Essential Albums : Matt Monro Sings Hoagy Charmichael

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 3:05 pm

Matt Monro Sings Hoagy Charmichael (Parlophone 1962)

Original Mono Catalogue Number PMC 1185, Original Stereo Catalogue Number PCS 3034

Side 1
1. Stardust
2. Small Fry
3. How Little We Know
4. The Nearness Of You
5. Georgia On My Mind
6. Skylark

Side 2
1. One Morning In May
2. I Get Along Without You Very Well
3. Memphis In June
4. I Guess It Was You All The Time
5. Blue Orchids
6. Rocking Chair

Recording first released 1962

Orchestrations by Johnnie Spence

Also released on CD as part of the EMI Music For Pleasure â€œMatt Monro Singsâ€ Double Disc MFP cat no: CD-DL 1072.

Unfortunately no longer part of the EMI/MFP CD catalogue in it's original form, as far as I can discover, this for me is one of the truly great concept LPs ever released, matching a cohesive set of song selections with some of the finest renderings of same put on vinyl.

Georgia On My Mind has an emotive quality that doesn't for one second descend into the sentimental, in a reading that is just as compelling as that made more famous by Ray Charles. And as for I Get Along Without You Very Well, I personally feel this is the definitive version of this song, the combination of Matt and Johnnie Spence even surpassing the sublime Frank Sinatra/Nelson Riddle version of same.

The albums importance to the Hoagy Charmichael legacy was recognised in 1986 when it was deposited by the Carmichael Family at the Indiana Archives of Traditional Music in 1986.

Mark Fox · Post by **Mark Fox** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:02 pm

AND likewise:-Love Is The Same Anywhere album

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 1:42 pm

I've been listening to this LP this morning and consider it a real shame that it's not more well known amongst music lovers. I was a guest at the annual convention of the German Sinatra Society on Saturday night and although among their number there are several admirers of Matt, this wonderful collection is one that most were not aware of let alone heard. I'll have to put that right I think.

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:47 pm

I agree that this album should be re-released with the original artwork. Just to have the beautiful cover would be worthwhile. I love the red font used for Matt Monro, as well as his red shirt. It's so typical of that era.

Post by **Administrator** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:19 am

Marty, if you love the paring of Matt and Johnnie, you will be pleased to know that there are at least 10 tracks on the new album with them doing their thing. Listen to "In the Still of the Night" and let me know if you think it is the most fabulous rendition ever - of course I am bias

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 1:42 pm

Is this the version contained on "The Heart Of The Man" Michele? I've been trying (in complete vain) to find this in the big stores over here, and Amazon was fruitless last time I looked. (since writing I have discovered the release date from a couple of online sellers as 31st July and not 17th...which means I won't have too long to wait) Hope I can find it somewhere.

Looking at some of the tracks being mentioned for what I consider the most important Matt release for years, "The Rare" I notice some there which seem to be orchestrated by Johnnie too. I hope I don't have the same problems locating that on release.

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:44 pm

a timely bump up for a timeless classic.

It should be remembered that Hoagy Charmichael himself considered Matt peerless in his interpretations of his songs, Bing Crosby also had very positive things to say about the recordings contained here, especially "I Get Along Without You Very Well"

Everything on here is perfection

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:39 pm

Yes Bing said "I Get Along Without You Very Well" was one of the most beautiful recordings he had ever heard, I have to agree

john · Post by **john** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:45 pm

I also love Matt's version of Stardust, I prefer it to Nat King Cole's original actually.

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:52 pm

I have to disagree, John. 99% of the time I feel that Matt Monro has recorded the definitive version of any song, but not with Stardust. He didn't record the opening verse, which is the best part of this over-recorded and over-performed standard.

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:02 am

I agree with you Paul. Nats version of Stardust is "better".

I hate to say this, but Matts version of "My Way" is also way "inferior" to Mr Sinatras version. But saying that "My Way" IS Frank Sinatras song, no doubt. So whoever records a cover version of that song is just asking to be compared "unfavourably" to the "great" original by Frank. A True Classic. Yet FS covers of "My Kind of Girl" and "Yesterday" are diabolical.

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:10 am

Robert - I partially agree with you on My Way. But Matt Monro brings something to that song that is missing in the Frank Sinatra version. I can't really explain it, there's just something I like about Matt's version.

I prefer Sinatra's version of Strangers In The Night over Matt's, but as I've stated many times the best version is by the composer Bert Kaempfert.

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:08 pm

For the upcoming deluxe re-issue of this album, could EMI produce and include a large (LP-sized) poster of the cover and include it in extra fancy packaging? It's a fabulous cover and suitable for framing. There was a poster included in the deluxe version of Goldfrapp's Seventh Tree album and I love getting posters and post cards. I haven't even listened to the album yet, but I've spent a lot of time reviewing the liner notes, lyrics, post cards, and poster.

Also, could the liner notes be reproduced larger than the EMI 2 on 1 CD reissues?

It would also be nice to reissue a vinyl version, but that may be asking a lot.

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:07 am

Good idea about the LP size poster Jeff, now that would be coooooooooooooool

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Thu May 08, 2008 2:54 am

I'm a bit late listening to One Morning In May this year. Usually I pull it out on the 1st of May. Actually Russell Davies beat me to it this year!

So I brought my Matt Monro CD along for my drive to work. I played One Morning In May about four times. How wonderful it is! I love his phrasing and the quiet verse reprise. The quick cymbal claps thrown-in on off beats make the recording even more exciting.

Then I listened to I Get Along Without You Very Well. Perfection. I had to play it a second time and just sat in the parking garage listening to it.

I'll repeat my suggestion again: In addition to an LP-sized poster and larger liner notes with this CD reissue, could we please have a new vinyl version produced? I would love to see this in the always growing racks of new vinyl albums at HMV on Oxford Street.