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

diane · Post by **diane** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:01 pm

Hi Marian, I actually did them on the computer this time but I do draw faces, usually peoples grandkids...and the odd singer!

Ha! ha! Roberts having a good old play about now isn't he...

this is a drawing I did for a lady, of her grandaughter.

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:06 am

Hi diane. Is that a picture of your grandaughter?? You certainly have lots of unusual emoticons to post

diane · Post by **diane** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:08 am

No that's a drawing I did for someone of their grandaughter....Marian was asking in the previous post about the two sketches of Matt and asked if I'd drawn them, so i just posted that drawing as she seems to like art.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:45 pm

Hi Diane--thanks for posting the other picture you drew--it was delightful.

I cannot say that I am into art as such, but George and I used to often visit the large art galleries in London and have a browse around. And we do have a few original oil-paintings in our lounge---nobody famous, obviously, but attractive paintings that appealed to us both.

I have often wished I could draw--but I guess it is just a knack.

Marian

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:56 pm

Diane -- I'm very pleased that you are listening to and enjoying Moody's Mood For Love by Elliott Yamin. He's an exceptional singer. He's performing in a solo concert in Richmond on October 8; I may have to drive a couple hours down I-95 to see him. I haven't heard anything about a record deal yet. I hope he takes his time and signs to a label that will let him record true soul music. I also like your drawings, Diane.

Regarding what I'm currently listening to -- I saw the film Two For The Road in a theatre last week-end. It's the first time I've ever seen that movie and I loved it; it's one of those films that sticks with you for awhile. So I've been listening to Henry Mancini's music for the past week. I'm also listening to Ray Conniff's music, which is also from the 1960s easy listening era, which was so lovely. I like Ray Conniff's recordings with his orchestra and with his singers.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:14 pm

Hi Paul--that music from "Two for the road" -I think sometimes called "Rendezvous" is really lovely. Johnny Mathis did a whole cd with Henry Mancini called "The Hollywood Musicals" and they were both over here a good few years ago, promoting it on TV etc. A lovely album. Rendezvous" was not included on it, but was often included in a Mancini Medley in a live show. Another great Mancini song -from one of the "Pink Panther "films is "The Greatest gift". Not to mention the wonderful "Moon River" . It was a sad day for music when Henry Mancini died. I have a couple of Monica Mancini cds--one of them is of her father's music.

Plus yes, I also like Ray Conniff---but he is rarely heard these days. One of his most well known, is "For all we know" which was a great favourite of Ray Moore--who did a morning radio show similar to Wogan , and Ken Bruce. He sadly died, but I do believe that recording was played at his funeral!

Marian

diane · Post by **diane** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:41 pm

Thank you Paul....I just stopped in my tracks the first time I heard Elliott sing on AI. and knew he was very special, you are so lucky to be able to see him in concert, maybe one day when he is touring over in the UK (and he will) I will be lucky enough to hear that wonderful voice live.

I am now listening to 'Passing Breeze' sung by Danny Williams, I bought the album in the late 60s and it holds some very special memories for me of wonderful times long gone...

I could never decide who I prefered between Johnny Mathis and Danny Williams, I think at this moment it has to be Danny!

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:02 pm

Hi Diane and Paul---It was very sad when Danny Williams died so young.
Coincidentally , as we were just discussing Henry Mancini, the version of "Moon River" by Danny Williams just has to be the very best.

Marian

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:25 am

Hello Marian and all. Danny Williams version of "Moon River" is definitely the best ever version, absolutely great

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:57 am

I agree with all of you. When I was in Munich a few years ago I bought a CD compilation of many of the great vocalists. It included Moon River by Danny Williams. I actually thought it was a misprint and it should have been Andy Williams. I had never heard of Danny Williams before. When I got home and played the CD I heard this most beautiful voice singing Moon River. I also love the versions by Andy Williams and Henry Mancini's chorus, but the Danny Williams version is the simply special.

Marian - I hadn't heard of the Johnny Mathis/Henry Mancini CD. Sounds interesting. Also, Ray Conniff was still touring up until his death a few years ago. I never saw him live, but I have a live CD and his concerts sound outstanding. And just like Matt Monro Jnr and Tim Heath, Ray Conniff's daughter Tamara is in the music industry: she's an editor for Billboard magazine. Now a question for you: is the For All We Know that Ray Moore played the Ray Conniff version of the Carpenters song or the Matt Monro song? I love them both. You can still hear Ray Conniff's Christmas songs played in stores during the seasonal shopping. But he's not played on the radio anymore. He recorded hundreds of albums, many reached the top 10 album chart in the US. My favourites are Blue Hawaii, Somewhere My Love, and all his Christmas albums (especially the songs Frosty The Snowman and Count Your Blessings).

Diane - I did about just the same with Elliott. I was half watching the auditions (my least favourite part of American Idol). All of a sudden I hear this voice singing soul music. I wrote his name on a piece of paper, and forgot about him until the Hollywood shows and then I remembered how great he was. He is a natural singer with so many gifts. His singing on Moody's Mood For Love and the Donny Hathway songs is, as Simon Cowell remarked, a Master Class in Singing. I'm sure he would love to perform in the UK because you have such an appreciation of good singers and American soul music.

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 1:10 am

Hello all. Just to let you know that Danny Williams was born in South Africa on 7th January 1942 and passed away in the UK on 6th December 2005

Terence Lee · Post by **Terence Lee** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:52 am

My favourite Ray Conniff CD is HARMONY.
That Mathis/Mancini CD is pure magic and was a match made in heaven.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:11 pm

Hi Terence and Paul--you may think I am biased, but I could not have put it better myself, about the Mathis /Mancini cd--definately one of my faves.

I should have made myself clear re "For all we know"---it is the one that Matt sings, that was the favourite of Ray Moore, and Ray Conniff does a great version--different! Of the 2 songs called "For all we know"--I think this is the best--it is 100% one of my favourites, whoever sings it.

Funnily enough Johnny Mathis never recorded it on a cd or Lp even, but I do have it on a 45" single! A prized possession, as it is very rare.

I think this is the first mention of Donny Hathaway in Paul's posting-I know he is another singer no longer with us, but I loved the duets he did with Roberta Flack, and even better the 2 duets he did with Diana Ross--"Stop, Look , listen to your Heart" and "You are everything"--they are stunning!!

I had not realised it was so recently that Danny Wiiliams died-less than a year ago-I thought it seemed longer. Thanks again to my secretary

for that information

Marian

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:48 pm

Ray Conniff takes over a large section of our music, collected over many years. Was popular along with artist such as Henry Mancini, Bert Kaempfert, Mantovani, when stereophonic sound replaced Mono and was the in thing to listen to.

and we would go along to exhibitions to see and marvel at this machinery that produced this sound.
Ray Moore's recording with Ray Conniff "For All We Know" is on a CD of Rays with the title "A Personel Choice" the other Two songs associated with Ray that we remember are "The Bog-Eyed Jog " and "My Father Had A Rabbit" and are one this CD.
Danny Williams was nicknamed Britains Jonny Mathis and recorded Moon River a year before Andy Williams. Both superb recordings. All Danny's hits were in the UK except one "White On White" and this single was in the top Ten in the USA in 1964 or 5.

Terence Lee · Post by **Terence Lee** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 3:02 pm

Hi Marian

Sorry to correct you but but wasn't that Marvin Gaye dueting with Diana Ross on the 2 songs you mentioned?

Matt Monro Forum

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

Diana duet partner