Nancy Wilson's "Hollywood -- My Way"

[Larry Kart]

Very belatedly have been getting into Wilson some lately (I know ... stop yourself), and this one so far is the most remarkable -- fine Jimmy Jones charts, Wilson, utterly relaxed, is in exceptional, soaring voice, and often she adopts a long-meter approach to the songs that swings like a MF. Check out "Dearly Beloved" for example. Also the poured-into-that-dress photo of Wilson on the album cover is quite something (click to enlarge):

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7226179

[Larry Kart]

Very belatedly have been getting into Wilson some lately (I know ... stop yourself), and this one so far is the most remarkable -- fine Jimmy Jones charts, Wilson, utterly relaxed, is in exceptional, soaring voice, and often she adopts a long-meter approach to the songs that swings like a MF. Check out "Dearly Beloved" for example. Also the poured-into-that-dress photo of Wilson on the album cover is quite something (click to enlarge):

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7226179

Enlarge what, you say? Stop yourself.

[JSngry]

Have you gotten to TLC yet?

That's the one for me! Some of Billy May's best (or at least least-self-referential) writing, in m o.

And Nancy is less mannered than usual (I like here ok when she's mannered, but like her even more when she's not).

[Larry Kart]

Have you gotten to TLC yet?

That's the one for me! Some of Billy May's best (or at least least-self-referential) writing, in m o.

And Nancy is less mannered than usual (I like here ok when she's mannered, but like her even more when she's not).

I'll check. I've picked up a lot of Wilson vinyl lately.

[Teasing the Korean]

I generally like Nancy Wilson, but sometimes she would get lazy with the more intricate melodies and simplify them, presumably under the guise of improvisation.

I have dozens of her Capitol LPs, all mono, all in beautiful shape, from thrift store hauls over the years.

[JSngry]

I generally like Nancy Wilson, but sometimes she would get lazy with the more intricate melodies and simplify them, presumably under the guise of improvisation.

She cites Jimmy Scott as her primary influence, so keep that in mind.

[Jim R]

Very belatedly have been getting into Wilson some lately (I know ... stop yourself), and this one so far is the most remarkable -- fine Jimmy Jones charts, Wilson, utterly relaxed, is in exceptional, soaring voice, and often she adopts a long-meter approach to the songs that swings like a MF. Check out "Dearly Beloved" for example. Also the poured-into-that-dress photo of Wilson on the album cover is quite something (click to enlarge):

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7226179

I (belatedly) got into her Capitol material about ten years ago. We've had some threads here on the subject (here's one: ).

"Hollywood- My Way" is one of my favorites. The material is well-chosen, and the popular melodies of that era really seem "right' for her, in the same way they were for certain instumentalists like Hampton Hawes, Stanley Turrentine, and some others who showed great taste (imo) in selecting and performing them.

[AllenLowe]

wow that's good. I sometimes find her mannered, but that's amazing stuff. Must be the dress.

[Cali]

As a long ago Nancy fan who lived through a teenage crush on her, I highly recommend these three beauties:

Broadway My Way

Yesterdays Love Songs Todays Blues

Hello Young Lovers

HYL has never been released on CD. It makes one wonder what the hell is going on at Capitol. Many think this is her best album.

P.S. These were before the more mannered approach in her style. And I didn't mean to exclude the excellent album she did with Cannonball.

Edited April 14, 2012 by Cali