Black Coffee [Import] [Limited Edition]

The cd captures wonderfully the manic energy of Pete and Keely - a television couple that reigned supreme in the 1960s. Throughout the album we hear them at their best as they recall their joint musical career and their award winning signature tunes.

Dvorsky is a smooth as silk baritone with shades of Robert Goulet. His rendition of "Fever" on this album is alone worth the cost of the cd. Although done with a slight comic edge, the song comes alive with a wonderful nuance that Dvorsky delivers effortlessly. You'll find yourself replaying that track again and again.

The same could be said for Maye's sparkling "Black Coffee". Her voice is pure velvet, with a touch of "seen it all and done it all" flowing throughout this sensational track.

This original cast recording has been produced perfectly. The sound quality is superb, and the inner liner has some great photos of Pete n Keely in their glamorous Bob Mackie costumes that were such a huge part of the New York City premier.

If you like Broadway - then this cd is a must have...

If you like to smile when you listen to a cd - then this recording is a must have...

And....if you like your music upbeat and infectious - then this original cast recording is a MUST HAVE for your collection...

Black Coffee
Average customer rating:

Peggy's best album and one of the "ten greatest vocal jazz albums of all time."

Black Coffee

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000AA7E6I
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Album Description

Limited edition Japanese pressing. Philips. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

Peggy's best album and one of the "ten greatest vocal jazz albums of all time.".......2006-10-12

Witness: Dance Like the Wind - Music of Today's Black Composers

Average customer rating:

Historically significant choral works, wonderfully performed

Witness: Dance Like the Wind - Music of Today's Black Composers

Manufacturer: Clarion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0001FVEQS
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

Mother To Son
We Shall Walk Through The Valley
Lamentations: Black Folk Song Suite
Lamentations: Black Folk Song Suite
An Old Black Woman, Homeless And Insdistinct
Dance Like Wind
Dance Like Wind
Dance Like Wind
Tambourines To Glory
My Soul Hath Found Refuge In Thee (Psalm 91)
Nocturne
Piece For String Orchestra
Piece For String Orchestra
Images, Shadows And Dreams: Five Vignettes
Images, Shadows And Dreams: Five Vignettes
Images, Shadows And Dreams: Five Vignettes
Images, Shadows And Dreams: Five Vignettes
Images, Shadows And Dreams: Five Vignettes

Album Description

Thought-provoking and moving music by eight modern composers spans the range of expression from solo cello to chorus, from jazz ensemble to woodwind quintet.

Customer Reviews:

Historically significant choral works, wonderfully performed.......2004-05-31

For over 10 years, The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and Chorus (conducted by Philip Brunelle) has presented an enduring series of concerts showcasing the talents of trailblazing African American composers. Now this wealth of music is available outside the concert hall through a series of recordings called WITNESS.

DANCE LIKE THE WIND presents works by eight African American composers from various generations, though they all emerged after the neo-classical period of non-discrimination. You'll hear loyalty to classic idioms like the spirituals and blues, but also elements of more recent genres like R&B, gospel and rap. Enclosed are excellent liner notes and biographical information.

The other three CDs are available as single titles, or in the boxed set entitled THE WITNESS COLLECTION which includes:

WHAT A MIGHTY GOD: Spirituals and Gospels for Chorus
GOT THE SAINT LOUIS BLUES: Classical Music in the Jazz Age
SKYWARD MY PEOPLE ROSE: Music of William Grant Still
DANCE LIKE THE WIND

Tracks:

Black Coffee
I've Got You Under My Ski
Easy Living
My Heart Belongs To Daddy
Woman Alone With The Blue
I Didn't Know What Time I
When The World Was Young
Love Me Or Leave Me
It Ain't Necessarily So
Gee Baby (Ain't I Good To
You're My Thrill
There's A Small Hotel
Sea Fever
Nine Thorny Thickets
Little Old Car
Greensleeves
Chinese Love Poems(Fisher
Happy Monks
White Birch & The Sycamor
Of Such Is The Kingdom Of
Brown Bird Singing
I Don't Want To Play In Y
Maid Wuth The Flaxen Hair
Wearing Of The Green
Chaconde
Chinese Love Poems (Going
Riddle Song
Golden Wedding Ring

Album Details

Two Classic Peggy Albums on One.

