LAGNIAPPE RECORDS
311-B Jefferson St. Lafayette, LA 70501
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While there is no shortage of masterful Tony Bennett albums, the Bennett of the 1960s is one of the most finely honed voices of popular music. 'I Wanna Be Around' shades more toward the 'popular' (soft swing) style than jazz, but delivers two of the singer's signature numbers and much more. 'The Good Life' and the title track are inextricably part of the Bennett story - combining a bit of the soaring, almost operatic passages with the almost conversational. Throughout, you can sense these songs fit the singer like a custom tailored suit. I agree with one of the other reviewers -- if 'I Wanna Be Around' doesn't have you reaching for the 'repeat' button, you're really missing something special.
The songs are fully up to the performance, plenty of Johnny Mercer numbers, plus Coleman and Leigh's pleasing 'I've Got Your Number' which finds singer phrasing some clever lyrics in tempo with the arrangement that neither buries the singer nor buries him in excess accompaniment. Not as jazz-touched as 'I Wanna Be Around', but another example of a singer at his peak. The original album seems to have the better music, but the performances on the additional tracks from the 'This is All I Ask' album are a satisfying way to round out the otherwise short featured collection.
Antonio Carlos Jobim's 'Corcovado' -- a huge hit for Stan Getz and later interpreted by Sinatra on his album with Jobim -- seems less perfect. Beautiful song, sensational voice, but Bennett seems to grope his way through a few of the English lyrics. Fault the lyrics, translated from Portuguese -- they're not up to the music. Sinatra performs it wonderfully on his 1967 album, maybe because he was nearly 30 years into his career and Bennett was young on this 1962 version.
This may be too much detail for most people. The bottom line is that even Sinatra considered Tony Bennett the best popular singer of the century, and it is difficult NOT to reach that conclusion. All of his albums from this era -- including the concert at Carnegie Hall -- are a real treat. Highly recommended.
STORE HOURS
OPEN: Wednesday thru Saturday
12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
NOPE: Sunday, Monday & Tuesday
Vinyl, Tapes, & Shit
*SEALED* Jacket still sealed in shrink original wrap; disc sold ungraded or "as is."
NM (Near Mint) Appears unplayed and will bear no marks, sleeve scuffs, or scratches.
EX+ (Excellent) May have one or two visible imperfections (i.e. sleeve scuffs, faint scratches, or other superficial marks) that will not affect playback.
VG+ (Very Good+) A few visible imperfections. These may include sleeve scuffs, light scratches, or other superficial marks.
VG (Very Good) Similar imperfections found on VG+ records but in slightly greater numbers. Records graded VG and above will typically not have any scratches that are deep enough to be felt with a fingernail.
VG- (Very Good-) A number of visible imperfections; the presence of a considerable number of light scratches will force a VG- grade, as will the presence of significant isolated defects such as scratches deep enough to be felt with a fingernail.
G (Good) Record can be played without skipping, but will have significant surface noise, scratches, and visible groove wear. G+ and G- are used to indicate stronger and weaker copies within this range.
*SW/DNAP* Slight warp, does not affect playback
*QUAD* Quadraphonic Sound, similar to today’s surround sound
All records are visually graded by our experienced staff, using a bright lamp and an Audio-Technica ATLP-120 turntable.