Latin for Lovers

[jmichael]

Here's another classic that just gets better with age. What a lovely collection of tuneful songs. Doris is a natural with material like this.
She wraps those silky vocal chords around each song with such grace.
One of her best attributes as a singer is how relaxed her voice is. Nothing ever sounds forced. That gift is on full display here.

Personal favs:

Meditation -- a deeply personal and introspective performance. I wonder who she was thinking of when she sang it. Probably not Marty! Ha.

How Insensitive -- another deeply personal interpretation that must have steamed up the recording booth when she sang it. Talk about love gone wrong and a feeling of regret. Doris really captures the sense of loss. Great guitar backing her too. This is a perfect performance.

Desifinado (Slightly Out of Tune) -- Sultry. That is the only word for her performance here. Not a trace of the girl-next door persona.

Our Day Will Come -- great orchestration on this cut. Doris is very knowing and sophisticated on this song.

Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps -- what a catchy song. Doris's superb sense of rhythm is on full display here. She really gives it a playful seductive reading. Love this song.

[John M]

Couldn't agree more, Michael. What a great work of art that album is. One of my faves on it is "Summer Has Gone."

[Jas1]

I adore 'Latin for Lovers' - the tunes that stand out for me are 'Desifinado'; 'Be true to me'; & 'Meditation'. Of course, they are all superb. That is another book in itself, Doris and her co-musicians talking about the wonderful recordings she has made.

[John M]

That is exactly the book I'm working on now, Jas. I think it is truly needed in the Day universe.

[Jas1]

Great John, look forward to it.

[c.j]

THAT WOULD BE JUST SWELL..

[dorisdayicon]

I'm looking forward to your book, John. Latin for Lovers is my favourite album. Jmichael, I like your review of this album.

[jmichael]

Velda & John, thanks to both of you for your kind words....

I really enjoy sharing my thoughts about her work especially when a film or vocal performance touches my soul. Her work on "Latin For Lovers" as well as "Day By Day" and "Day By Night" was simply astounding. These are marvellous performances that stand the test of time.

Cheers,

Michael H

[joe t.]

JohnM,

Do you have a target date for publishing your book on Doris' recordings?

Santopietro made an attempt at reviewing her recordings but, to me, it was hit and miss. He got some things right and completely ignored other major recordings.

You seem intent on a more methodical analysis of her vocal achievements and such an effort is sorely needed.

I, for one, am looking forward to your project.

[howard]

John: will you be talking to musicians, and music producers who worked with her in the recording studio?

[John M]

joe & Howard, yes my goal is to make it as detailed and thorough as possible. One stop shopping for her music career. I'm trying to talk to as many musicians, arrangers, execs, etc. as possible. Some are no longer with us and I'm trying to get close family members in those cases. I REALLY wish I'd started this project YEARS ago when so many people were still alive. Particularly Terry, who I think would've been a big supporter of it.

I'm also hoping to get a corresponding cd put out from Sony to go along with the book. We'll see...

And, no, no projected date just yet. Miles to go...

[Dandy Fosdyke]

I downloaded this album on a whim. I was aware of Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, Meditation and Desafinado (the George Michael & Astrud Gilberto version). But I was stunned by these songs and her voice is just exquisite.

Corcovado/Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars particularly gives me goosebumps, as Doris almost whispers the lyrics into your ear.

[John M]

Dandy, you are so right!

[miss maxwell]

Hiya everyone, hope you've been well and that you've had a lovely summer.

I never tire of listening to "Latin for lovers", an all time favorite (not only Doris-wise). "Perhaps" has been my ringt0ne for about a year now. My second favorite is "Be true to me" -- I wish Doris had sung the whole thing in spanish with that cute accent of hers!

[mikeydv]

A truly GREAT album...but then most of them were. I am particularly fond of DORIS DAY'S SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY and I HAVE DREAMED as well.

John...can't wait for your book. Don't sleep before those miles are accomplished! It would also be great to see a section in there where other musical performers talk about the influence Doris has had on them...believe it or not, there are many!

Did anyone see a show on tv years ago, when Dinah Shore had Andre Previn as guest star, and she sang some of the songs from the Day/Previn DUET album. I may be wrong, but I got the impression that Shore was not too fond of Doris based on some of the comments she made on that show. (If so, not surprising. When I used to purcase single 78 rpm recordings of Doris' records, they used to come in a sleeve that listed Columbia's top artists. Dinah Shore was Always in the top 3, at first. Then suddenly Doris was on top and Dinah went to the bottom and then nowhere. hmmmmm)

[Daisy June]

I had heard somewhere on an interview or maybe I read it that they compared them as sounding a lot like each other. Not to me at all. Doris can or could out sing Dinah Shore any day. Doris voice is like (someone said in a write up Doris Day Golden Girl) liquid gold. I'll second that comment.

Carol

[miss maxwell]

Did anyone see a show on tv years ago, when Dinah Shore had Andre Previn as guest star, and she sang some of the songs from the Day/Previn DUET album.

Is this the show?

[Control Yourself]



I like Dinah Shore - but I love Doris.

[Daisy June]

I hate to say it but Doris can out sing Dinah anyday on any song.

I did like her talk show, but I wasn't a big fan of her singing.

Carol

[mikeydv]

Yes, that is the one. If you have the complete show, listen carefully to the slur that Dinah makes about Doris. Because of that, I hated Dinah Shore for many years.
I have to admit that she did have some songs I really liked (but then, I always thought Doris would have song them better. I.e., "Chantez, Chantez", "Sweet Violets", "Fascination", "Blues in Advance").
Years later, Dinah's version of "If I Give My Heart To You" went nowhere. And wasn't it strange that Columbia would let her cover the Doris version at the same time on the same label?? Where was Mitch Miller's head????

[John M]

mikeydv, what was the slur she said?

[Jas1]

John - you took the words right out of my mouth!

Re- Dinah, I liked Dinah the entertainer much more than Dinah the singer. It is true, Dinah [vocally] is not in Doris Day's league. Dinah though aged beautifully and looked amazing right to the end. I think she was about 75 when she died of cancer - looked more in her mid 50s ! She sings a great 'Ladies who lunch' with Jane Russell on her tv show - on u-tube.

[mikeydv]

John M
I cannot remember the EXACT words, but it was something to the effect that maybe with me (Dinah) singing along this time, your songs will get a better audience than they did with that flop DUET record Doris Day made with you. I wish I could remember..I just remember that it made me immediately angry, and I turned off her show, never to turn it on .
By the way, eventually I forgave her. Last year, Capital Records discovered some tapes she had made before she died and they put out a cd of the lost records. She does a damn good job on: 'FLY AWAY",
"50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER", "THE FIRST TIME"(I would love to have heard Doris do this song),
and "HOW SWEET IT IS". The cd is terrific...he says many years too late.