The Very Best of Cleo Laine: 34 Classic Hits

• Artist: Cleo Laine
• Rating:
• Release Date: May 20, 1997
• Total Time: 136:15
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Vocal Music

Review

This two-CD set may be titled The Very Best of Cleo Laine: 34 Classic Hits but it is actually a lesser reissue. Drawing its material from Laine's RCA recordings of 1974-1996, the set is pretty light on jazz despite cameos from Clark Terry, Gerry Mulligan, Toots Thielemans and Joe Williams. While the occasional jazz tracks give one a feeling of relief, most of the reissue finds Laine backed by an orchestra, sounding like a Broadway or cabaret singer, occasionally going over the top with sentiment. While Laine has always had a beautiful voice and a wide range, she was never much of an improviser and her choice of material has been erratic through the years. So, next to swinging numbers such as "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'" and "It Don't Mean a Thing," are forgettable show tunes and throwaway songs. Nearly all of the performances are overarranged with little of value occurring outside of the sound of Cleo Laine's voice. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
He Was Beautiful	Stanley Myers, Cleo Laine	John Williams, Cleo Laine, John Williams	(4:21)
I Loves You, Porgy	DuBose Heyward, Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin	Cleo Laine	(3:05)
No One Is Alone	Stephen Sondheim	Cleo Laine, Jacqueline Dankworth	(3:39)
Birdsong (Sambalaya)	John Dankworth	Cleo Laine	(2:45)
Solitude (Lyrics)	Duke Ellington, Eddie DeLange, Irving Mills	Duke Ellington, Cleo Laine	(4:25)
Streets of London	Ralph McTell	Cleo Laine	(3:48)
I Don't Know Why	Fred E. Ahlert, CeDell Davis, Roy Turk, Andraé Crouch	Cleo Laine, Dudley Moore	(3:46)
Send in the Clowns (Lyrics)	Stephen Sondheim	Cleo Laine	(3:34)
Dreamsville	Evans, Jay Livingston, Ray Evans, Henry Mancini	Cleo Laine, Gerry Mulligan	(5:26)
Gonna Get Through	John Dankworth	Cleo Laine	(4:32)
Skylark	Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer	James Galway, Cleo Laine	(3:25)
Creole Love Call	Bubber Miley, Duke Ellington	Cleo Laine	(4:46)
What'll I Do?	Irving Berlin	Joe Williams, Cleo Laine	(3:57)
It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)	Irving Mills, Duke Ellington	Cleo Laine	(4:06)
You Must Believe in Spring	Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, Jacques Demy, Marilyn Bergman	Cleo Laine	(3:33)
Wish You Were Here (I Do Miss You)	Darryl Runswick, Kerry Crabbe	Cleo Laine	(4:29)
Bill	Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II, P.G. Wodehouse	Cleo Laine	(4:34)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Lies of Handsome Men	Francesca Blumenthal	Cleo Laine	(4:41)
Play It Again Sam	John Dankworth, Cleo Laine	Cleo Laine	(3:28)
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter)	Fred E. Ahlert, Joe Young	Cleo Laine	(2:32)
If	Pete Seeger, David Gates, James Harris, Janet Jackson, Joe Henderson, Terry Lewis, Lee Hays, Tolchard Evans	Andy Williams, Cleo Laine, John Williams	(2:42)
Thieving Boy	Alun Owen, John Dankworth	Cleo Laine	(2:50)
Won't You Tell Me Why	Toots Thielemans	Cleo Laine, Toots Thielemans	(4:32)
I Remember	Stephen Sondheim	Cleo Laine	(3:45)
Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'	Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Lee Gaines	Clark Terry, Cleo Laine	(6:40)
Woman Talk	Sherl Brady, John Scott	Cleo Laine, Jacqueline Dankworth, Jaki Dankworth	(3:13)
Sophisticated Lady	Irving Mills, Duke Ellington, Mitchell Parish	Cleo Laine	(5:56)
Music	John Dankworth, Carole King	John Dankworth, Cleo Laine	(2:38)
Bess, You Is My Woman Now	DuBose Heyward, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Ray Charles, Cleo Laine	(5:30)
My Man's Gone Now	Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, George Gershwin	Cleo Laine	(4:44)
I'm Beginning to See the Light	Don George, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Johnny Hodges	Cleo Laine	(3:13)
A Time for Farewell	Cleo Laine, John Dankworth	Cleo Laine, James Galway	(3:09)
Turkish Delight	John Dankworth	Cleo Laine	(4:36)
Born on a Friday	Leonard Feather	Cleo Laine	(3:55)

Credits

Clark Terry (Performer), Ray Charles (Performer), Cleo Laine (Vocals), Duke Ellington (Performer), Joe Williams (Performer), John Williams (Performer), Gerry Mulligan (Performer), Dudley Moore (Performer), James Galway (Performer), Jaki Dankworth (Performer), John Dankworth (Performer), Toots Thielemans (Performer)