Matt Monro - Stranger in Paradise/The Lost New York Sessions

  by Nicky Crewe

published: 5 / 5 / 2020

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Review

Time to appreciate just how talented and influential Matt Monro was as a singer in the Sixties and Seventies. Back in 2009 I took my mother to see Richard Hawley at Buxton Opera House for her eightieth birthday. The link to Matt Monro may not be immediately obvious, but just think of those smooth, mellow, warm and emotional singing voices. Richard Hawley’s material may be different but the mood is there. My mum had loved Nat King Cole and Andy Williams, but she especially loved Matt Monro. She had become a Hawley fan in her old age. Matt Monro’s voice and music is part of the soundtrack of my childhood. The theme tune for the film ‘Born Free’ was an anthem for those of us mad about wildlife and in the process of finding our own independence. ‘From Russia With Love’ was the first Bond theme with lyrics, released as the Bond franchise really began to establish itself as part of popular culture. As a youngster, listening to that mellow voice, I hadn’t realised just how appreciated he was by American singers of the day, artists who became his friends, including Frank Sinatra who sang his praises. He regularly topped ‘Britain’s Favourite Vocalist’ polls. Capitol Records signed him as replacement for the deceased Nat King Cole. There was a glamour attached to American singers of the day and somehow this East End boy made good became part of that showbiz music world. His daughter Michele Monro has written a biography that shares his remarkable story. He worked with the best songwriters, arrangers and producers including John Barry, Quincy Jones, George Martin, Nelson Riddle and Mantovani. Karen Carpenter, Scott Walker and Paul McCartney were among his fans. He has a style of singing that transcends fashion and his material, which contains so many examples of great songs from stage musicals and films, is timeless. He died at the early age of 54 in 1985. Disc 2 of this double CD features twenty seven tracks described as ‘The Best Of’ with songs that range from 'Everybody’s Talking' to 'Softly As I Leave You'. It’s a great selection and a tribute to the singer. Intriguingly the first CD is described as ‘The Lost New York Sessions’. In 1966 Matt Monro was appearing in New York on a three week residency and Capitol used the time to record an album of Broadway songs. Unusually they were recorded with a small band of five musicians. None of their identities are known, but there was a bassist,a pianist, a drummer and two guitarists. Musical arrangements were made at the sessions. There was no orchestra nor ready made arrangements. Matt was pleased with the recordings and the work was completed within a week. There are even a couple of outtakes that make you appreciate that his voice wasn’t always so smooth and mellow. To sound so easy takes effort. However Capitol in their wisdom decided to add orchestrations to the tracks and drop some of the songs. The album that was released wasn’t the one Matt Monro had hoped for, but as an artist he did not have control in spite of his million pound contract. Finally these tracks have been released as Matt Monro recorded them. It’s still a mystery who played on them, but it’s great to hear what are now familiar and favourite songs from some great Broadway musicals of the day. This is a lovely reminder of a wonderful singer.

Track Listing:-

1 The Impossible Dream
2 Stranger In Paradise
3 Put On A Happy Face
4 Hello, Dolly!
5 The Apple Tree
6 If She Walked Into My Life
7 The Sweetest Sounds
8 Sunrise, Sunset
9 Walking Happy
10 I'll Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her
11 Come Back To Me
12 Look For Small Pleasures
13 The Lady Smiles
14 Lover's Caravan
15 Beautiful Beautiful World
16 What Makes It Happen
17 The Apple Tree
18 The Lady Smiles
19 Lover's Caravan
20 What Makes It Happen
21 Portrait Of My Love
22 My Kind Of Girl
23 Gonna Build A Mountain
24 Softly As I Leave You
25 From Russia With Love
26 Walk Away
27 Yesterday
28 Born Free
29 This Is The Life
30 On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
31 Don't Answer Me (Ti Vedo Uscire)
32 Honey On The Vine
33 Wednesday's Child
34 I Will Wait For You
35 Georgy Girl
36 Spanish Eyes
37 When I Look In Your Eyes
38 Pretty Polly
39 Maria
40 The Music Played
41 All Of A Sudden
42 On Days Like These
43 Two People
44 Everybody's Talkin'
45 We're Gonna Change The World
46 And You Smiled
47 If I Never Sing Another Song