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Matt Monro|Love Songs

Love Songs

Matt Monro

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This triple-CD set may seem like overkill to all but the most dedicated fan. But across its 54 songs, cut over a 20-year period from 1960 through 1980, as Matt Monro's stunning intonation weaves its spell, it quickly becomes apparent that there's not a wasted moment on any of these songs. Oh, to be sure, there were singers far better suited to "Unchained Melody" than Monro, but he doesn't do any violence to the song, even if he ends up giving a pretty prosaic approach to its soaring lyricism; he more than makes up for it with practically everything else in this package. And improbable as it may seem, his florid pop-style rendition of the Beatles' "All My Loving" does get into some valid permutations of the song that prove worth exploring -- indeed, listening to it, one could easily wish that Monro could have done an album of Beatles songs alongside Alma Cogan. Most of the material here, from the early-'60s releases "Softly, As I Leave You" and "Portrait of My Love," up through "You Light Up My Life," will be familiar as compositions, which only enhances the allure of the set. Moreover, some of Monro's interpretations have virtues that aren't always in evidence on the hit or "classic" versions: with all due respect to Frank Sinatra, for instance, it is refreshing to hear a rendition of "Strangers in the Night" that plays it wholly "straight," without the vamping that, as we now know, hid a certain sarcasm about the song (to judge from Sinatra's parodying of the lyrics on other occasions). The most familiar song here to most listeners under the age of 60 will be "From Russia with Love," but there's a lot else to discover and immerse oneself in, and it's easy to understand why no less a figure than Jimmy Roselli named Monro first among singers that he admired. The digital transfers are first-rate on all of it. The makers have used the stereo masters on all of the relevant material, these vary from fairly subtle and sophisticated mixes to distinctly binaural masters; Monro's voice is always center-stage on all of it, however. Sad to say, for all of the care taken with the selection and the sonics, the makers fell short on the packaging. There is no recording data to speak of, and only the most threadbare of information, and the three discs, each in its separate jewel case, are so tight in the slipcase that houses them that some purchasers may find themselves having to tear the latter (which is no great loss, but still) to get them out.

© Bruce Eder /TiVo

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Love Songs

Matt Monro

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1
Softly as I Leave You (Mono; Single Version)
00:03:25

Antonio DeVita, Composer - Antonio De Vita, Composer - Hal Shaper, Composer - Giorgio Calabrese, Composer - George Martin, Producer, Produced by - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Arranger, Director - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1962 Parlophone Records Limited

2
Portrait of My Love
00:02:47

David West, Composer - George Martin, Producer - Cyril Ornadel, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Arranger - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1960 Parlophone Records Limited

3
Somewhere
00:03:31

Leonard Bernstein, Composer - Stephen Sondheim, Composer - George Martin, Producer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Arranger - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1964 Parlophone Records Limited

4
From Russia with Love (Single Version)
00:02:36

John Barry, Arranger - George Martin, Producer - Lionel Bart, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Director - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1963 Parlophone Records Limited

5
On Days Like These
00:03:41

Quincy Jones, Writer - Don Black, Writer - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1969 Originally released 1969 by Capitol Records, LLC. All rights reserved.

6
Michelle
00:03:02

John Lennon, Writer - Paul Mccartney, Writer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1973 Parlophone Records Limited

7
Speak Softly Love
00:02:35

Larry Kusik, Composer - Nino Rota, Composer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1973 Parlophone Records Limited

8
My Love and Devotion
00:03:02

George Martin, Producer - Milton Carson, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Arranger - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1962 Parlophone Records Limited

9
This Time
00:02:41

Abrahams, Composer - George Martin, Producer - Fisher, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Arranger - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Limited

10
Can This Be Love
00:03:05

George Martin, Producer - Herbert Kretzmer, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Arranger - Matt Monro, MainArtist - Graham Fisher, Composer

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Limited

11
When Love Comes Along
00:02:23

George Martin, Producer - Galt Macdermot, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Director - Matt Monro, MainArtist - Alexander Ryan, Composer

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1962 Parlophone Records Limited

12
I Will Wait For You
00:02:52

Norman Gimbel, Composer - Michel Legrand, Composer - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1967 Originally released 1967 by Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved.

13
Time After Time
00:03:17

Jule Styne, Composer - George Martin, Producer - Sammy Cahn, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1968 Originally released 1968 by Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved.

