Don't Go To Strangers/Softly As I Leave Youby Anonymous
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September 03, 2008:
Does the perfect suit or shirt go without thought to the perfect tie? It's an ensemble. That's what these 1966-67 recordings of Edie Gorme are. A roof-blower of a vocalist is aided by the most exquisite and thoughtful orchestral illustration by Don Costa and Co. Nowadays, the MOR stuff with strings is backed very mandatorily, like generic wallpaper. Back then, the presence of the orchestral backing mattered seriously. It was indeed part of the presentation, not some cocktail napkin under the glass. And in the 60's, before something called " contemporary" demolished the big-band market completely, there was a time when popular music owned a level of distinction, a sound of sophistication and class. When you unwrapped a new vocalist's LP and put the tonearm to it, you knew what to expect, and you were not disappointed. This pair of artifacts is proof of a more respectful time. Pardon us, Lite-FM, for the WNEW us grownups deserve.