It's Wonderful (A Tribute To George Gershwin) - Barbara Hendricks

Advantages: Good mix of tunes
Disadvantages: Not enough modern material

...) 17. She Works Hard For The Money (Edited Single Version) 18. Dinner With Gershwin 19. This Time I Know It's For Real There are also imports and collector's editions available featuring more re-mixes. The internet is the best place to look for that. This CD was £9.99 from Amazon when I checked it out for someone. I have to admit that for a "Very Best Of" collection, I wasn't altogether familiar with a lot of these songs. My personal favourites are "Love's Unkind", "Dinner With Gershwin" and "This Time I Know It's For Real". "No More Tears" with Barbara Streisand is a disco classic while "Hot Stuff" is STILL reaping the rewards of being on the soundtrack of "The Full Monty" from 1997. Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick and others, provide backing vocals on "State Of Independence". The cover of "Could... Read review

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Advantages: Classic songs sung beautifully
Disadvantages: None

...I bought Ella Fitzgerald when told by three of my friends that she could make your life better; this is true. It's partly the quality of the songs she sings on these two albums - all jazz standards by wonderful composers such as Gershwin and Cole Porter - and partly her beautiful, warm voice that make the CDs so immensely likable. Her singing has a sweetness, purity and naturalness that everyone can appreciate; it is also expressive, although it is better at conveying joy, exuberance and playfulness than sadness. I have listened to these CDs so much that they have been worn out; they are perfect for cocktails, relaxing and romantic evenings in.... Read review

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Advantages: Deep as the ocean blue
Disadvantages: Nil

...and written by George Gershwin for a folk opera; 'Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood', later recorded by The Animals; 'My Baby Just Cares for me', which was shot to fame due to a relatively recent perfume ad. 'I loves you Porgy' is a majestic, emotive love song, accentuated beautifully by Simone's soft voice and timing. It is an excerpt from 'I Wants to Stay Here', a song in Gershwins musical/opera 'Porgy and Bess'. I prefer it to the Ella Fitzgerald version I have heard because it is so much more passionate and shows better the desparation that Bess is feeling within the play. 'Love Me or Leave Me', the opening track, is charged with blues and sets a faster pace than most of the other songs on this album. 'Mood Indigo', eloquently named and transfused with jazz is concerned with your typical blues subject of 'you ain't never been as blue as... Read review

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