From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Singer Susannah McCorkle has made a reputation for herself as a premier cabaret-style interpreter of American popular songs. And From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies proves once again that her rep is no fluke. McCorkle's gift for creative interpretations of classic material is evident right from the exuberant high note of "Laughing at Life," the CD-opening tribute to Billie Holiday. McCorkle's versatility is on display throughout the album's 14 tracks, from a beautiful rendition of Billy Strayhorn's anguished "Something to Live For" to an appropriately laid-back tribute to Chet Baker, "Look for the Silver Lining," and Bessie Smith's bluesy "I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle." The highlight of the set, though, is McCorkle's delicate version of Django Reinhardt's "Nuages," where she sings in French and English paired only with Al Gafa's lovely guitar. Sparse and impressionistic, the moment is at once reverent toward the original version and unafraid to add something of its own, much like the rest of From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies. --Ezra Gale

Tracks:

Laughing At Life
Something To Live For
Look For The Silver Lining
Nuages
Caminhos Cruzados
I Wish I Were In Love Again
I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle
Losing Hand
I Want To Be A Sideman
How Insensitive
A Phone Call To The Past
Stop, Time
Wave
Blue Skies

Amazon.com

Singer Susannah McCorkle has made a reputation for herself as a premier cabaret-style interpreter of American popular songs. And From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies proves once again that her rep is no fluke. McCorkle's gift for creative interpretations of classic material is evident right from the exuberant high note of "Laughing at Life," the CD-opening tribute to Billie Holiday. McCorkle's versatility is on display throughout the album's 14 tracks, from a beautiful rendition of Billy Strayhorn's anguished "Something to Live For" to an appropriately laid-back tribute to Chet Baker, "Look for the Silver Lining," and Bessie Smith's bluesy "I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle." The highlight of the set, though, is McCorkle's delicate version of Django Reinhardt's "Nuages," where she sings in French and English paired only with Al Gafa's lovely guitar. Sparse and impressionistic, the moment is at once reverent toward the original version and unafraid to add something of its own, much like the rest of From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies. --Ezra Gale

Customer Reviews:

Mellow album with excellent mix of songs.......2004-05-29

Unlike some of Susannah's albums, this one has no particular theme but it opens with a cover of a Billie Holiday song (Laughing at life). Something to live for (despite its title, a very melancholy song) is followed by the much brighter Look for the silver lining. Next comes Nuages (a Django Reinhardt classic).

Caminhos cruzados is a Jobim song that Susannah sings here in its original language because she could not get permission to record a translated version. I wish I were in love again (a Rodgers and Hart classic) is followed by I ain't gonna pay no second fiddle (a cover of a Bessie Smith song), Losing had (a very early Ray Charles song) and I want to be a sideman (a contemporary song). Then comes another Jobim song in its original language, Insensatez, but this is famous in English as How insensitive.

Two obscure songs (A phone call to the past, Stop time) are followed by another Jobim song (Wave). The set ends with what is surely the most famous song here, the Irving Berlin classic, Blue skies.

This was among the last albums that Susannah recorded and is well up to the standard that everybody expected.

A Beautiful Sound..........2002-09-29

Susannah MCorkle's FROM BROKEN HEARTS TO BLUE SKIES is a superb listen anytime, but can't be beat for those rainy nights when you are left with your thoughts and a hot cup of tea. While her talent as a strong vocalist is undeniable, what is most striking about her albums is the sincere love and intelligent arrangements evident in every song. "Laughing at Life," "Something to Live For" and "Look for the Silver Lining" are the kind of songs that settle comfortably in your bones; they are optimistic and sad at the same time.

"Nuages" and "I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle" are (like "Look for the Silver Lining" for Chet Baker) first-rate tributes; it's as if Susannah McCorkle channeled Marlene Dietrich ("Nuages") and Bessie Smith ("I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle") while managing to keep her own style as well.

Every song on here is unforgettable and the gems are the ones you don't see on most cover albums. "Phone Call to the Past" and "Losing Hand" recall maturity and careworn kinds of love; this is sophistication with no pretensions.

"I Want to Be A Sideman" and "I Wish I Were in Love Again" are happy, slightly sly songs that make you wish you were sitting back at a nice supper club with friends and black coffee.

If you're looking for an well-rounded album with panache and no gimmicks, with style and thought, here's one to consider. And don't forget to check out the bilingual "Wave" and the beautiful "Insensatez" (you would never know that Portuguese wasn't Susannah MCorkle's native language.)

Bad news bears, this is not the cd for me, sorry.......2000-08-01

I really like Susannahs' voice a lot. That's a big plus! I don't like this particular cd for a number of reasons. To start with, I thought the repertoire was abserd. There were very few songs on this cd that I knew, much less liked. When I found a song on this cd that I knew, it was messed up with the arrangement that was attached to it... There must be some hope out there for us "die hard" romantics...

Recommendation: I Can Not Recommend This Cd.

If You Like Diana Krall, Give McCorkle a listen.......2000-03-30

Diana Krall has gotten a great deal of deserved attention over the last two years. She is good, but Susannah McCorkle is even better. Indeed, McCrokle is arguably the finest jazz singer...ever. This is not her strongest album (hence four stars rather than five), but it is very good. The heart of the album begins with "I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle" and continues through "Losing Hand" (a Ray Charles song), "I Want to be a Sideman," and "A Phone Call to the Past." Each of these songs is worth the price of the CD. The CD gets off to a good start with "Laughing at Life," but the next five cuts, while OK, would leave a listener thinking I have overrated this CD. Once you get to "I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle," you will know that Susannah McCorkle is the real deal. She never disappoints, always ranging from good to sublime.

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