Spotlight On Matt Monro Music Cd

Matt Monro - Spotlight On Matt Monro

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Spotlight on Matt Monro      Artist : Matt Monro      List Price : $11.98 USD        Your Price : $11.98 USD      ProductGroup: Music      Release Date : 1995-08-01      Studio : Capitol      Label : Capitol      Avg. Customer Rating : (6 reviews)

Reviews Customer Reviews for Spotlight On Matt Monro      The British Sinatra      Rating:      This man simply has a flawless singing voice--there's virtually no room for improvement. Add to that Monro's phrasing, breath support, sensitivity to the requirements of a lyric, and it's enough to make you wonder what all that other fuss was about--you know, the "British invasion" and the Beatles and Stones. This Spotlight collection is a nice presentation--well documented, good audio, a brief bio, an excellent, representative collection of songs with an especially strong finish ("When Joanna Loved Me," "This Is All I Ask," and "The Good Life" are practically too much of a good thing in rapid succession). It might be a bit more accurate to compare Monro with Nat Cole than Sinatra. Both Mat and Nat were chain smokers--and it killed them. Very likely their vocal timbre was affected by the nasty habit--and for the better, contributing to a mellowed, slightly (undeniably compelling) "musky" quality. Neither Monro nor Cole plumbs the emotional depths and reaches the dramatic heights of a Sinatra but, unlike the frequently challenging Sinatra, both invite near-universal, non-controversial approval. It probably should be noted that the arrangements, while serviceable, are not up to the artful level of a Nelson Riddle or Britain's own Robert Farnon. At times, the violins throb excessively, the quickened tempo or gratuitous "beat" threatens to sabotage songs like "Laura" and "When Joanna Loved Me," the reverb seems a bit overdone, and the mixing is inconsistent in the amount of "presence" it affords the voice. Sinatra's view of the long-playing record format not as a "collection" of good songs and performances but as an integral "suite" no doubt contributed to the powerful impact and lasting, memorable impression of his recordings, even when--as is now the case--the albums are "parted out" into mp3 tracks and downloads. Regardless, Matt Monro's is a voice that comes along no more than once every two or three decades. It must not be missed.     Customer Reviews for Spotlight On Matt Monro Cd      an exquisite, unique voice      Rating:      Those of us who have been Matt Monro fans for decades know his voice was a one-of-a-kind sound, recognizable after a couple of notes, and not to be compared with any other singer. There is also a purity to his interpretations that has seldom been equaled; it is the song that is emphasized, not the singer, with few flourishes in the phrasing or deviation from what is on the sheet of music. The velvety quality of his voice, with its hint of smokiness, is intoxicating, and one of my favorite attributes of a Matt Monro song is his flawless enunciation; other virtues are superb breath control and the sincerity of his delivery. He was able to convey deep emotion, and still keep his simple style of performing a song. The compositions in this collection are fabulous, and include perfect renditions of many of my most loved melodies, like "Autumn Leaves", "Ebb Tide", "September Song", and one of the best soundtrack songs ever written and one that was sung by Monro in the film, the John Barry/Lionel Bart "From Russia With Love". Other standout performances in this CD of mostly mellow ballads include "Time After Time" (Styne/Cahn), and "Laura" (Raskin/Mercer). The foldout insert has some excellent liner notes by Joseph Laredo, giving a nice bio of Monro (1930-1985), from his birth and difficult youth in the East End of London, to his association with George Martin, and a rundown of what songs were to find their place on the charts, in the U.S. and Britain. These recordings were made between 1961 and 1966, with most of the arrangements done by Johnnie Spence, who also conducts the orchestra, and are lovely and lush. The sound is good, and total playing time is 53'11. I have always felt Monro was one of the most underrated singers of the 20th century, and I hope compilations like this will continue to find him new fans, and that his musical legacy will live on, for as long a people appreciate the beauty of an exquisite voice, and the artistry that was exemplified in Matt Monro.