Hummin' To Myself

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
What is it about erstwhile '60s rock stars nearing 60 that draws them to standards? Just as Rod Stewart has mined the works of Styne & Cahn and Cole Porter for his bankable (if heavy-handed) Great American Songbook series, so, too, has Linda Ronstadt turned to pop classics in the autumn of her career. Of course, Ronstadt has been here before, having enlisted Nelson Riddle to guide her through three standards collections in the '80s. With Hummin' to Myself, the peripatetic vocalist eschews the robust big-band arrangements that marked What's New and its offspring for small-ensemble treatments of the likes of "Miss Otis Regrets" and "Day Dream." With either Alan Broadbent or Warren Bernhardt at the keys and Bob Mann, Christian McBride, and Lewis Nash making up the rhythm section on most tracks, Ronstadt gets more than capable instrumental support from some seasoned jazz pros, and while she won't make anyone forget Ella Fitzgerald, she brings her distinctive brand of brass to "Never Will I Marry" and "Get Out of Town." Meanwhile, she eases through languid takes of "I Fall in Love Too Easily" and "Cry Me a River," the latter borrowing considerably from Julie London's defining version, but substituting melancholy for London's playful sultriness. --Steven Stolder

Tracks:

Tell Him I Said Hello
Never Will I Marry
Cry Me A River
Hummin' To Myself
Miss Otis Regrets
I Fall In Love Too Easily
Blue Prelude
Day Dream
I've Never Been In Love Before
Get Out Of Town
I'll Be Seeing You

Amazon.com

What is it about erstwhile '60s rock stars nearing 60 that draws them to standards? Just as Rod Stewart has mined the works of Styne & Cahn and Cole Porter for his bankable (if heavy-handed) Great American Songbook series, so, too, has Linda Ronstadt turned to pop classics in the autumn of her career. Of course, Ronstadt has been here before, having enlisted Nelson Riddle to guide her through three standards collections in the '80s. With Hummin' to Myself, the peripatetic vocalist eschews the robust big-band arrangements that marked What's New and its offspring for small-ensemble treatments of the likes of "Miss Otis Regrets" and "Day Dream." With either Alan Broadbent or Warren Bernhardt at the keys and Bob Mann, Christian McBride, and Lewis Nash making up the rhythm section on most tracks, Ronstadt gets more than capable instrumental support from some seasoned jazz pros, and while she won't make anyone forget Ella Fitzgerald, she brings her distinctive brand of brass to "Never Will I Marry" and "Get Out of Town." Meanwhile, she eases through languid takes of "I Fall in Love Too Easily" and "Cry Me a River," the latter borrowing considerably from Julie London's defining version, but substituting melancholy for London's playful sultriness. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Sweet Sounds.......2007-06-05

On this offering Linda Ronstadt's voice is akin to a fine old montepulciano. Or a fine old Guarnerius, for that matter: she's got range and power, supple intonation and piu dolce phrasing.

This is the fourth time Ronstadt has dished out this wonderful music, and Hummin' to Myself is her answer to those critics who backhandedly complimented her 1980s recordings with Nelson Riddle, complaining that Riddle's orchestra overpowered her. It's true that while Ronstadt has a versatile singing voice it wasn't a perfect fit for the torch-song genre, and recording engineers often overexposed her brilliant mezzo-soprano with the then-new digital technology. At times it almost sounded as though she were singing in a tiled bathroom.

This time around Ronstadt has melted beautifully into her material. Her voice, which hasn't lost an ounce of oomph, is backed by leaner ensembles headed by veteran jazz pianists Alan Broadbent and Warren Bernhardt. Yet even with these restrained arrangements, Ronstadt has the musical sensibility not to overpower her accompanists; rather, she fits in with the music snug as a dovetail joint.

Her recording of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's "Day Dream" best exemplifies her approach. Backed by tenor sax, trumpet, and a low-key rhythm section, Ronstadt's phrasing is so suave and understated that she even blends with the brushes on Peter Erskine's snare. When her voice lilts up wide on a word, she glissandos effortlessly to a powerful vibrato.

She opens with an affecting but never affected version of "Tell Him I Said Hello." Simple and sincere, Ronstadt digs down to her country roots to bring plain, honest beauty to this and other songs on the album. These include the title cut, "Cry Me a River" (which I prefer even to Krall's sultry version), and "I Fall in Love Too Easily"--she has something going on here that hearkens back to those great heartbreakers which Patsy Cline sang so well.

The only low point is a scat rendition of Frank Loesser's "Never Will I Marry"; it's technically good but comes off a bit overdone. But Ronstadt sure knows how to close on the high note, as she proved years ago with her haunting rendition of Benny Goodman's sign-off tune "Good-Bye" on What's New. On this album she intones "I'll Be Seeing You" in a straightforward, bittersweet manner, almost narrating rather than singing. The sentimentality you feel isn't coming from Ronstadt directly, but from emotions she so skillfully stirs up within you. That's a rare talent, one that all the money in the world can't buy. You either got it, or you don't--and Linda Ronstadt's got it.

Hummin' to myself Linda Ronstadt.......2007-04-26

I am a huge fan of Linda's and this is by far her greatest work.
Her professionalism is tops in the entire music industry and this
album proves it. A collection of romantic ballads from the big band
era, each and every song is fantasticly produced,arrainged,played
by some of the best in the buisness.This album is a must for lovers
who want some hand holding music to enjoy.I have had the CD for about
two years and still play it at least twice aweek.It is hard to
put this music into a catagory without starting a new one.ADULT ROMANCE.

My favorite singer of all time.......2007-01-10

Wonderful little CD with an eclectic mix of gorgeously executed 'hummable' songs.

Loved it.......2006-11-02

Everyone I know who has listened to this CD has enjoyed it very much. Hope for more of this type.

SEXY, JAZZY, AND I CAN'T STOP HUMMIN'.......2006-07-10

This is a MUST HAVE for the Linda Ronstadt fan. As time goes on she keeps re-inventing herself, and I love it! If I was a rich man I would tell you to buy this CD, and if you did not like it I would pay for it, but you will just have to trust me. Thank you Linda.

Average customer rating:

Hummin' To Myself

Hummin' to Myself
Dave Van Ronk
Manufacturer: Gazell Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000001K0Z
Release Date: 1995-04-16

Tracks:

Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
Making Whoopie
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
Sweet Georgia Brown
Hummin' To Myself
Hong Kong Blues
Lucky So And So
The Fresno Shuffle
Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
Two Sleepy People
It Ain't Necessarily So
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
Jack You're Dead

Customer Reviews:

Hummin' To Myself.......2000-11-26

Dave Van Ronk: he whispers, growls, hums, sings and can tell a story like no one else. Dave certainly earns the title of an artist in several genres: folk, jazz and blues, to name a few.

Mr. Van Ronk's CD, "Hummin' to Myself," takes the listener on a journey through the great experiences of life, starting with the famous songs "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams" and "Making Whoopie" and ending with the ever popular "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans" and "Jack You're Dead." Certainly a CD worth owning!

Music:

Music

Music