Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen
Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by Andy Williams | ||||
Released | 1956[1] | |||
Recorded | September 21, 1956 October 3, 1956 October 4, 1956[2] | |||
Genre |
| |||
Length | 29:03 | |||
Label | Cadence Records | |||
Andy Williams chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternate cover | ||||
1960 reissue | ||||
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [3] |
Billboard | Recommended[1] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen is the first studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams that was released late in 1956 by Cadence Records.[1] This was his first LP and features songs written or co-written by then-Tonight Show host Steve Allen.[5] Williams, at the time, was a regular weekly contributor to Allen's groundbreaking late night television series. The review of the album in the December 22 issue of The Billboard that year reads, "Cover shows only a photo of the singer with no copy and it might have been a better bet to identify the personality."[1] The cover of the 1960 reissue of the album attempts to rectify this situation with the title presented in two lines of large capital letters that sandwich a headshot of Williams this time instead of the seated pose of the original.[6]
The album was released on compact disc for the first time as one of two albums on one CD by Collectables Records on September 12, 2000, the other album being Williams's Cadence release from the spring of 1959, Two Time Winners.[7] Collectables included this CD in a box set entitled Classic Album Collection, Vol. 1, which contains 17 of his studio albums and three compilations and was released on June 26, 2001.[8] It was also released as one of two albums on one CD by Ace Records on January 8, 2008, paired this time with a 1958 Cadence compilation entitled Andy Williams.[9]
Critical reception
Allmusic's William Ruhlmann had praise for the album's contributors: "Allen wrote in a sophisticated pop-jazz style, and conductor Alvy West gave the songs appropriately smoky, late-night settings heavy on tinkling pianos and bluesy horn parts, with some restrained strings."[3] Of the singer, he wrote, "This was yet another opportunity for Williams to show off his diversity, and though he couldn't ever be called a jazz singer, he sounded typically comfortable putting across the songs' slyly romantic lyrics in the melodies' minor keys. The result was a fine mood album and a good addition to his quickly growing album catalog."[3]
The Billboard review from 1956 focused on his status as an up-and-coming talent. "Williams, recently named most promising new male singer in The Billboard disk jockey poll, proceeds to show why in this new album. The dozen tunes…have distinct charm and class. Mostly ballads, each one seems to show singer at his best. Lad has the poise, polish and style to become a top pop singer. Album can be another step up the ladder."[1]
Track listing
All songs written by Steve Allen except as noted:
Side one
- "Tonight" - 2:50
- "Meet Me Where They Play the Blues" (Allen, Sammy Gallop) - 2:18
- "Stay Just a Little While" (Allen, Eula Parker) - 2:43
- "Playing the Field" - 2:28
- "Impossible" - 2:51
- "Young Love" - 2:38
Side two
- "Picnic" (Allen, George Duning) - 2:33
- "An Old Piano Plays the Blues" (Allen, Don George) - 2:46
- "Spring in Maine" (Allen, Carolyn Leigh) - 2:50
- "All the Way Home" (Allen, Buddy Kaye) - 2:40
- "Lonely Love" (Allen, Fred Sadoff) - 3:07
- "Forbidden Love" - 2:05
Covers
Some of the songs on this album had previously been covered by other artists. Jack Teagarden had already recorded "Meet Me Where They Play the Blues".[10] And The McGuire Sisters included "Picnic" on their 1956 album Dottie, Phyllis, Chris.[11]
Personnel
- Andy Williams - vocalist
- Alvy West - arranger,[2] conductor[12]
- Kay Thompson - liner notes
References
- ^ a b c d e "Reviews and Ratings of New Albums". Billboard. 1956-12-22. p. 26.
- ^ a b "The Cadence Era: "Canadian Sunset" brightens Andy's disk career". Billboard. 1967-11-11. p. AW-21.
- ^ a b c d "Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen - Andy Williams". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1498. ISBN 9781846098567. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ (1956) Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen by Andy Williams [album jacket]. New York: Cadence Records CLP 1018.
- ^ "Cadence Label Album Discography". Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ^ "Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen/Two Time Winners - Andy Williams". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ^ "Classic Album Collection, Vol. 1 - Andy Williams". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ "Andy Williams/Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen - Andy Williams". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ^ "Big T: A Hundred Years from Today - Jack Teagarden". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ "Dottie, Phyllis, Chris by The McGuire Sisters". rate your music.com. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ (2002) Album notes for Sings Steve Allen/Two Time Winners by Andy Williams, [CD booklet]. Narberth, PA: Collectables Records.
