7. Songs for Swingin' Lovers

Songs for Swingin' Lovers
1956

Amanda: Ah!  Here is the Sinatra as I knew him.  The kind of music you would hear at casinos and get up and swing to (please don't make this into something dirty; let's be mature about this people)!  I actually had this entire album already on my iPod so this album was nothing new to me.  Even if you haven't heard Sinatra sing these songs, you have probably listened to other people sing these classic songs which include "Pennies from Heaven" or "You Make Me Feel So Young" (I prefer when Rosemary Clooney sings this one; I also liked it better when Stewie sang it:)).  The songs are golden and even if there are a bit overdone, you forget it the second you hear this famous crooner sing them!

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Brie: I cannot believe that Frank Sinatra was 40 years old when he recorded this album! Brings a new meaning to the song "You Make Me Feel So Young", doesn't it? I felt slightly jaded after listening to the last Sinatra album, In The Wee Small Hours, but I am glad to say that good old Frankie redeemed himself with this one! Aah, so many classics on this album. From the previously mentioned "You Make Me Feel So Young" to "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "Makin' Whoopee", these songs have been covered many times and by extension, became classics. I can't wait to add this album to my collection!!!

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6. Ellington at Newport

Ellington at Newport

Amanda: The albums up to this point had been really easy to listen to.  All the songs were available on YouTube and took around twenty minutes each.  This album, however, is around two hours long.  For those of you who don't know, this album comes from a live recording of Ellington's concert at Newport and includes introductions and the sound of a riot breaking out during the performance!  I had to get the album off a very *cough* reputable website.  That being said, I think this album is worth it and it was one of my favorites so far.

This album is comprised of jazz performed by a big band orchestra.  Ellington was not a singer, he was a composer.  He was, however, a very charismatic man, and his speaking interludes were actually quite enjoyable.  This album also showed me how little I know of jazz music (Ellington states "If you have heard of the saxophone then you have heard of Johnny Hodges"; who the hell is Johnny Hodges?) but I was okay with that because I am learning.  Definitely listen to it at least once.  My favorite track was probably "Skin Deep."

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Brie: I love live albums! Though they are nothing compared to actually being at a concert, they can give us a feeling of what it would have been to be there. I agree that Ellington is a joy to listen to and a genius composer! I love the track "Skin Deep" as well, but it's a difficult decision!

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5. This Is Fats Domino

This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino


Amanda: I see that Brie has not written a review yet, but I am going to plough ahead anyway; got to stick to a schedule (if we want to finish in like six years).  I really enjoyed this album.  Some of the songs were like familar friends; I had heard them before but never knew the name of the song or who had sang them.  The songs made me laugh and want to dance.

So it was enjoyable.  But was it quality?  I think the answer is yes.  It was jazz and I could listen to the instrumental versions of the songs all day.  The music was definitely influential on genres of music such as ska and the Beatles even recorded some of his songs.  Definitely worth a listen.

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Brie: This album is proof that quality jazz does not equal boring! Who thinks that jazz is boring, you might ask? Answer: my entire school. Well it is their loss! I agree that these songs were very enjoyable, fun, and paved the way for artists of all genres. So just set aside some time and treat yourself to a little Fats Dominio!

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4. The Wildest!

The Wildest!
Louis Prima


Brie: Okay, thank goodness for this album! I needed something fun and light after the past three albums. This album is full of fun, jazzy, gotta-get-up-and-dance songs! My favorites include "Jump, Jive, An' Wail", and "Buona Sera". Even though this album isn't as serious and technical as Sinatra's "In the Wee Small Hours" and the Louvin Brothers' "Tragic Songs of Life", I still love it, as it is the epitome of Italian Jazz! If you haven't seen any videos of Louis performing, I suggest you do so! The man knew how to entertain!

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P.S. When I clicked on his videos on YouTube, I would get videos for mobs, and the Sopranos. Someone should really look into this more...

Amanda: I agree with what Brie said about needing an upbeat album after that piece of shit we listened to last time (not naming any names).  Well, I never have been to New Orleans, but this album certainly made me want to book it to Louisiana.  Granted, the songs really don't make any sense (here's looking at you, "Jump, Jive, and Wail") but they are still very enjoyable.  Prima is one of those singers that puts half his effort in making a quality song and the other half in showing off to the audience and entertaining the crowd.  Definitely an experience to watch him perform.  As a sidenote, you most likely have heard his songs in movies like Elf, Casino, and The Jungle Book (there are probably more; these are the movies I have seen).

