Connie Francis at the Copa

• Artist: Connie Francis
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1961 04
• Total Time: 25:38
• Type: Live
• Genre: Rock

Review

Connie Francis at the Copa is a decent document of the immortal pop singer performing live in New York City with an orchestra conducted by Joe Mele. The ten selections include a five-song Al Jolson medley and a coupling of "When the Saints Come Marching In" with "Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home" -- putting the emphasis on standards more than her hits. Two Top Ten gold singles from 1960 are here, though: Connie's remake of the 1940s Italian composition "Mama" and a song more representative of her pop hits, "Many Tears Ago."

The sound quality for a major release on MGM is shockingly low, on the level of a good bootleg. Mickey Deans' cassette recordings of his wife, and Judy Garland's last performance, which became the Judy. London. 1969. LP, are similar to this allegedly "High Fidelity Recording" -- though that album emerged out of necessity and this was produced by a major film/record company. But the singer is great -- at the top of her game, recorded a year after she debuted her album of Italian songs in 1960 on The Perry Como Show. The liner notes contain nine reviews from critics, Frank Farrell of the World-Telegram and Sun calling this a "...sensational supper club bow as a major star." Connie Francis at the Copa casts the singer in a different light. Somewhat removed from her popular radio material, she proves she has the talent to take virtually any material and hit it out of the park. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Ol' Man Mose	Louis Armstrong, Zilner Randolph	Connie Francis	(1:45)
It All Depends on You	Lew Brown, Buddy DeSylva, Ray Henderson	Connie Francis	(2:38)
Many Tears Ago	Winfield Scott	Connie Francis	(1:25)
You Always Hurt the One You Love	Doris Fisher, Allan Roberts	Connie Francis	(2:27)
Medley: Shein Vi de Levone/Hava Nagila (Dance Everyone Dance)		Connie Francis	(2:05)
Jealous of You (Tango Della Gelosia)	Vittoria Mascheroni, Marjorie Harper, Peppino Mendes	Connie Francis	(2:10)
Mama	Phil Brito, Harold Barlow, Cesare Bixio, Bruno Cherubini	Connie Francis	(3:05)
Smack Dab in the Middle	Chuck Calhoun	Connie Francis	(2:07)
Al Jolson Medley: You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It) ...		Connie Francis	(5:00)
Medley: When the Saints Come Marching In/Bill Bailey (Won't You Please)		Connie Francis	(2:56)

Credits

Connie Francis (Vocals), Connie Francis (Main Performer)