Customer Reviews:

Contrasting Pearls: One String Black, One Strand White.......2006-07-05

The first album here, BLACK COFFEE, is representative of the Peggy Lee most listeners are familiar with, and it is available as a CD by itself, at a more affordable price. One of her very best albums, it is also one of her most purely jazz oriented efforts. Featuring Peggy's understated vocals in a small combo setting, I consider these performances to be "Essential Peggy Lee." There isn't a throwaway in the pack, including the four songs that were later added to the original BLACK COFFEE album.

SEA SHELLS is a little-known album of folk music. Strange to hear "the female Sinatra," as she's been called, do folk songs, and this is not an easy record to love, even for folk fans like me. It does, with patience (because there are no uptempo tracks here), reward repeated listening. Some of these musty old songs benefit from Lee's hushed reading. "White Birch And The Sycamore" and "Nine Thorny Thickets" are especially lovely. The arrangements are sparse; a couple of the "songs" are spoken (there are a couple of Chinese poems), and some are brief instrumentals. This record created a mood that stuck with me for a long time after I first listened to the entire album; my SEA SHELLS record was originally bought used, and is fairly beat up, so the pristine sound quality of this CD is most welcome. Of all Lee's records, this one sounds the most like Peggy singing to me in my living room, with her soft, intimate tones complimented by harp strums and delicate flourishes of harpsichord. Most unusual.

Because the first album is a 5-star essential, I can't give this collection anything less than that. Honestly, though, because of its limited appeal and its glacial pace, SEA SHELLS by itself would only get two, or three stars at most. If you are a major Peggy Lee fan who has somehow managed to get through life without hearing BLACK COFFEE, and you are curious about SEA SHELLS, by all means buy this collection!

Two very different albums from Peggy.......2003-08-17

The first album making up this twofer, Black coffee, is typical of Peggy's music - a jazz-pop collection featuring both famous and obscure songs from the Great American Songbook. The first eight tracks were originally released on an LP in 1953 and featured Peggy backed by trumpet, piano, bass and drums. Later, the LP was re-issued with four additional tracks - these are tracks 9 to 12 on this CD. Those four tracks were recorded at a later date and featured similar backing but with vibes and celeste instead of trumpet.

Among the songs on Black coffee, the title track remains one of Peggy's most famous songs despite never having been released as a single, while There's a small hotel i. Perhaps, the best of the other tracks on what can only be described as an outstanding collection - one of Peggy's finest albums. There are several classic songs here, usually associated with other singers, including I've got you under my skin, My heart belongs to Daddy, Love me or leave me, It ain't necessarily so and You're my thrill.

As a total contrast, the other album, Sea shells, is far removed from Peggy's normal style. A harp and a harpsichord provide the musical backing and most of the songs are folk songs. Furthermore, all the songs are slow - no upbeat songs to break the tempo. Some of the tracks are instrumental while the two tracks featuring Chinese love poems are narrated, not sung. The liner notes describe Sea shells as an intensely personal album.

I enjoy many different kinds of music including folk, but even I find that Sea shells is a difficult album to get into. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating album and if you can give it the dedicated attention that it demands, you may find it to be a very rewarding experience.

I notice that the Black coffee album has been made available on a CD by itself. You may find that to be a more suitable purchase, especially if you don't like folk music. For those who can appreciate both albums, this twofer shows just how versatile Peggy Lee was.

A jazz vocal masterpiece!!!.......1999-10-01

Simply one of the best jazz vocal albums ever recorded. Highly recommended!