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3. Tragic Songs of Life

Tragic Songs of Life
The Louvin Brothers



Brie: This album has been deemed very influential and "a landmark" for country music. I am not a country music fan. I know that is a huge generalization, but I've never heard country music that I like, so to say that this is a pretty good album is a huge step for me. I had never heard any of the Louvin Brothers' music before, and I probably won't add any of their work to my music collection any time soon. The album was okay, I can see why it was influential and all that jazz. It's just not my cup of tea.

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Amanda: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?????!!!!????

Okay, so from this point on I will try to give a rational review about an album that includes one of the most disturbing songs I have ever heard in my life.  The song I am referring to is of course "Knoxville Girl."  The song describes a ruthless murder with no motive.  The speaker tells us how a girl was begging for mercy but he still beat her with a stick and dumped her into a river.  Um, what?!?!?!?  This was not only extremely upsetting to me, but also rather scary for there was no reason for the murder.  Now, there are those that might say that I am taking the song too seriously but what reaction did the singer want us to have?  Were we supposed to brush that off?

Putting aside "Knoxville Girl," (was that a confession?; this should really be investigated) this whole album is a product of little education and "American values." The songs are all pretty much the same melody.  Personally, I am astounded that more people are not disgusted about this.  Especially Brie.  Brie, did you hear that song?!??!  We are going to have to discuss this further next movie night.

RATING: -14,000 albums

2. Elvis Presley (1956)

Elvis Presley
(1956)
Elvis Presley



Brie: I am just going to come out and say that I hate Elvis. His music is so overrated, and I do not understand what all of the fuss is about. Before I began to listen to the album, I anticipated a long, cheesy album. I was wrong. Though it wasn't cheesy as I'd expected, it was quite confusing, to be honest. The album had no theme. As a debut album, I really think that it should have shown a clearer direction as to where Elvis was trying to go. Tell me: is he trying to be a rockstar, a folk/country singer, or what? Sometimes he sounds somewhat Johnny Cash-ish with the way the guitar is played in some songs. We have the typical Elvis songs "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Trying to Get to You", and then we have a load of crap. I literally became angry when I was listening to "Tutti Frutti" as it was the most annoying thing I've heard since I stopped listening to the radio for fear of Kesha and Britney Spears coming on. Overall, the songs were just "okay". I am sorely disappointed, though I didn't expect much.

Later on when I review Bob Dylan albums, I will do so very favorably. People will say: "how can you love Dylan but hate Elvis?" Well, Bob Dylan wrote his own music and did not steal it from black people. Do some research. I simply cannot like somebody who stole music from people.

Also, my first thought when I saw the album cover was: THE CLASH! My theory is that Elvis is another time traveler that we must add to the list of threats as he stole this album cover idea from the Clash's "London Calling". Time travel is a real threat that must be addressed and the public must be made aware!

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Amanda: I really hope that I am not sorely mocked for this review.  I mean, we all have our guilty pleasures and Elvis is mine.  I think I am allowed this, because I do not watch doctor shows or read a lot of trash.  I was trained to like Elvis from a young age which might explain my obsession.  Our society values Elvis (we had a whole unit on him in sixth grade) so most of us have been socialized to see him as a king (that is not an exaggeration; he is known as the King of Rock and Roll).  I have seen most of his crappy movies and listened to his albums and what can I say?  I love him.

Now, Brie here will remind us that he stole music from people.  But so what?  He does the songs better; have you ever tried to listen to Big Mamma Thornton?  That is not racism; I just don't like to listen to bad singers.  Frank Sinatra stole music from Fred Astaire and we all love "The Way You Look Tonight" the way Sinatra sings it better.

I agree that this album is all over the place.  However, it is lively and made me want to dance (which was unfortunate for anyone who had to see me dance).  It was truly a breath of fresh air after Sinatra's dreary songs.

We do need to address time travelers.  Anyone else think James Franco has been alive like forever?

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