What's In Your CD Player/iPod/MP3/Computer/Hi Fi, Right Now?

What are you playing in the background.
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Hilary
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Post by Hilary » Thu May 04, 2006 10:52 am

Hi Terence, Marian, Robert and everyone!

My brother has seen Diana Krall in concert and he said the same thing.
She is a great singer and performer, but she is a little shy on stage.
He also went on to say that even thou she didn't connect that well with the audience, her voice and her brilliant piano work, kept everyone happy during her live set.

From what I have heard, the same applies to Norah Jones.
Yet again a very good singer/songwriter and she can of course play her piano well just like Diana does.

She is also a lady of very few words, again her shyness stops her from saying too much other than maybe introducing the songs and the members of her band.

Sometimes if you can't think of anything to say, I guess it is best to let the music do the talking as this is really what the people have come to hear.

Having watched Matt's DVD, we know that the great man was a very good story teller as well as a brilliant singer.
The same applies to Neil Sedaka, Daniel O'Donnell and Charlie Landsborough. All are very good at entertaining the people with their great music and chat.

I suppose that we are maybe a little disappointed sometimes when artists can't do it all and we feel that they have let us down!

I do believe that most artists are a little shy when they aren't performing as they have to be themselves when they are at home!
Some can project themselves well on stage but when you meet them, they can be as shy as we are!!

It is a great talent to be able to sing/play an instrument and tell the odd joke and story. Some can do this and they are VERY talented indeed.

Best Wishes,

Hilary :D
Hilary

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Terence Lee
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Showmanship

Post by Terence Lee » Thu May 04, 2006 5:45 pm

Hi Hilary

If a singer just stands still on stage and sing or sits at the piano and sing, I might as well just play his or her CD at home. What I am looking for in the live experience is presentation and showmanship. Some have it in leaps and bounds. Put them on a stage and they shine no matter the condition of their voice (think Liza Minnelli). Others have always been dynamic (think Shirley Bassey). Yet others are overpriced but need teleprompters (think Barbra Streisand). But these 3 ladies do put on a show when you go to their concerts and what a show it is!

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Fri May 05, 2006 11:17 am

Hi again to everyone---I have to say Diana Krall is not one of my favourite singers, and Natalie Cole is good sometimes, but their duet that I mentioned --"Better together" is just great. I was amazed to hear she is married to Elvis Costello---they seem an odd couple to me!

Talking about live performances, I have seen Neil Sedaka in concert many times, and he is brilliant live--I guess it is partly due to nostalgia, as he sings a lot of his old hits and it's a real good sing along time. The same applies to Barry Manilow. I have also seen Johnny Mathis in concert at least 100 times--both here and in USA--a totally different singer, in a league of his own [well, I think so}

By the way--anyone going to his concerts in September--I have got tickets for all 4 concerts, including Dublin!!

My favourite track of Eva Cassidy, without a doubt is "Fields of Gold"--just beautiful--and very moving.

Who likes Stacey Kent--a very distinctive singer--I am listening to her singing "They can't take that away from me". --love it !!

That is it from me---Marian
Mariana

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Mark Fox
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Post by Mark Fox » Sat May 06, 2006 5:07 pm

Several ITBAS members are seeing Johnny concerts-it's good to see him back here after a long absence.I can't make any of them as we'll be in NYNY at same time.

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Terence Lee
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Mathis Magic

Post by Terence Lee » Sun May 07, 2006 11:39 am

There are some songs that Johnny Mathis sings very well like Maria from West Side Story. I like the way he holds some long notes on this song. My favourite Mathis song is one that is impossible to find on CD but he recorded it as a single. It is "Take Good Care Of Her". I also like his version of When A Child Is Born sung as a duet with Gladys Knight. He was Barbra Streisand's favourite male singer when she was growing up. Finally they recorded together for BACK TO BROADWAY with a lovely duet One Hand, One Heart. Liza Minnelli also recorded Chances Are as a duet with Johnny on her CD of standards titled GENTLY. I have been told he is nice to his fans and almost shy when cornered backstage for autographs.

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Sun May 07, 2006 12:54 pm

Hi Terence--you are right in all you say regarding Johnny Mathis. As you know I am a big fan of his, and I have met him several times---he is very unassuming, and as you pointed out, very shy at times.

Thankfully, I can appreciate other good singers too--noticably our Matt!

Marian
Mariana

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Terence Lee
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Dionne Warwick

Post by Terence Lee » Sun May 07, 2006 1:04 pm

Hi Marian

Dionne Warwick seems to be Johnny Mathis's favourite duet partner as he has recorded with her on several occasions. Offhand, I can think of these songs when the 2 of them combine their vocal magic to weave wonderful songs :
1. Friends In Love
2. Got You Where I Want You
3. Who's Counting Heartaches
4. Two Strong Hearts

Are there any more Marian?

