ifcopod's video: Gloria Lynne - Out of This World

I have a 1954 Vinyl of Harold Arlen by David Rose Orchestra~ songs of top calibre but this superb standard is absent. Why? I don't hear you ask ~ Was it perchance chores divvied out between lyricist composer Johnny Mercer and composer Harold Arlen Consider the predicament Mercer and Arlen two music greats in standoff over credits for a measly ditty ~hardly measly~ Mercer was ambidextrous ~ adroit in matters music and lyrics He doubled up for his classic song Dream more popular than Out Of This World since its 1940s composition ~ a tempting shootout Out of this World v Dream ~you know the hard rockers drill Slash V Van Halen but both songs a handy reference for Mercers many sided talent. Do I express a preference for either? Yes~ Dream is attractive if somewhat cosy and compliant not as striking as the heraldic outreach of Out of this World presently in need of an imaginative reprise or in exercise conscious times a bout of jogging to get back to its former glory. Not quite Michael Buble material but with impunity he could adopt a Vic Damone persona and have a respectable go at the classic especially as Damone and Buble are not dissimilar.. Anyway Out of this World essential to the Harold Arlen catalogue of great songs. Sad~ some classic songs not deemed suitable to todays musical requirements On that ~ I know someone who dallied with Bobby Darin songs but under no circumstances dilly dallied with this sort of superior stuff too high class dont ya know. No we dont know ~ the sooner songs such as Out of this World are appreciated by greater numbers etc etc. Writing on August 1962 death of Marilyn Monroe~ a documentary catching so resonantly the mood of an era featured another great Arlen song~ Ill Wind a Nelson Riddle assisted evocation with Frank Sinatra ~backdrop to both documentary and era But lets enjoy Out Of This World delivered optimally by one of THE voices of the 1960s when the big seamless contralto of late great Gloria Lynne enjoyed a successful run at the top sharing vocal similarities musical kinship with perhaps greatest jazz voice Sarah Vaughan.and benefiting here on an early 1960s session from the ministrations of one of West Coasts greatest arrangers Marty Paich .Johnny Mercer was dab hand with words when he wasnt musing over melodies ~unusual opting for lyrics and melody Sure Ifcopod ~ how about one of the greatest lyricist music composers Irving Berlin and Cole Porter almost the last word in words and music~Folks guilty as charged it seemed a good idea at the time .Mercer had more than a fair singing voice angled mainly at humorous takes . Bobby Darin and Mercer got together for a tilt at the charts with an album that deserves reviving. Acually theres a tangential story about vagaries of taste how an unquestionably great song can find itself sidelined by todays arbiters of good taste Mantovani a name to conjure with~ something of a 1950s orchestra superstar Factor in Out of this World and see what happens An unlikely pairing but then most remember Mantovani for Charmaine and suchlike A nice ~if for some a bizarre touch ~the inclusion of a Mantovani classic in 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest A few years ago a gatherup of 1940s Mantovani stuff aided by excellent arranger of the time Ronald Binge who scored music for Frankie Howerds 1953 Petula Clark~ Runaway Bus but perhaps you have more important things to do The album included a vibraphone cushioned take of Out of this World by the Mantovani aggregation before he went mega I dallied with posting but low key. arrangement doesnt get off the ground stuck in the undergrowtth shrouded in misty shadows lacking big arc delivered by Gloria Lynne ~ an arc the melody almost demands However an Ifcopod favourite Morty Stevens of "Lofty listener slumming in a lowly land" in company with mutual friend Whammy Sammy Davis took a tilt at the Arlen Mercer standard in 1961 I still have the vinyl ~does Whammy Sammy sing? ~Does he what??? yes he does actually. Do they belt any better? a great Reprise label version stacked to the gills with cream of jazz West Coast early 1960s youd need to be ga ga not to go for it. I have a few repeats on ifcopod three of this song such is my regard~ versions Percy Faith and Andre Kostelantetz in the dreamiest Faith Kostelanetz style ~ the upshot they push Gloria very close I'd hate to have to choose one. A point about Tony Bennett ~ down the years his song choice always impeccable understandable given his respect for classic songs Recorded excellent take in 1964 with tenor saxist Stan Getz A straight head to head between Ella FITZGERALD and GLORIA LYNNE 0N THIS CLASSIC song favours LYNNES balmy TAKE.