Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown, North Dakota had turned out to be the final album of Peggy Lee's lengthy tenure at Capitol Records, and 16 months after its release the 54-year-old singer returned to the record racks on Atlantic Records with Let's Love, touted as a comeback assisted by a former Capitol labelmate, former Beatle Paul McCartney, who wrote and produced the title song especially for her. That may have been the headline grabber, but the LP that was bookended by the song "Let's Love" and its reprise actually was more the product of Lee and Dave Grusin's efforts, under the auspices of Atlantic executive Nesuhi Ertegun. Lee and Grusin co-produced the rest of the tracks, adopting a sophisticated contemporary pop/jazz sound. Grusin was an expert at this sort of fusion style, incorporating elements of gospel, R&B, and funk, and Lee was very much on board with the approach. As on her later Capitol albums, she presented her versions of recent hits like James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and the Stylistics' "You Make Me Feel Brand New." When she and Grusin did essay a standard like the ones she had been singing for 30 years, they made a point of transforming it. Irving Berlin's "Always" may have a 1925 copyright, but here it sounds like the Pointer Sisters' "Yes We Can Can." The co-producers also included a couple of string-filled ballads to make old fans welcome, however, with Lee adding lyrics to Grusin's movie theme "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" and doing Karen Carpenter one better on Henry and Felice Mancini's "Sometimes." As for "Let's Love" itself, it's a fairly typical McCartney effort of the period, not as bombastic as "My Love," but in the same vein with some obvious arranging tricks that do not detract from its appeal, and Lee, as she does with all the material here, sings it effectively. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.
Label: Rhino Handmade
Photos: Broadway Toasts Release of 'I'll Drink to That!' Cocktail Book
by Nicole Rosky
- June 01, 2023
We'd like to propose a toast! Broadway has always raised a glass to celebrate itself, both on-stage and off. I'll Drink to That!, by Laurence Maslon, is a celebration of theatrical tradition, a souvenir of magic moments on stage, and a practical guide to make one-of-a-kind craft cocktail recipes inspired by the best of Broadway. Check out photos from the release party here!
Brandon Seabrook Releases New Album 'BRUTALOVECHAMP'
by Blair Ingenthron
- May 28, 2023
Released on May 26, 2023, brutalovechamp features Seabrook's stunning and malleable octet Epic Proportions, which includes percussionist and vocalist Nava Dunkelman, cellist Marika Hughes, bassists Eivind Opsvik and Henry Fraser, electronic musician and vocalist Chuck Bettis, John McCowen on clarinets and recorders, and Sam Ospovat on drums, vibraphone and percussion.
TALKING IT OUT Virtual Poetry Open-Mic to Be Held Tonight
by Blair Ingenthron
- May 28, 2023
Tonight, Sunday, May 28th at 7pm EST, the Talking It Out Virtual Arts Festival in Support of Mental Health Awareness will host its next monthly Poetry Open-Mic Night for poets and spoken-word artists to come and share their poems, monologues, and other written work virtually across the world, and to watch and support the works of their fellow artists.
Dr. Shashi Tharoor Launches Kamal Shah's New Book SILVER LINING
by Blair Ingenthron
- May 28, 2023
Dr Shashi Tharoor, Indian politician and Member of Parliament (MP) launched a new book titled 'Silver Lining - Overcoming Adversity to Build NephroPlus, India's Largest Dialysis Provider' written by NephroPlus co-founder and author Kamal Shah.
Deborah Martin and Jill Haley Release 'INTO THE QUIET' Album
by Blair Ingenthron
- May 27, 2023
Into The Quiet is the second collaboration between electronic ambient visionary Deborah Martin and renowned English Horn player and Oboist Jill Haley. Their previous album was 2021's The Silence Of Grace, a pastoral collection that received numerous accolades including Zone Music Reporter's list of Top 20 albums of the year.
Sylvie Courvoisier & Cory Smythe Release New Album 'RITE OF SPRING - SPECTRE D'UN SONGE'
by Blair Ingenthron
- May 20, 2023
With The Rite of Spring – Spectre d’un songe, two of contemporary music’s most vital and innovative pianists – Sylvie Courvoisier and Cory Smythe – interpret and converse with one of the 20th century’s landmark compositions. On this breathtaking new recording, released May 19, 2023 from Pyroclastic Records, Courvoisier and Smythe perform Igor Stravinsky’s striking two-piano rendition of his iconic Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), followed by a bold new Courvoisier composition that draws inspiration from Stravinsky as a launchpad for investigatory improvisation.
THE GUAVA TREE, A New Bilingual Musical For Young Audiences, Releases Cast Album
by Blair Ingenthron
- May 20, 2023
The official cast album for The Guava Tree / El Guayabo, a new bilingual musical for young audiences, is available digitally on all platforms. With book and lyrics by Diana Grisanti and music by Emiliano Messiez, the musical premiered at the renowned Creede Repertory Theatre in Colorado in 2021. It toured across the Southwest and was seen by more than 40,000 students.
Listen: Matthew Scott's THE JESUS YEAR: A LETTER FROM MY DAD Out Now
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- May 19, 2023
PS CLASSICS, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, has announced the release of the debut album from actor-singer Matthew Scott, who has been lighting up the Broadway stage since making his debut in Jersey Boys.
Author Mike McHale Launches Monthly #DinoDogzDonates Program
by Blair Ingenthron
- May 13, 2023
Mystery Mike McHale and DinoDogz have announced the launch of their new fundraising program, DinoDogz has previously raised funds for various charities including WORTHY OF LOVE, TUESDAY'S CHILDREN and BELLA AND BUDDIES ANIMAL RESCUE through the sales of their first book DinoDogz: Eggzellent Adventure which is the first in a series.
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