14
Love Walked In (The Goldwyn Follies of 1937)
00:01:56

George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Composer - George Martin, Producer - Matt Monro, MainArtist - Tommy Watt, Conductor, Arranger

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1960 Parlophone Records Limited

15
And We Were Lovers
00:02:18

Leslie Bricusse, Composer - Jerry Goldsmith, Composer - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1967 Originally released 1967 by Capitol Records, Inc. All rights reserved.

16
A Time For Love
00:02:41

JOHNNY MANDEL, Composer - Paul Francis Webster, Composer - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1967 Originally released 1967 by Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved.

17
Till Then My Love
00:03:01

George Martin, Arranger - Hodges, Composer - Canning, Composer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1973 Parlophone Records Limited

18
With These Hands
00:02:52

BENNY DAVIS, Composer - ABNER SILVER, Composer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1979 Parlophone Records Limited

DISC 2

1
Let's Face the Music and Dance
00:02:31

Irving Berlin, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Limited

2
When I Fall In Love
00:03:43

George Martin, Producer - Victor Young, Composer - E. HEYMAN, Writer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1968 Originally released 1968 by Capitol Records, Inc. All rights reserved.

3
Autumn Leaves
00:04:25

Johnny Mercer, Composer - George Martin, Producer - Jacques Prevert, Composer - Joseph Kosma, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Arranger - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1968 Originally released 1968 by Capitol Records, Inc. All rights reserved.

4
Sweet Lorraine
00:02:41

Sid Feller, Conductor - Cliff Burwell, Composer - Mitchell Parish, Composer - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Sid Orchestra Feller, Conductor

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1966 Originally released 1966 by Capitol Records, Inc. All rights reserved.

5
Stardust
00:02:23

George Martin, Producer - Mitchell Parish, Composer - HOAGY CARMICHAEL, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Director - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1962 Parlophone Records Limited

6
Didn't We
00:03:51

Jimmy Webb, Composer - George Martin, Producer - Matt Monro, MainArtist - Colin Keyes, Conductor, Arranger

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1973 Parlophone Records Limited

7
My Kind of Girl
00:02:57

Leslie Bricusse, Composer - George Martin, Producer - Johnnie Spence, Director - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Limited

8
And You Smiled
00:02:28

Matt Monro, MainArtist - John Burgess, Producer - Fred Trombey, Composer - David Taggart, Composer - Zack Lawrence, Conductor, Arranger

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1973 Parlophone Records Limited

9
Cheek to Cheek
00:02:13

Irving Berlin, Composer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1961 Parlophone Records Limited

10
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
00:02:50

Paul Francis Webster, Composer - Sammy Fain, Composer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1962 Parlophone Records Limited

11
How Little We Know
00:02:16

Johnny Mercer, Composer - HOAGY CARMICHAEL, Composer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1962 Parlophone Records Limited

12
Skylark
00:03:21

Johnny Mercer, Composer - HOAGY CARMICHAEL, Composer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1962 Parlophone Records Limited

13
I Have Dreamed
00:02:55

Richard Rodgers, Composer - Oscar Hammerstein II , Composer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1962 Parlophone Records Limited

14
The Girl I Love
00:02:27

George Martin, Producer - CHARLES TOBIAS, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Arranger - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1963 Parlophone Records Limited

15
I'm Glad There Is You
00:02:45

Paul Madeira, Composer - Sid Feller, Conductor - Jimmy Dorsey, Composer - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Sid Orchestra Feller, Conductor - Alec Dorsey, Composer

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1966 Originally released 1966 by Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved.

16
I'll Take Romance
00:02:10

Sid Feller, Conductor - Oscar Hammerstein II , Composer - Ben Oakland, Composer - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Sid Orchestra Feller, Conductor

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1966 Originally released 1966 by Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved.

17
Strangers In The Night
00:02:30

Sid Feller, Conductor, Arranger - Bert Kaempfert, Composer - Charles Singleton, Composer - EDDIE SNYDER, Composer - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Sid Orchestra Feller, Conductor, Arranger

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1967 Originally released 1967 by Capitol Records, LLC. All rights reserved.

18
Walk Away
00:03:05

George Martin, Producer - Don Black, Composer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Arranger - Matt Monro, MainArtist - Udo Juergens, Composer

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1964 Parlophone Records Limited

DISC 3

1
One Day
00:03:04

George Martin, Producer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Arranger - Matt Monro, MainArtist - George Mulcahy, Composer - Emrys Bryson, Composer

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1963 Parlophone Records Limited

2
Unchained Melody
00:03:15

Alex North, Writer - HY ZARET, Writer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1965 Parlophone Records Limited

3
In The Arms Of Love
00:03:47

Jay Livingston, Composer - Henry Mancini, Composer - Raymond Evans, Composer - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1967 Originally released 1967 by Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved.

