnessy (and Wikipedia) may have been correct that Berlin wrote it for his second wife. That would not contradict Kaufman's rejection of it for The Coconuts. Once composed, Berlin would likely have wanted to use it somewhere.

 

[jegreenwood]

Write = wife? That was always my understanding.

Sorry - wife - corrected.

 

[jegreenwood]

I know this will be behind a paywall for some, but in a NY Times op ed piece dated today, John McWhorter compared musicals to opera. Musicals come out rather well.