artist/s: Shirley Horn album: Loads of Love + Shirley Horn with Horns label: Mercury/Polygram number catalogue: 843 454-2 package: Factory Pressed Silver CD, Jewel Case recording year/s: 1963 CD release year: 1990 codec: reference libFLAC 1.2.1 20070917 - level 8 covers: full scans 300 dpi extra contents: cue non compliant, info, m3u, st5, ffp, md5. notes: 2 LPs on 1 CD "Loads of Love" + "Shirley Horn with Horns" Review by Scott Yanow (AMG) Two of pianist/vocalist Shirley Horn's rarest (and earliest) recordings are reissued in full on this single CD. Actually, Horn does not play piano at all, sticking exclusively to vocals, and she had less control over the interpretations (being persuaded to sing some songs at faster-than-usual tempos) than she would later on. The arrangements for the big bands that back Horn were written by Jimmy Jones and Quincy Jones and, although the overall music is enjoyable, Horn would have much preferred to be the pianist behind her own vocals. Since she would only record two other albums during the next 15 years (sticking to playing locally in the Washington, D.C., area while raising her daughter), this CD gives one a valuable look at the early Shirley Horn; her distinctive vocal style was already nearly fully formed. Amazon.com customer review # I must confess: I much prefer the early Shirley Horn to the present-day Shirley Horn. I think that constraints and prescriptions and proscriptions do their part in allowing an artist to create excellent work. And in spite of what many listeners and reviewers have thought of this early-60s album, Horn, here, is in peak form, in command, and in great voice. The first song, "Wild Is Love" is very 60s, and you'll dig those crazy horns blowing...you'll almost want to do The Twist as you think of "The Dating Game." There are nods to several standards, one of which is to Gershwin on "There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon for New York." "Great City" is also fun, and will put you in the frame of mind of New York, the greatest city, in its glory days; Horn's articulation and timing see to that... The strangest song on here is probably "Mack the Knife," so different from Ella's versions and Louis Armstrong's versions...Horn swings this song in typcial, restrained Horn fashion...but it's the lyrics that puzzle somewhat...thrown in here, among the familiar Lucy Brown, Slooky Tawdry, and Lotte Lenya, is Sister Sadie...whoever she is...but this song is quite fun and you'll dig Horn's spin on it... The balads are quite beautiful here..."The Second Time Around," "Do It Again," and "The Good Life" are all possessed by Horn's now-famous loving and sophisticated restaint...this album isn't even enough solely for after-hours listening, but you can certainly program in the songs you like and listen to this collection that way... If you like Horn, or like jazz, I think you'll really like this collection. Good Listening! # According to the liner notes, Shirley herself doesn't think much of these recordings, but I love them. These are VERY different from any other Horn records I have heard. Either she hadn't settled into her own style yet, or, more likely, the producers wouldn't let her do her own thing. (They wouldn't even let her play piano, according to the liner notes.) She never digs in emotionally to the extent that she does on later albums, and there are a few tracks that should have stayed in the vault. BUT! That's OK, because some of this stuff swings like MAD, and its a particular breed of swing that Shirley never bothered with again, even though she could obviously tear it up. If you're looking for your first Shirley Horn record, try my favorite: Live at Vine Street: I Thought About You. Then check this one out. # The best singer ever. The finest musicians around. Everything perfect but Ms.Horn conceptions are missing. Seems like they got everything ready and then asked her come and croon. A quite professional twofer but ... this is not the Ms. Horn's material to be remembered forever. vervemusicgroup No sooner had Shirley Horn come off the road from the Loads of Love tour she was summoned back to New York for another album. This time, she had considerably less input on the choice of musicians, though she approved most of the material. The cover of Shirley Horn with Horns misrepresents the album's contents. A cutline announces "Shirley Horn at the piano with Four Trumpets, Four Trombones and Four French Horns," but, again, Shirley was not permitted to accompany herself. CDUniverse This CD is a reissue of two very appealing albums recorded by Shirley Horn for Mercury in 1963, that until now were rare collector's items. Unfortunately Horn, first and foremost a pianist, was prevented from accompanying herself on piano on either release, and she was understandably frustrated with not being able to set her own tempos or hear her own chord choices. LOADS OF LOVE is a lushly orchestrated affair in the pop-jazz mode of the day, much in the style of Nat "King" Cole or Peggy Lee. Horn's vocals are simple, breathy, quite smoky, and sexy. Standout tracks are a swinging "Love For Sale," and the ballads "The Second Time Around" and "Ten Cents a Dance." Her second release, SHIRLEY HORN WITH HORNS, is a big band affair produced and conducted by Quincy Jones, in much the same pop-jazz vein as the first album, but brassier. Standout tracks include swinging versions of "The Great City," "Come Dance With Me," and the fine ballad "I'm In the Mood For Love." Although these recordings are well worth checking out, they only hint at the immense artistry of Shirley Horn. track list: 01. Wild Is Love [0:01:31.63] 02. Loads of Love [0:02:26.12] 03. My Future Just Passed [0:02:43.38] 04. There's a Boat That's Leavin' Soon for New York [0:02:43.62] 05. Ten Cents a Dance [0:03:52.63] 06. Only the Lonely [0:03:07.12] 07. The Second Time Around [0:03:15.00] 08. Do It Again [0:02:59.00] 09. It's Love [0:02:03.50] 10. That's No Joke [0:02:40.13] 11. Love For Sale [0:03:53.62] 12. Who Am I [0:02:54.00] 13. On the Street Where You Live [0:02:17.63] 14. The Great City [0:02:04.12] 15. That Old Black Magic [0:02:36.25] 16. Mack the Knife [0:03:03.50] 17. Come Dance With Me [0:02:16.00] 18. Let Me Love You [0:03:07.13] 19. After You're Gone [0:03:01.50] 20. Wouldn't It Be Loverly [0:03:44.62] 21. Go Away Little Boy [0:03:30.13] 22. I'm In the Mood For Love [0:02:50.12] 23. The Good Life [0:03:14.00] 24. Wee Small Hours [0:03:21.38] My Friends: trader's little helper http://tlh.easytree.org/ flac http://flac.sourceforge.net/ foobar http://www.foobar2000.org/ exact audio copy (EAC) http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/