- v
- t
- e
- Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen
- Andy Williams Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein
- Two Time Winners
- To You Sweetheart, Aloha
- Lonely Street
- The Village of St. Bernadette
- Under Paris Skies
- Danny Boy and Other Songs I Love to Sing
- Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes
- Warm and Willing
- Days of Wine and Roses and Other TV Requests
- The Andy Williams Christmas Album
- The Wonderful World of Andy Williams
- The Academy Award-Winning "Call Me Irresponsible" and Other Hit Songs from the Movies
- The Great Songs from "My Fair Lady" and Other Broadway Hits
- Andy Williams' Dear Heart
- Merry Christmas
- The Shadow of Your Smile
- In the Arms of Love
- Born Free
- Love, Andy
- Honey
- Happy Heart
- Get Together with Andy Williams
- Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
- The Andy Williams Show
- Love Story
- You've Got a Friend
- Love Theme from "The Godfather"
- Alone Again (Naturally)
- Solitaire
- The Way We Were
- Christmas Present
- You Lay So Easy on My Mind
- The Other Side of Me
- Andy
- Let's Love While We Can
- Greatest Love Classics
- Close Enough for Love
- I Still Believe in Santa Claus
- Nashville
- We Need a Little Christmas
- I Don't Remember Ever Growing Up
- Andy Williams
- Andy Williams' Best
- Million Seller Songs
- Canadian Sunset
- Andy Williams' Newest Hits
- May Each Day
- The Andy Williams Sound of Music
- Andy Williams' Greatest Hits
- The Impossible Dream
- Love Story
- Andy Williams' Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (CBS)
- Andy Williams' Greatest Hits Vol. 2
- Reflections
- The Best of Andy Williams (1992)
- Personal Christmas Collection
- 16 Most Requested Songs: Encore!
- The Best of Andy Williams (1996)
- The Love Songs
- In the Lounge with...
- The Very Best of Andy Williams (2000)
- Andy
- The Essential Andy Williams
- B Sides and Rarities
- Music to Watch Girls By: The Very Best of Andy Williams
- Moon River: The Very Best of Andy Williams
- The Very Best of Andy Williams (2009)
- The Classic Christmas Album
- 40 Christmas Classics
- Greatest Hits
- The New Andy Williams Christmas Album
- "Walk Hand in Hand"
- "Canadian Sunset"
- "Butterfly"
- "I Like Your Kind of Love"
- "Lips of Wine"
- "Are You Sincere?"
- "Promise Me, Love"
- "The Hawaiian Wedding Song"
- "Lonely Street"
- "The Village of St. Bernadette"
- "Danny Boy"
- "Fly by Night"
- "The Wonderful World of the Young"
- "Stranger on the Shore"
- "Don't You Believe It"
- "Twilight Time"
- "Can't Get Used to Losing You"
- "Days of Wine and Roses"
- "Hopeless"
- "A Fool Never Learns"
- "Charade"
- "Wrong for Each Other"
- "On the Street Where You Live"
- "Almost There"
- "Dear Heart"
- "...and Roses and Roses"
- "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)"
- "May Each Day"
- "You're Gonna Hear from Me"
- "Bye Bye Blues"
- "How Can I Tell Her It's Over"
- "In the Arms of Love"
- "Music to Watch Girls By"
- "Holly"
- "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"
- "Sweet Memories"
- "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
- "Happy Heart"
- "Live and Learn"
- "A Woman's Way"
- "Can't Help Falling in Love"
- "One Day of Your Life"
- "It's So Easy"
- "Home Lovin' Man"
- "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story"
- "A Song for You"
- "You've Got a Friend"
- "Speak Softly Love (Love Theme from The Godfather)"
- "MacArthur Park"
- "Solitaire"
- "Getting Over You"
- "Love's Theme"
- "Another Lonely Song"
- "Cry Softly"
- "Sad Eyes"
- "The Other Side of Me"
- "Tell It Like It Is"
- "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
- "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
- "I Want to Be Wanted"
- "Summertime"
- "So Rare"
- "Emily"
- "Red Roses for a Blue Lady"
- "I'll Remember You"
- "Something"
- "My Love"
- "They Long to Be Close to You "
- "I Love My Friend"