I'm sitting in a large, dark, smoky room. There are cocktail and high ball glasses scattered over the tables. A handsome crooner is singing in the spotlight with a big band accompanying him. The music is smooth, the horns are bright and loud. People are milling about, some dancing, some conversing in low tones. The bartender is busy but relaxed. From behind me I hear, "Mommy! Can we listen to something else?" "Mommy! I'm thirsty!"
Oh wait…no, I'm actually in my car.
But that's the mood that is set by Harry Connick, Jr's new album, Your Songs. I feel transported back to another time to the big band era. I feel like, for a few moments at least, like a classy grown-up doing classy grown-up things.
This album is "Harry does covers". And he does them well, albeit a bit cheesy at times. There are no 'original to him' songs on here. And the songs run the gamut from The Carpenters to Stevie Wonder to The Beatles to Nat King Cole, even Elvis! And, of course, a couple from the classic crooners, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. They are all love songs that we all know and well, love.
I like the way the only "spin" Harry puts on the songs is to make them sound like big band songs ('cause I really love me some big band music). Other than that there are no major stylistic maneuvers, he sings them like they were written and he sings them well. Not that I expected anything else, this is Harry after all!
Your Songs
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