Great American Songbook, The - Carmen McRae

Advantages: Great album for any mood
Disadvantages: none

...It's a little hard to take Rod Stewart seriously when, on the first track of this third installment in his Great American Songbook series, he sings ruefully about his love life being "lean" ("Embraceable You"). But otherwise, Stardust...Volume III is as note-for-note solid as its predecessors. A treat that's also a pleasant reminder of these songs' staying power. "S'Wonderful" settles on the ears winningly, and Stewart's scratchy yet harmonic voice is sheer class in "Isn't It Romantic" in a way that compels the average listener to reconsider thinking it dopey. In addition, the parade of high class superstars recruited to construct the album are brilliant, resulting in a couple of must-hear combinations. Eric Clapton delivers a rather un-Clapton-like guitar solo on "Blue Moon" and Stevie Wonder blows harp like he means it on "What... Read review

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Advantages: Originality, a beautiful voice and that gorgeous guitar
Disadvantages: One or two less impressive songs

...My first thought upon hearing the dying strains of Tom McRae's 'The Boy With The Bubblegun' in the car one afternoon as I drove home was - 'He sounds like James Taylor'. My second thought was - 'I need his album'. I hadn't even heard the whole song - and, although it is certainly a great piece of melodic and lyric inspiration, Bubblegun is not the best song on the album. But nevertheless, I was captured immediately by McRae's gorgeous, clear, folky voice, the sheer originality and finesse of his lyrics, and the warmth of his acoustic guitar. After further consideration, it occurs to me that a better comparison might be drawn with Damien Rice, the only difference being that McRae, frankly, is better. His guitar riffs are similar, his folky sound is similar, but his voice is a thousand times purer and more accomplished. McRae... Read review

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Advantages: Smooth voiced protagonists, nice sound
Disadvantages: Slightly tame Escamillo, maybe lacking in some french style

...to the role but his voice is not in as fine form as Domingo's was in the late 70s and Domingo has a more powerful and arguably beautiful voice than some of the competition (Shicoff, Alagna, Lamberti etc). Domingo has good french altough he has a strong spanish accent, which might distract native speakers. The baritone, Sherrill Milnes has lots of vocal glamour but lacks something in french style. His toreador's song seems a little tame in comparison with that of Robert Merrill, that other famous American baritone, on the older baritone's recording with Leontyne Price as Carmen, Herbert von Karajan conducting. This recording has recently been cut down to midprice and at that level it is a complete steal. The sound is very good and the conducting is dramatic but not forced. Maybe not for purists after 100% french style - they could maybe choose... Read review

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