Mel Torme - Comin Home Baby! '1962 [2012]

Tracks list

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. The 1960s
represented a very interesting time for musicians of all genres; three
particular reasons began a trend for future generations of musical artists. The
Beach Boys, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones were the 3 reasons which
permanently altered the musical landscape and basically made it impossible for
stars of the past to remain economically viable in the present. The only 2
exceptions to the rule of course were Mel Tormé and Frank Sinatra.
Tormés classic album, Comin Home Baby has recently been re-released;
digitally remastered and cleaned up, one can hear the sweet sounds of the Velvet
Fog in all of its glory the way it was intended to be heard.
In early 1962 Mel Tormé had firmly come to terms with the fact that the
musical landscape was percolating something in the clubs and bars where the
people hang out. This new musical dynamo was going to act like a brick wall, on
not only himself, but basically anyone from his background and genre unless
change happened.
Mel walked into the studio in 1962 determined to stay relevant and absorb the
new and combine it to his big band swinging style. Frank Sinatra decided to do
much the same thing in the 1960s. Comin Home Baby was the 1st of 5 albums that
Mel recorded and released in the 1960s that attempted to meld Rock `n Roll with
Jazz & Big Band.
It was very much worth the work and effort; although many jazz purists dismiss
this era of Mel Tormés with a angry waive of a modern day puritan hand, why,
Im not sure to be honest. Being trapped in cage of the past is something that
many jazz listeners are known for. The self titled lead off single, Comin Home
Baby, from this album made the top 10 in the charts and acted as beacon call for
jazz and big band fans that jazz still had a place in the charts only it needed
to evolve into rock `n roll to remain relevant.
The highlight from the album is, Ladys In Love With You, which showcases the
most powerful Mel Tormé phrasing and vocal I have ever hard. The classic
Tormé tracks, Puttin On The Ritz and Hi Fi have a very similar vocal and
phrasing technique as Lady.
Sing You Sinners highlights the toe tapping phrase rapping Mel Tormé that so
many of us have loved over the years. The Dean Martin classic tune, You Belong
To Me, has a gentle re-working which fits into the set as well.
The album also has that rock and jazz tune, Right Now which was the B-Side to
Comin Home Baby that shows Mel Tormé stretching the jazz genre into rock `n
roll.
Go out and buy this album, it has aged very well, and deserves a solid 5 out of
5 star

Tracks:

01. Comin Home Baby (2:45)
02. Dat Dere (2:59)
03. The Ladys In Love With You (3:00)
04. Hi-Fly (3:14)
05. Puttin On The Ritz (2:24)
06. Walkin (3:00)
07. Moanin (3:04)
08. Sing You Sinners (2:26)
09. Whisper Not (2:48)
10. On Green Dolphin Street (2:53)
11. Sidneys Soliloquy (2:27)
12. Right Now (2:13)

Personnel:

Mel Tormé - vocals
Shorty Rogers - flugelhorn, arranger, conductor
Claus Ogerman - arranger and conductor on Comin Home Baby! and Right Now
Joe Burnett, Ollie Mitchell, Al Porcino, Ray Triscari - trumpet
Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Kenny Shroyer - trombone; John Kitzmiller - tuba
Bud Shank, Buddy Collette, Bob Cooper, Bill Hood - woodwind
Gene Estes - vibraphone
Mike Wofford - piano
Joe Mondragon - bass
Larry Bunker - drums
The Cookies - background vocals

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