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Sun May 07, 2006 9:56 pm

Hi Terence--I cannot remember at the moment if Johnny Mathis recorded any other songs with Dionne Warwick--he did once duet with her in "Deja vu" at Radio City Music Hall , New York. He sang most often with Deniece Williams--a whole album--plus several other tracks. Also duetted with Natalie Cole on "Unforgettable", which was televised, just once only, but is now a Cd. He has sung with many other female singers apart from Barbra Streisand, and Liza Minelli, he has sung with Stephanie Lawrence, Jane Olivor, Lena Horne, Barbara Dickson,Patti Austin, Regina Belle, Angela Bofill, Gladys Knight.

I think my favourite duet has to be with Jane Olivor "The last time I felt like this" from the film "Same Time Next Year"

Marian
Mariana

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Terence Lee
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A duet with Lena Horne

Post by Terence Lee » Mon May 08, 2006 4:12 am

A duet with Lena Horne sounds interesting as that lady can be fiery live. I have never heard Johnny's duet with Barbara Dickson too. Were these only performed live and not recorded? Poor Angela Bofill had a stroke. Hope she is getting better. I have always liked her "This Time I'll Be Sweeter".

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Hilary
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Post by Hilary » Mon May 08, 2006 11:06 am

Hi Everyone,

We heard Johhny Mathis on BBC Radio in the South a couple of weeks ago.
He was speaking to David Allen from his home in the US.

Apparently Johnny doesn't do that many interviews as he doesn't really like doing them but the great man spoke with David on his Saturday night show.

David is a very good presenter and let's his guests do the talking.
Johnny was so nice and he was also so interesting talking about his life in music.

David has been playing tracks from his new CD which sadly is only available in the US at present. Not sure of the title of the CD but it has something to do with romance!!!

Marian, My favourite track by Eva Cassidy would have to be "Anniversary song" as it is one of her best but not played that much on the radio.
Katie Melua always ends her live shows with this one and before she does she pays a lovely tribute to Eva.

Terence, you are right about "What a wonderful world."
Eva was carried on stage and sang the song during the tribute show in the US. Sadly she died within weeks of this recording.

Best Wishes,

Hilary
Hilary

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Mon May 08, 2006 2:30 pm

Hi Hilary, and everyone. I heard the Johnyy Mathis interview on Radio Solent--a friend emailed it to me. He is also on tomorrow afternoon-[Wednesday]the Steve Wright show doing an interview from ~US.

That latest cd [over a year old now], is called "Isn't it Romantic", and on Amazon at the moment, in the "new and used" section there is one for sale at £1.99 !! I shall never know why it was never released in UK.

I believe I said before that I had got rid of all my Dominic Kirwan videos, as I only use dvds now. But I did a search, and managed to buy some dvds--2 concerts on each dvd, 3 dvds--6 concerts. So I was really pleased. It was from a site called www.irishmusic.co.uk.

That was sad, reading about Eva Cassidy--I do not think I have heard her sing The Anniversary Song"

Marian
Mariana

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Mon May 08, 2006 2:39 pm

Hi Terence. I knew I would forget some of the singers that Johnny Mathis has duetted with!! They also include Lorrie Morgan, Ray Charles, Betty Buckley, and Nell Carter. I believe Nell Carter has sadly died since then. I would say that probably only Frank Sinatra has duetted with more different singers---maybe Barbra Streisand has too.

The duet with Lena Horne is from a Lena Horne cd, and the Barbara Dickson recording is similarly from a Barbara Dickson cd, but was also released as a single.

I am actually listening to Matt at the moment---"What to do" --what a lovely song---first time I heard it was on the tv documentary--I am not surprised that Michele said it was one of her favourites.

Marian
Mariana

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Terence Lee
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Duets

Post by Terence Lee » Tue May 09, 2006 5:39 am

For his next CD, Johnny should release all the duets he recorded with all these artistes as it is difficult to collect them all, some being available only on that artiste's CD. The duets with Lorrie Morgan, Betty Buckley, Ray Charles & Nell Carter should take prominence in the new CD of duets as very few people have heard them.

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Tue May 09, 2006 9:56 am

Hi Terence--yes I quite agree--although the Ray Charles one is on the latest cd of Johnny Mathis. He did actually release a cd a few years back called "Better Together" which was all duets, but most of them were re-releases, just a couple of new recordings. Marian
Mariana

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Mark Fox
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Post by Mark Fox » Tue May 09, 2006 7:41 pm

I'm listening to Tony Bennett singing DAYDREAM a bonus track(previously unreleased)on
BOB BROOKMEYER&FRIENDS album

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