So Smooth | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 1955 | |||
Recorded | January 20, 25, February 8, 17, 1955 | |||
Genre | Vocal | |||
Length | 33:11 | |||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Perry Como chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
So Smooth is Perry Como's first RCA Victor 12" long-play album, recorded and originally released in 1955. [2] This was also Perry's first album recorded at Webster Hall in New York City, and his first album with the Ray Charles Singers who would support him generally throughout the remainder of his recording career. [3] So Smooth was released in the UK as We Get Letters Volume 2 as Perry's popularity gained international appeal during the late 1950s; under this title, the album peaked at number 4 in the Record Mirror album chart, entering on 28 June 1958 and spending seven weeks within the Top 5. [4]
Although RCA Victor issued several LP collections by Como prior to this album, this was Como's first album of all-new material recorded especially for an LP release. Como viewed the LP format differently from the singles market, eschewing the kind of popular novelty songs he often recorded for single releases on the 45 and 78 RPM format in favor of collections devoted to well-known standards mostly dating back to the 1930s and '40s.
All selections are arranged by Joe Lipman.
Side one
Side two
Swing Easy! is the eighth studio album by Frank Sinatra. It was released in 1954 as a 10" album and consisted of only eight songs, as each side of the record only allowed approximately fourteen minutes of music.
Sinatra Sings... of Love and Things is an album by Frank Sinatra, released in 1962.
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Song Book is a 1961 album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Billy May. This album marked the only time that Fitzgerald worked with May.
Young Man with a Horn is an album that was released by Columbia Records in 1950. It features trumpeter Harry James and singer Doris Day performing songs initially recorded for the soundtrack of the film of the same name.
We Get Letters is a 1957 album by Perry Como, his second RCA Victor 12" long-play album. The LP's concept is an album of requests from Como's television show, but forgoing the usual big-band sound of Mitchell Ayres' Orchestra and the Ray Charles Singers for a small group known as "Como's little Combo", with soft, breezy jazz arrangements by Joe Lipman. The album was recorded between June 1956 and February 1957.
Saturday Night with Mr. C was Perry Como's third RCA Victor 12" long-play album, and his first recorded in stereophonic sound. The album is structured as an extended version of the request section of his popular television show, beginning and ending with his theme songs "Dream Along With Me" and "You Are Never Far Away" and with his TV request theme, "We Get Letters" used twice in the album as an intro. At the time, Perry was seen on NBC's Saturday night schedule at 8 P.M. Eastern Time.
Como Swings was Perry Como's fifth RCA Victor 12" long-play album, released in 1959. The album's concept was one of lively swing arrangements by Joe Lipman of standards from the Great American Songbook. The album was, in part, recorded to showcase the spectacular sound of RCA Victor's new Living Stereo recording process.
Sing to Me Mr. C was Perry Como's Eighth RCA Victor 12" long-play album. Joe Lipman was the chief music arranger for the release.
Perfectly Frank is an album by Tony Bennett, released in 1992 and recorded as a tribute to his longtime friend Frank Sinatra.
Perry Como Live On Tour was Perry Como's 27th 12" long-play album for RCA Records and his second live album. It was rereleased on CD in 2015 by Real Gone Music.
Today is the 29th studio album by Perry Como. It was his final album for RCA Records and of his 55-year music career. This is also the penultimate recording ever made by Perry Como, the last being for a Christmas television special in 1994. This album is also significant in that it was the first and only album of Como's career to be released contemporaneously in both vinyl LP format and compact disc.
An Evening with Billie Holiday is the second 10-inch LP studio album by jazz singer Billie Holiday, released by Clef Records in 1953.
Let's Face the Music is the sixth Shirley Bassey studio album, released in 1962, and arranged by Nelson Riddle. Kenneth Hume, Shirley Bassey's husband and manager wrote the sleeve notes for this album, in which he gives an insight into how this album came to being: "When Vic Lewis booked Nelson Riddle for a tour with Shirley, we were all very excited; being great fans of Nelson Riddle's from way back...so when someone suggested them doing an LP together, we thought that this would not be possible, remembering that Nelson was under contract with another recording company." Nelson Riddle was under contract to Capitol Records at the time, so Bassey's producer Norman Newell went about to secure his services for an album. While on the tour, Bassey, Riddle, and Bassey's music director Raymond Long discussed what form the album should take. Shortly after the tour was completed, the recording sessions began.
Greatest Love Songs is a 2002 compilation album by American singer Frank Sinatra, containing 22 love songs.
Back in Town is a 1959 album by Mel Tormé and his Mel-Tones, arranged by Marty Paich.
It's Love is a 1955 studio album by Lena Horne, released by RCA Victor in monophonic in 1955, Horne's debut album for the company, and her first complete studio album. Lena Horne's previous album releases, from RCA Victor and Black & White Records, were collections of 78rpm singles issued as sets of three of four singles, with the introduction of the 33.3rpm album by Columbia in 1948, this format soon became obsolete. Re-issued on CD twice, in mono sound. Firstly in 1999 by RCA Victor, Japan and a UK release in 2004, together with the 1960 album; Songs by Burke and Van Heusen.
Stormy Weather is a 1957 studio album by Lena Horne, released by RCA Victor in monophonic. Recording took place between March 1956 and March 1957, at Webster Hall, New York.
Desmond Blue is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist Paul Desmond released in 1962 and was his first LP for RCA Victor. The album was produced by George Avakian, who had worked with Desmond at Columbia Records. Avakian left Columbia in 1958 to join the brand new Warner Bros. Records, where he produced Desmond's previous album, First Place Again. Joining RCA Victor in 1960, Avakian once again recruited Desmond to his label, and he produced all six of the albums Desmond recorded for RCA Victor as a leader. Desmond Blue was also the first Desmond solo album to feature the saxophonist in an orchestral setting. RCA reissued the album in 1978 as Paul Desmond - Pure Gold Jazz (ANL1-2807). Desmond returned to the orchestral format later in the decade, when he signed with CTI Records and recorded Summertime.
The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs is an album by American jazz trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers performing songs composed by Harold Arlen including several from The Wizard of Oz. The album was issued by RCA Victor in 1959.
Tommy Flanagan Plays the Music of Harold Arlen is an album by jazz pianist Tommy Flanagan, with bassist George Mraz and drummer Connie Kay.
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