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Elly Roberts reviews
Capitol/EMI
- Released: January 2005
- Rating: 10/10
- Cat.no.: 72435-60680-2-5
- Extras: Excellent 25 page booklet with black and white photographs and credits
Let’s face the music and listen to one of the most popular Jazz cross-over artists of all time.
Unforgettable is what he is, and this superb collection reminds us of a gentlerage in pop music. As a child I would often hear his dulcet tones via the Sundaymorning Forces Favourites broadcasts.
Born Nathaniel Adams Coles in Montgomery Alabama (March 17, 1917-died February15, 1965) he was one of the 20 centurys most distinctive stylists, whose 42year singles chart span confirms his timeless songs, starting in the UK inNovember 1952 through to March 1994.His 13 albums registered from 1957 to 2003. Jazz-swing master, Harry ConnickJnr once said, “God just put his hand on his head and said: Youre going tobe the one with this voice.”
Just about every musician in the world had endorsed his undeniable singing style andpiano work.
Sandwiched between his first UK chart entry in November 1952 Somewhere AlongThe Way and his last in March 1994 Lets Face The Music And Dance,you get a playlist of six other entries from the ’50s, two from the ’60s (LetThere Be Love and Ramblin Rose), one from the ’90s, (Unforgettable)and various album tracks like Route 66, and the wonderful Nature Boy– later covered in the 70s by George Benson.
On checking the CD song titles, I discovered that some of his most populartracks never made the Hit Parade, as it was once known. Examples are,Mona Lisa, On The Street Where You Live and Love Letters.
Incredibly Nat King Cole never had a number one in the UK, but he fairedslightly better with albums getting two toppers with Love Is The Thingin 1957 and 20 Golden Greats in 1978. His singles lasted 249 weeks onchart and the albums 150 weeks.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Lets Face The Music And Dance
2. Mona Lisa
3. When I Fall In Love
4. Unforgettable
5. Its All In The Game
6. Too Young
7. Nature Boy
8. Smile
9. Walkin My Baby Back Home
10. (Get Your Kicks On)Route 66
11. Straighten Up And Fly Right
12. On The Street Where You Live
13. A Blossom Fell
14. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons15. Pretend
16. Autumn Leaves
17. Looking Back
18. Send For Me
19. Love Letters
20. Somewhere Along The Way
21. Orange Colored Sky
22. Ramblin Rose
23. Let There Be Love
24. L-O-V-E
25. Stay As Sweet As You Are
26. Unforgettable (duet with Natalie Cole)
27. Stardust
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.