Album Reviews
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Morgan Ames
High
Fidelity & Gramophone 1971
Perry Como seems to have a
wonderful key to life. While his colleagues grow old and show signs of
weariness, Mr. Como projects a kind of contentment that allows us to
delight in him still. He's one of those rare people who age in such a way
that, for a moment, it becomes difficult to take the other guys seriously.
Here is a man, we think, who has encompassed life, taken wisdom from it,
and given joy. Such is Mr. Como's aura.
Last year Mr. Como made his first
nightclub appearance in twenty-seven years ( at the International in Las
Vegas ). He followed up with the surprise hit record of the year, a pretty
song called "It's Impossible". Mr. Como could have easily rested
there, knowing he'd done it.
This album shows that, instead of
resting, he grew. He's taken on some difficult songs here ( all sensitive
and fitting to his style, as usual ) such
as "Where Do I Begin" and "For All We Know" ( the new
one, not the standard ), and "Yesterday I Heard the Rain". Mr.
Como's intonation and phrasing are warm and burnished. It all sounds as
effortless as ever. Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
takes on new maturity and comfort in Mr. Como's reading.
The album is superbly arranged by Don
Costa, who also produced. Costa and Como are a perfect match, each knowing
when to lead and follow, and how best to compliment the song.
In all, this is a charming album, and
it's warmly recommended.
Morgan Ames
HIGH FIDELITY MAGAZINE 1971
. . .
Mr. Como takes a vocal look at songs which have been hits in recent months
for other artists . . . In
fact, he makes every song his own with an effortless facility possessed by
very few artists, and the LP is an undiluted pleasure from beginning to
end.
THE GRAMOPHONE 1971
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