Mel Torme - Comin' Home Baby! (1962) [2012 Japan 24-bit Remaster] CD-Rip

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. The 1960's represented a very interesting time for musicians of all genres; three particular reasons began a trend for future generations of musical artists. The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones were the 3 reasons which permanently altered the musical landscape and basically made it impossible for stars of the past to remain economically viable in the present. The only 2 exceptions to the rule of course were Mel Tormé and Frank Sinatra.
Tormé's classic album, Comin' Home Baby has recently been re-released; digitally remastered and cleaned up, one can hear the sweet sounds of the Velvet Fog in all of its glory the way it was intended to be heard.
In early 1962 Mel Tormé had firmly come to terms with the fact that the musical landscape was percolating something in the clubs and bars where the people hang out. This new musical dynamo was going to act like a brick wall, on not only himself, but basically anyone from his background and genre unless change happened.
Mel walked into the studio in 1962 determined to stay relevant and absorb the new and combine it to his big band swinging style. Frank Sinatra decided to do much the same thing in the 1960's. Comin' Home Baby was the 1st of 5 albums that Mel recorded and released in the 1960's that attempted to meld Rock `n' Roll with Jazz & Big Band.
It was very much worth the work and effort; although many jazz purists dismiss this era of Mel Tormé's with a angry waive of a modern day puritan hand, why, I'm not sure to be honest. Being trapped in cage of the past is something that many jazz listeners are known for. The self titled lead off single, "Comin' Home Baby", from this album made the top 10 in the charts and acted as beacon call for jazz and big band fans that jazz still had a place in the charts only it needed to evolve into rock `n' roll to remain relevant.
The highlight from the album is, "Lady's In Love With You", which showcases the most powerful Mel Tormé phrasing and vocal I have ever hard. The classic Tormé tracks, "Puttin' On The Ritz" and "Hi Fi" have a very similar vocal and phrasing technique as Lady.
"Sing You Sinners" highlights the toe tapping phrase rapping Mel Tormé that so many of us have loved over the years. The Dean Martin classic tune, "You Belong To Me", has a gentle re-working which fits into the set as well.
The album also has that rock and jazz tune, "Right Now" which was the B-Side to "Comin' Home Baby" that shows Mel Tormé stretching the jazz genre into rock `n' roll.
Go out and buy this album, it has aged very well, and deserves a solid 5 out of 5 star

Tracks:

01. Comin' Home Baby (2:45)
02. Dat Dere (2:59)
03. The Lady's In Love With You (3:00)
04. Hi-Fly (3:14)
05. Puttin' On The Ritz (2:24)
06. Walkin' (3:00)
07. Moanin' (3:04)
08. Sing You Sinners (2:26)
09. Whisper Not (2:48)
10. On Green Dolphin Street (2:53)
11. Sidney's Soliloquy (2:27)
12. Right Now (2:13)

Personnel:

Mel Tormé - vocals
Shorty Rogers - flugelhorn, arranger, conductor
Claus Ogerman - arranger and conductor on "Comin' Home Baby!" and "Right Now"
Joe Burnett, Ollie Mitchell, Al Porcino, Ray Triscari - trumpet
Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Kenny Shroyer - trombone; John Kitzmiller - tuba
Bud Shank, Buddy Collette, Bob Cooper, Bill Hood - woodwind
Gene Estes - vibraphone
Mike Wofford - piano
Joe Mondragon - bass
Larry Bunker - drums
The Cookies - background vocals