Dream Dancing - Cole Porter

Advantages: Some of the best songs ever written!
Disadvantages: Very bland

...John Barrowman has recently leapt into the spotlight due to a major role in the first series of the BBC's 'Doctor Who' relaunch, but has been known as a star of musicals for quite some time, and has also made various appearances in films and sitcoms. This album was presumably inspired by his recent involvement in two Cole Porter projects - the National Theatre's revival of Anything Goes and the Porter biopic De-Lovely, where he dueted with Kevin Kline on the song 'Night and Day'. Barrowman is one of those implausibly talented people - he's ludicrously handsome, he has a great singing voice, and he's an accomplished singer and dancer. The sort of man that inspires much jealousy, in short. His singing style is open and approachable, no nasal whining here. He has a wide range (he doesn't strain on any of the high notes) and you can make... Read review

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Advantages: 104 quality songs, informative and well written booklet
Disadvantages: None unless you don't like 40's-style jazz

...someone else, including Honeysuckle Rose, That Ain't Right (can't beat the Fats Waller / Ada Brown version though!!), It's Only A Paper Moon, Sweet Georgia Brown, I'm In The Mood For Love, I've Got The World On A String, Makin' Whoopee, Dream A Little Dream Of Me, My Baby Just Cares For Me, and Mona Lisa. If you're not familiar with King Cole, of course, there's no real way for me to explain it to you, or for you to know if you'd like it from my description. However, all is not lost… You can hear samples of all of the tracks at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005RT8F/103-4607289-3317455?v=glance&s=music&vi=samples#disc1. Overall Verdict Brilliant, wonderful, superb, exceptional. Complete Track Listing Disc: 1 1. Sweet Lorraine 2. Honeysuckle Rose 3. Scotchin' With The Soda 4. Slow Down 5. Early... Read review

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Advantages: Great sound and a few truly wonderful songs
Disadvantages: Several of the tracks are disappointing, and you miss the dancing!

...not grab me as the works of Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, the Gershwins or even Vincent Youman's later works do. I think this is down to Al Dubin's lyrics rather than Harry Warren's music, but it is hard to tell. When Warren and Dubin's songs are they're good they are very good, but when they're not, they just leave me cold. As songs from other Warren and Dubin films were interpolated into the stage version of 42ns Street, it is a shame that their love song 'I Only Have Eyes For You' (from the 1934 film Dames) wasn't used, as that is a truly marvellous song. Still, I can't really hold that against the recording, which simply represents the show as seen on stage. The 'Overture', plus 'Shadow Waltz', 'Dames', 'Lullaby of Broadway' and '42nd Street' make this CD, but the rest of the songs are a case of 'take 'em or leave 'em' really... Read review

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