- Artist: Dick Powell
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1995
- Total Time: 61:09
- Type: Compilation (best of)
- Genre: Vocal Music
Review
Not to be confused with
Dick Powell in Hollywood, the double-LP compilation released by
Columbia Records in 1966,
Columbia/Legacy's 1995 single-CD/cassette compilation of
Dick Powell recordings In Hollywood (1933-1935) nevertheless draws upon the same body of recordings, originally made for
Brunswick Records. Powell cut 28 sides for
Brunswick between May 1933 and June 1935, all but two of them songs featured in the movie musicals he was making for
Warner Bros. during the period. Twenty of those songs are featured here, among them such standards as "The Gold Diggers' Song (We're in the Money)" and "Lullaby of Broadway." Not included are "Happiness Ahead" and "I'm Goin' Shoppin' With You," both of which have been cited as among Powell's more popular recordings, and also missing are his introductions of "Why Do I Dream Those Dreams?" and "I Believe in Miracles," songs that became hits for others. In addition, this collection represents only the early years of Powell's busy parallel careers in music and movies. He didn't stop singing suddenly in mid-'35, of course, but he did switch record companies to
Decca, and that material resides in the vaults of
MCA, so it was not available to
Columbia/Legacy. What is here is impressive, however. Powell possessed a strong, clear tenor voice that he uses to good effect on these songs, many of them written by the team of
Harry Warren and
Al Dubin. If he was not as popular a recording artist as he was a movie star, that may have been because his approach seemed a throwback to the 1920s style of
Rudy Vallée in an era when
Bing Crosby's conversational baritone ruled. Then, too, Powell focused more on his movies, making five or six a year (not all of them musicals), while Crosby made only two or three, leaving time to promote his records on his weekly radio show. In Hollywood (1933-1935) presents a big chunk of Powell's early work and makes the case for him as one of the major singing actors of the 1930s. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Tracks
|
| We're in the Money (The Gold Diggers Song) |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(3:11) |
| Pettin' in the Park |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(2:59) |
| Shadow Waltz |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(3:02) |
| I've Got to Sing a Torch Song |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(3:08) |
| By a Waterfall |
Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal |
Dick Powell |
(3:14) |
| Honeymoon Hotel |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(2:40) |
| The Road Is Open Again |
Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal |
Dick Powell |
(2:57) |
| Lonely Lane |
Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal |
Dick Powell |
(3:05) |
| Wonder Bar |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(3:18) |
| Don't Say Goodnight |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(3:10) |
| I'll String Along With You |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(3:13) |
| Pop, Goes Your Heart |
Allie Wrubel, Mort Dixon |
Dick Powell |
(2:41) |
| Beauty Must Be Loved |
Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal |
Dick Powell |
(3:13) |
| Mr. and Mrs. Is the Name |
Allie Wrubel, Mort Dixon |
Dick Powell |
(2:50) |
| Flirtation Walk |
Allie Wrubel, Mort Dixon |
Dick Powell |
(3:06) |
| I See Two Lovers |
Allie Wrubel, Mort Dixon |
Dick Powell |
(3:02) |
| Lullaby of Broadway |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(3:14) |
| The Words Are in My Heart |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(3:01) |
| Lulu's Back in Town |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(2:55) |
| The Rose in Her Hair |
Al Dubin, Harry Warren |
Dick Powell |
(3:10) |
Credits
Jimmie Grier (?), Victor Arden (?), Dick Powell (Drums), Roy Hemming (Liner Notes), Dick Powell (Violin)
