The Best Thing for You Would Be Me: The Irving Berlin Songbook

by Wesla Whitfield

Overview

Wesla Whitfield has carved a niche as a premiere interpreter of classic songs with her series of composer songbooks recorded for High Note. Many of the compositions which make up this CD (all with both lyrics and music by Irving Berlin) are like old friends, since many listeners have heard them countless times during their lives, yet Whitfield and her arranger/pianist/husband Mike Greensill find a fresh approach to all of them. The singer's crystal-clear diction and ability to capture the emotion within each number meshes beautifully with Greensill's imaginative charts. Whitfield restores the frequently omitted verse to "Blue Skies" and captures the whimsical nature of its lyrics. "There's No Business Like Show Business" seems indelibly associated with Ethel Merman's boisterous interpretation, but the subtler approach of the Whitfield-Greensill team, with the addition of Gary Foster's tasty tenor sax, will stand the test of time very well, too. Whitfield works her magic with a number of obscure works, including the soft-spoken ballad "Moonshine Lullaby" and the playful "Not for All the Rice in China." Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden

Product Details

Release Date:	01/22/2002
Label:	Highnote Records
UPC:	0632375709129
Rank:	143008

Tracks

1. The Best Thing for You
2. Blue Skies
3. Moonshine Lullaby
4. Cheek to Cheek
5. Say It Isn't So
6. Be Careful, It's My Heart
7. How Deep Is the Ocean?
8. There's No Business Like Show Business
9. The Night Is Filled With Music
10. Medley: You're Easy to Dance With/It Only Happens When I Dance ...
11. Change Partners
12. Remember
13. It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow
14. No Strings (I'm Fancy Free)
15. How About Me?
16. Not for All the Rice in China
17. I Got Lost in His Arms

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Wesla Whitfield   Primary Artist,Vocals
Gary Foster   Guest Artist,Reeds
John Wiitala   Bass
Marty Wehner   Trombone
Michael Greensill   Piano
Vince Lateano   Drums

Technical Credits

Michael Greensill   Arranger
Orrin Keepnews   Producer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Phil Edwards   Engineer,Remixing
Irving Berlin   Composer