Essential Albums : The Late, Late Show

[Marty]

Matt Monro : The Late, Late Show (Capitol Records 1968)

Original Catalogue Number ST 2919

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Side One

1. If She Could Come To You
2. When I Fall In Love
3. Maria
4. Hello Young Lovers
5. September Song

Side Two

1. This Is All I Ask
2. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
3. Days Of Wine & Roses
4. The Shadow Of Your Smile
5. Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)
6. The Party's Over


Essential Matt Monro could apply to this album more than any other in my opinion, beautifully lush productions of some of the finest standards placed on record. "Maria" (from West Side Story) is the ultimate recording of this oft covered favourite, with a very full yet complimentary orchestration by Kenny Clayton accompanying some of matt's most powerful vocals. Also the trio of arrangements from my favourite of Matt's chartists, Johnny Spence are amongst his finest, Sammy Cahn's "Time After Time", Gordon Jenkins's "This Is All I Ask" (penned for Sinatra's landmark "September Of My Years") and the sublime "Autumn Leaves" each show how finely attuned to one another Matt & Johnny really were.

One only has to listen to the level of control Matt gives to his breathing and lyric phrasing on this LP to know just what a master of song he really was.

[ROBERT M.]

Hello Marty. I agree with you completely regarding the "Late Late Show" album. I adore "Maria" absolutely breathtaking, especially the end notes, UNBELIEVABLE. Paul from Maryland doesn't particularly like the song though, even when sung with such perfection by Matt

[Marty]

I just noticed that the cover photograph made a very recent appearance in good ol' black and white on the Australian concert DVD. (as well as forming part of the banner to a certain website we all know) How did I miss that one???

One of my favourite pictures of Matt singing.

[ROBERT M.]

I missed it too Marty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we must need GLASSES It is probably my favourite photograph of Matt also, SOOOOO CLASSY.

[Marty]

just nudging this up

[john]

A brilliant album, Marty, I think I mentioned this on another page a few days ago, I particularly like If She Should Come To Yo and The Days Of Wine and Roses. Another favourite from this album is Autumn Leaves, which I believe is one of Mickie's favourites.

[Josh]

The Late, Late Show, what a brilliant album! Matt ranks as one of the great singers of the standards, they are a perfect fit for his voice and this album does not disappoint. Each song is sung with such warmth that it's impossbile not to fall in love with this album. The mix of arrangers doesn't make this album feel disjointed in any way, the focus is clearly on Matt's vocals

The songs are all familiar and equal in there brilliance, though the stand out has to be Maria Matt just holds those notes forever! However the rest of the songs are of course flawless (that seems to be the best way to describe Matt's vocals .) I was thrilled to hear Matt singing some of the best standards (Hello Young Lovers, The Party's Over etc) this album really does feature a great set of performances. Clearly deserving the title of this thread - Essential Albums!

Just checking my special reserve book (I think it's going to receive a lot of use ) I see that the songs for this album were chosen by the public, well clearly they knew what they were doing! I'm sure Matt was pleased with their choices and was thrilled when recording this album, it stands as one of the great examples of perfect singing. I urge the members to give this one a spin now!

[mariana44]

Josh--you have such a lot of great music ahead to look forward to--it is so exciting to hear for the first time ,a well-loved song given the "Matt Monro" treatment.

Thanks to Michele and Richard we are still occasionally getting some of these through.

[dennyelvis]

A great review, thanx for the info i must look this one up

[Josh]

Josh--you have such a lot of great music ahead to look forward to--it is so exciting

It is! Especially the Singles Collection and Rare Monro, such a huge ammount of new music I'd never heard before, can't wait to get more Matt


Thanks Dennyelvis, you should definately check this disc out, one of Matt's best albums

[maureen & harry]

We enjoyed reading your posting about The Late Late Show. You really do appreciate all that Matt has to offer and we know that you will enjoy his music for many years to come.

We love all Matt's albums but the one I particularly love too is The Late Late Show and for Harry it is Matt Monro Sings The Standards.

Maureen & Harry

[GregT]

Hi Monrovians everywhere..!
Pardon me for showing what Stephen Fry calls "the gaping chasm of general ignorance", but is "The Late, Late Show" still available or has it been re-released.
I've probably missed something somewhere..
(listening to "I'll Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her"...what a song..)
Greg

[maureen & harry]

Hi Greg,

In answer to your question re The Late Late Show, there is a CD available on a 2 for 1 release. The title of the CD is These Years and The Late Late Show. The CD was issued in 1999.

If you can't find it in the shops we think it might be available to buy from Amazon or Play.com

Hope this information is of help to you.

Maureen & Harry

[GregT]

Thanks Maureen and Harry..
will keep an eye out for these..!!
Greg

[Josh]

All of the twofers are stilla available on Amazon Greg and at a very affordable price! Though Walk Away/Invitation To The Movies is £22.49 for some reason, the rest however are all under a tenner and in some cases under a fiver!