BUY NOW AmazonUK AmazonUS |
GORDON MACRAE IT’S MAGIC A CENTENARY TRIBUTE His 24 Finest 1947-1956 |
RETROSPECTIVE RTR 4383 [79:09]
1. It’s Magic [3:00]
2. You Were Meant For Me [3:01]
3. I Still Get Jealous [2:42]
4. At The Candlelight Café [2:35]
5. Hair Of Gold, Eyes Of Blue [2:21]
6. Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart Duet with Jo Stafford [2:08]
7. My Darling, My Darling Duet with Jo Stafford [2:34]
8. So In Love [2:35]
9. Wunderbar Duet With Jo Stafford [2:45]
10. Some Enchanted Evening [3:07]
11. Younger Than Springtime [2:54]
12. Lover’s Gold [2:42]
13. Whispering Hope Duet with Jo Stafford [3:05]
14. Mule Train [2:27]
15. Dear Hearts And Gentle People [2:25]
16. Tea For Two Duet with Jo Stafford [2:12]
17. Ol’ Man River [3:55]
18. C’est Magnifique [3:01]
19. Stranger In Paradise [2:40]
20. Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’! [2:30]
21. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top,
With Shirley Jones and Charlotte Greenwood [4:52]
22. People Will Say We’re In Love Duet with Shirley Jones [4:18]
23. If I Loved You [6:12]
24. Soliloquy [7:41]
Albert Gordon MacRae (1921-1986) was a multi-talented American singer and actor whose 50-year performing career ranged from radio and stage productions to musicals, films, television, recordings, concerts and nightclubs. Born in East Orange, New Jersey to Scottish parents, his mother was a concert pianist and his father was “Wee Willie MacRae”, a businessman and part-time singer for radio shows. Gordon started his own career as a child performer on radio, getting his break in 1939 when he won a singing contest and the opportunity to sing with the Harry James and Les Brown bands at the New York World’s Fair. This disc features 24 of Gordon’s biggest hits from his long career.
A natural, untrained singer with a relaxed and unassuming singing style, Gordon had a strong, refreshing baritone voice that was a joy to listen to. He signed a recording contract with Capitol Records in 1947 and recorded two of his biggest hit singles that year. It’s Magic was composed by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn and appeared in the film Romance On The High Seas. You Were Meant For Me, written by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, appeared earlier in the 1929 film Broadway Melody. Carlyle Hall and his Orchestra provided the fine accompaniment for both numbers. Gordon teamed up with another Capitol artist, Jo Stafford, and they recorded a string of over 20 hits together, five of which appear in this collection. One of their best is a swinging a capella version of Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart, recorded in 1948 with the Starlighters, one of the best vocal background groups of that era. Gordon and Jo’s biggest hit together was the million- selling Whispering Hope, recorded in 1949 with Paul Weston and his Orchestra. Gordon is best-remembered for his leading roles in the film versions of the musicals Oklahoma! in 1955 and Carousel in 1956, where he starred opposite Shirley Jones. Both shows feature the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein. My favorite tune from Oklahoma! is The Surrey With The Fringe On Top. Gordon is accompanied by Shirley Jones and Charlotte Greenwood in a marvelous arrangement accompanied by Jay Blackton and his Orchestra.
A 12-page booklet is included with the disc, with comments by Ray Crick. Ray also compiled the music, and Martin Haskell provided the audio restoration and remastering. The sound quality is excellent.
Bruce McCollum