The Old Music Master Johnny Mercer |
Released August 20, 1996
The Old Music Master, Flapper's collection of Johnny Mercer material, appears in the label's "Songwriter Series," a very subtle pointer to the fact that not all of the performances here are actually by Johnny Mercer. Even the most intrepid record-buyers must wait to open the booklet before finding out that only four of the two dozen songs feature Mercer at all. After opening with the pleasant novelty song "Pardon My Southern Accent," Mercer appears only on "Here Come the British," "Fare-Thee-Well to Harlem" (with Jack Teagarden), and "Mister Meadowlark" (with Bing Crosby). And though the roster of artists interpreting Mercer's songs is of the first rate, many of these versions have the quality of radio transcriptions. This collection is recommended only for Mercer fans who've already heard the Capitol songbook, in which case these versions -- "Jeeper Creepers" (by Louis Armstrong, from the 1938 film Going Places), "Day In-Day Out" (Artie Shaw with Helen Forrest), "I'm Old Fashioned" (Fred Astaire), "Blues in the Night" (Peggy Lee with a Benny Goodman sextet), and "Fools Rush In" (Frank Sinatra with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra) -- may be worthwhile. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
TRACKS 1. Pardon My Southern Accent 2. Goody Goody 3. Skylark 4. Mister Meadowlark 5. Fools Rush In 6. Jeepers Creepers 7. Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?) 8. Lazy Bones 9. I'd Know You Anywhere 10. Day In - Day Out 11. And the Angels Sing 12. I'm Old Fashioned 13. Sentimental and Melancholy 14. Here Come the British 15. Too Marvelous for Words 16. You and Your Love 17. I'm Building Up to an Awful Letdown 18. Blues in the Night 19. You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby 20. I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande) 21. Tangerine 22. The Old Music Master 23. Fare-Thee-Well to Harlem
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