Recapping the Rapturous and Remarkable Rare Monro.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

We have listened again and again to this fantastic Rare Monro double CD and are still digesting each song. Firstly on the No 1 CD we are comparing each song to the next one and trying to choose our preference. Not an easy task, but we wanted to do this before the next CD Love Songs is released. So far "All Of A Sudden" is high up in our estimation for the smooth tones and the change to the higher register required for this song. Well one man said that his pitch was right on the nose . He was right on that one
Any comments Meantime, We'll keep you posted on our analysis

[john]

All Of A Sudden is a wonderful song Lena and Harry. Did you ever see him singing it on Tarby and Friends in late 1984. An absolutely terrific performance, outstanding in fact and he sang it in part spanish, part english. CD1 is my favourite of the two with mostly ballads, LET ME CHOOSE LIFE is beautiful, also and IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN. Each song on the album though is faultless as always.

[michduncg]

All of the tracks on CD1 are superb - well the whole album is amazing as I think I said in my 'Favourite album'comments. 'All of a sudden' and 'Let me choose life' are both marvelous, 'Other People' has an unusual melody and is another great ballad. 'I love you too' is a breezy, laid back and lovely track too. I also think the 'Strike up the Band' cover is fantastic, two masters of their arts at work together with Nelson Riddle conducting a special arrangement for Matt, who sounds like he's having the time of his life. Its a swing-tastic!

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Hi John and Mike, it seems that we all agree on both songs "All Of A sudden" and "Let Me Choose Life" that has a great orchestral start and then the piano introduction that accompanies "Love Song" is just amazing.
"Try To Remember" was made for Matt, many have recorded this, but again no one could compete on this one.
John we do remember Matt on Tarby's show. We rarely missed shows of that kind, and on "It's That Time Again" the words just stir the feelings of sadness around the memories and no one does that better than Matt.
That's part of his artistry, he puts meaning and emphasis into every word.
Mike, "Strike Up The Band" is just brilliant. We love Matt's announcement and introduction and if anyone doesn't feel like getting up on their feet with this one, then us two here are just simply crazy Then immediately after, Matt's next number " Till " not only brings you down to earth just brings it home to us again that Matt could sing and swing and was the best on both counts

[Marty]

The highlight of the entire collection for me, appears at the beginning of Disc 2, the haunting sojourn into memory of lost love that is "All That Remains" beautifully arranged from the spanish guitar that introduces Matt's ever so soft yet commanding vocal twisting it's talent around every last syllable, to the perfectly included woodwind and brass interludes, thsi really is an "essential" Matt Monro recording.

"But What Can Mend A Heart, When Love Won't Come Again" when Matt sings these words I begin to feel the tears come, one of his finest performances ever, easily.

[john]

I agree Marty it is a beautiful song, released originally on the other side of THE MUSIC PLAYED. I was so pleased when they decided to include it on this collection, because it had never been issued on cd before.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Yes, Marty those lyrics on this song tear at the heart strings, and the final note that goes on seemingly for ever and then breathtakingly in to silence is superb.
We agree with you John there are wonderful ballads on Disc 1 "This is A Love Song" accompanied with piano, is made for Matt and a song that just grows on you.
And "Don't Answer Me" once more stirs the emotions.
"When Love Comes Along" must be among the top favourites of Matt's fans. it's definitely amongst ours.
But here we go still listening and enjoying these rarities.

[john]

It is a treat to have DON'T ANSWER ME on cd at long last, Lena and Harry. Originally only released in the US as a single I only had a copy on cassette that someone had kindly copied for me before this. Think it was a single over here for Cilla, and Julie Rogers also did a nice version of it, but Matt reigns over them all.

[grandpajan]

I agree with all of you. Many of the songs on this double cd set I have only on 45 rpm disks, so I am very glad they were included. "All That Remains" was a song I had somehow downloaded from the internet years ago and had never heard before on any album (LP). It is one of my favorite as is "All Of A Sudden". I have "Try To Remember" on a 45 and am glad that was included. Matt did a wonderful job on the song.

I heard a rather funny story about "Born Free". It played in the 1960s on the "juke boxes". This one couple would put their coins in the juke box and the husband liked "Born Free". The flip side of the 45 was "Other People", and the wife liked that better, so that song got played as well. I have the 45 and am glad that it was included so that I now have a clear copy (without pops and clicks and surface noise) for my library.

Thanks Michele for this effort!

[michduncg]

Marty - have reminded myself what 'All that remains' sounds like, and you are right - it is a beautiful song in every respect. I love the violin accompaniment as well as the guitar. Matt sang it perfectly, and delivered it softly without overpowering the tender lyrics

You two crazy Harry & Lena? I can imagine you 'cutting a rug' to 'Strike up the Band'- you can feel the pride in Matts voice as he is on stage with another great - Nelson Riddle

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Yes, Grandpajan, there is nothing worse than crackles etc on recordings but it's surprising what noise we would ignore at one time as long as we had the record that was in the charts.
We remember a record shop near to where we live that was always on the ball and would be the first to have the lates 78rpm. i remembered on occasions i would return to the shop and complain that it was faulty, and the man would change it but only to find that that one was just the same anyway.
As for cutting a rug Mike, you had to know how to at most dance venues where we went. It was a kind of routine, a waltz, a quick step, a foxtrot, then a tango, and then you started living. It was jiving for most of the night but it had to end up with the Two certs-- the Hokey Cokey and Knees Up Mother Brown or nobody would go home.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Matt's rendering of "I've So Much To Be Grateful For" further down on Disk One, a sentimental ballad with lyrics sung as only Matt knows how about a man reflecting on the years that are passing him by. A beautiful song. A change follows with a lilting tone with "These Things Happen" and then the haunting melody that Matt sings in Spanish with expertise. "When I Look Into You Eyes"
Looking through our newly arrived "In Tune" magazine yesterday, editor Gerry who is a great admirer of Nat King Cole was discussing the superior Bear Family Records, and while talking of Nat's indisputable talent
he added....rather like Matt Monro, he treated every song with the utmost respect and never had a condescending approach to inferior material.
"Where in the World" that Matt sings is just one other song from this No 1 disk and every other recording by Matt echo's that sentiment.
"New York New York" completes a superb collection with fantastic talented musicians.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

The song "Taking A Chance On Love" from Disc Two was one of those songs that we mainly or often preferred sung by female vocalists, Ella for instance, or Alma Cogan, but Matt's swinging version is just brilliant, and much the same with Cole Porter's old classic "All Of You" .
We can forgive but never forget Terry Wogan's version of "The Floral Dance":lol: we can truly appreciate the Australian Peter Dawsons recording, but this one of Matt's is different, it's uplifting, and it's the best.
"So Little Time" is a simply perfect Matt Monro song and then superbly living up to it's title with "I'm Just Breezing Along With A Breeze." and once again with this number...the wonder of the final note

[john]

I was pleased they released SO LITTLE TIME, because although I had a copy on single, it wasn't a very good one, a bit scratched which was a shame because it is a lovely song.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

We agree with you John, "So Little Time" is a beautiful song, and somehow a very similar tune and reminder of Andy Williams and Tony Martins "Walk Hand In Hand With Me."