Waltz with Me, Della

Last updated
Waltz with Me, Della
Della Reese--Waltz with Me Della.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 1963 (1963-08)
Studio RCA Studio A (New York)
Genre
Label RCA Victor
Producer Hugo & Luigi
Della Reese chronology
Della Reese at Basin Street East
(1962)
Waltz with Me, Della
(1963)
Moody
(1965)

Waltz with Me, Della is a studio album by American singer Della Reese. It was released in August 1963 by RCA Victor and was her tenth studio album. The idea for the collection was derived by the Hugo & Luigi production team who envisioned Reese singing a variety of cover tunes in a waltz tempo. A total of 12 tracks comprised the collection and it was given positive reviews by music publications following its release.

Contents

Background

Della Reese was later known for an acting career that included starring in the TV series, Touched by an Angel . However, she first found success as a singer of blues, jazz and pop. First recording for Jubilee Records, her 1957 single called "And That Reminds Me" sold over a million copies. It helped her sign with the larger RCA Victor label, where she was paired with production team Hugo & Luigi. The producers recorded a series of albums with Reese and she ultimately had more commercial success. [1] While sitting at a piano in their studio, the Hugo & Luigi pair got an idea to have Reese record an entire album dedicated to the waltz dance style. The pair then found a series of waltz cover tunes for the album. [3]

Recording and content

Waltz with Me, Della was recorded at RCA Studio A located in New York City. Hugo & Luigi were the album's only producers while Glenn Osser provided arrangements. [3] The album consisted of 12 tracks, [4] all of which were covers of songs and were performed in a waltz tempo (all in a three-quarter time). Covers included "Wonderful One", "Always", "The Anniversary Waltz", "What'll I Do", "Falling in Love with Love" and "(I'll Be with You) In Apple Blossom Time". [2] [5]

Release and critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Waltz with Me, Della was released by RCA Victor in August 1963 [6] as a vinyl LP, offered in both mono and stereo formats. Six tracks were featured on each side of the disc. It was the tenth studio album in Reese's music career. [3] The album received a mostly positive reception following its release. Billboard found that it "makes for excellent listening" and found that Reese has a "full voiced freshness and originality." [2] Cash Box called it "an ear-captivating package" and further commented that "Della Reese, who can belt a tune with the best of them, turns tender on this new Victor album outing aimed at the waltz. The lark delivers each waltz in caressing fashion guaranteed to delight her many fans." [5] AllMusic did not provide a written review but rated the album two out of five stars. [4]

Track listing

Side one [3]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wonderful One"2:48
2."Tenderly"3:30
3."Falling in Love with Love" Rodgers–Hart 2:35
4."What'll I Do" Irving Berlin 2:34
5."I Love You"
  • Thompson
  • Archer
2:15
6."Theme Song from Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart)"
  • G. Augric
  • W. Engwick
2:22
Side two [3]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Always"Irving Berlin3:10
2."Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)" Bart Howard 2:48
3."I'll Be with You In Apple Blossom Time"
2:35
4."While We're Young"
3:19
5."I'll Always Be in Love with You"
3:09
6."The Anniversary Waltz"3:03

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Waltz with Me, Della. [3]

Release history

Release history and formats for Waltz with Me, Della
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousAugust 1963
  • Vinyl LP (mono)
  • Vinyl LP (stereo)
RCA Victor [3] [7] [8]
circa 2013Compact disc Sony Music Entertainment [9]
circa 2020
  • Music download
  • streaming
RCA Records [10]

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References

  1. 1 2 Will Friedwald (2010). A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers. Knopf Doubleday. pp. 385–388. ISBN   9780307379894.
  2. 1 2 3 "Album Reviews: Pop Special Merit Picks" (PDF). Billboard . August 24, 1963. p. 40. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Reese, Della (August 1963). "Waltz with Me, Della (Liner Notes)". RCA Victor . LPM-2711 (LP mono); LSP-2711 (LP stereo).
  4. 1 2 3 "Waltz with Me, Della - Della Reese: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box . September 21, 1963. p. 23. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  6. "Victor Bows '63 Best Buy Program; Sets Aug-Sept Pop-Classical Release" (PDF). Cash Box . August 10, 1963. p. 210. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  7. Reese, Della (August 1963). "Waltz with Me, Della (Liner Notes) (U.K.)". RCA Victor . RD-7584 (LP mono); SF-7584 (LP stereo).
  8. Reese, Della (August 1963). "Waltz with Me, Della (Liner Notes) (South Africa)". RCA Victor . 31-745 (LP mono).
  9. Reese, Della (2013). "Waltz with Me, Della (Liner Notes)". Sony Music Entertainment . 8-88430 34122-7 (CD barcode).
  10. "Waltz with Me, Della - Album by Della Reese". Apple Music . Retrieved 2 January 2025.