70: A Seventieth Birthday Celebration

Performer: Rosemary Clooney
Artist: Woody Herman; Keith Carradine; Linda Ronstadt; K.D. Lang; Cal Tjader; John Pizzarelli; Scott Hamilton; Mark Vinci
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes: Rosemary Clooney (vocals); John Pizzarelli (vocals, guitar); k.d. Lang, Linda Ronstadt, Keith Carradine (vocals); Kim Richmond (alto saxophone); Scott Hamilton, Mark Vinci (tenor saxophone); Warren Vache (cornet); David Ladd, Roger Glenn, Gary Foster (flute); Woody Herman (clarinet); Cal Tjader (vibraphone); John Oddo (piano); Ed Bickert, Dennis Budimir (guitar); L.A. Jazz Choir, The Woody Herman Big Band. Producers: Carl E. Jefferson, John Burk, Allen J. Sviridoff, John Oddo, Johnny Mandel. Compilation producer: Allen Sviridoff. All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. Rosemary Clooney has released more 20 albums on the Concord label in as many years, so this 70th birthday compilation is a more than welcome addition to her catalogue. With Ella and Sarah gone, she became the pre-eminent female singer of standards. Unlike many vocalists who are forced by failing voices to go cabaret, Clooney has retained the warm, musical quality which made her such an appealing singer ever since the days of "Hey There," reprised here in typically relaxed fashion. All her Concord albums are well-recorded, unpretentious affairs, so there is wealth of prime material to choose from. The CD opens with a lovely version of James Taylor's "Secret Of Life," specially arranged by the great Johnny Mandel for this collection. Along the way we are treated to guest appearances such as John Pizzarelli on the subtly swinging "It's Only A Paper Moon" and actor Keith Carradine, who provides a sympathetic vocal foil on the little known "Turn Around." Highlight: Bob Hope's theme song "Thanks For The Memory," which Rosie makes her own with all the wisdom 50 years of singing can muster.

An iconic American vocalist, Rosemary Clooney often blurred the line between pop and jazz, occasionally even venturing into country and international styles. She started out as a singer with the Tony Pastor band in the 1940s, and her solo career started taking off at the end of the decade. Under the stewardship of Mitch Miller, she had numerous novelty-oriented '50s hits, but later on she dedicated herself to more serious, jazzier work, making some of her finest albums, like 1956's BLUE ROSE. Clooney was also active in films and TV (for a time she had her own television show), and continued performing and recording tirelessly until her death in 2002.

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