4
A Man And A Woman
00:02:49

FRANCIS LAI, Composer - Jerry Keller, Composer - Pierre Barouh, Composer - Billy May, Conductor, Arranger - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1967 Originally released 1967 by Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved.

5
Hello Young Lovers
00:03:41

George Martin, Producer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Oscar Hammerstein II , Composer - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - David Whittaker, Conductor, Arranger

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1968 Originally released 1968 by Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved.

6
You Light up My Life
00:03:17

Joe Brooks, Composer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1979 Parlophone Records Limited

7
Maria (From "West Side Story")
00:04:12

Leonard Bernstein, Composer - Stephen Sondheim, Composer - George Martin, Producer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor, Arranger - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1968 Originally released 1968 by Capitol Records, Inc. All rights reserved.

8
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
00:03:08

Frederick Loewe, Composer - Alan Jay Lerner, Composer - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1968 Originally released 1968 by Capitol Records, Inc. All rights reserved.

9
The Precious Moments
00:03:36

Leslie Bricusse, Composer - Richard Addinsell, Composer - Matt Monro, MainArtist - Roy Budd, Conductor, Producer, Arranger

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1980 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company

10
Let There Be Love
00:03:15

Lionel Rand, Composer - Ian Grant, Composer - Matt Monro, Vocals, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1975 Parlophone Records Limited

11
Real Live Girl
00:02:12

Sid Feller, Director - CY COLEMAN, Composer - CAROLYN LEIGH, Composer - Bob Bain, Conductor - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist - Sid Orchestra Feller, Director

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1966 Originally released 1966 by Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved.

12
September Song
00:03:23

Kurt Weill, Writer - George Martin, Producer - Maxwell Anderson, Writer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor - Matt Monro, Featured Vocalist, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1968 Originally released 1968 by Capitol Records, Inc. All rights reserved.

13
You're Sensational
00:03:02

Cole Porter, Composer - George Martin, Producer - Matt Monro, MainArtist - Colin Keyes, Conductor, Arranger

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1975 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company

14
All My Loving
00:03:21

John Lennon, Writer - Paul Mccartney, Writer - George Martin, Producer - Johnnie Spence, Conductor - Matt Monro, MainArtist

© 1997 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company ℗ 1965 Parlophone Records Limited

Album review

This triple-CD set may seem like overkill to all but the most dedicated fan. But across its 54 songs, cut over a 20-year period from 1960 through 1980, as Matt Monro's stunning intonation weaves its spell, it quickly becomes apparent that there's not a wasted moment on any of these songs. Oh, to be sure, there were singers far better suited to "Unchained Melody" than Monro, but he doesn't do any violence to the song, even if he ends up giving a pretty prosaic approach to its soaring lyricism; he more than makes up for it with practically everything else in this package. And improbable as it may seem, his florid pop-style rendition of the Beatles' "All My Loving" does get into some valid permutations of the song that prove worth exploring -- indeed, listening to it, one could easily wish that Monro could have done an album of Beatles songs alongside Alma Cogan. Most of the material here, from the early-'60s releases "Softly, As I Leave You" and "Portrait of My Love," up through "You Light Up My Life," will be familiar as compositions, which only enhances the allure of the set. Moreover, some of Monro's interpretations have virtues that aren't always in evidence on the hit or "classic" versions: with all due respect to Frank Sinatra, for instance, it is refreshing to hear a rendition of "Strangers in the Night" that plays it wholly "straight," without the vamping that, as we now know, hid a certain sarcasm about the song (to judge from Sinatra's parodying of the lyrics on other occasions). The most familiar song here to most listeners under the age of 60 will be "From Russia with Love," but there's a lot else to discover and immerse oneself in, and it's easy to understand why no less a figure than Jimmy Roselli named Monro first among singers that he admired. The digital transfers are first-rate on all of it. The makers have used the stereo masters on all of the relevant material, these vary from fairly subtle and sophisticated mixes to distinctly binaural masters; Monro's voice is always center-stage on all of it, however. Sad to say, for all of the care taken with the selection and the sonics, the makers fell short on the packaging. There is no recording data to speak of, and only the most threadbare of information, and the three discs, each in its separate jewel case, are so tight in the slipcase that houses them that some purchasers may find themselves having to tear the latter (which is no great loss, but still) to get them out.

© Bruce Eder /TiVo

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