Its A Blue World

One of the most beautiful albums ever from the great Mel TormeÌ - and a set that's a bit different than his other work for the Bethlehem label too! The set features Mel singing to lush backings from conductor Al Pellegrini and arrangers Marty Paich, Sandy Courage, Andre Previn and Russell Garcia - who bring in a mode that definitely lives up to the blue tones promised in the title - with enough melancholy moments in the mix to rival the sound of Frank Sinatra's classic Wee Small Hours album. The voice of the "Velvet Fog" is perfect in such a setting - and Torme's all serious, all classic, all the way through. Recorded and released around the time he turned 30, It's a Blue World (1955) marked a turning point in Mel TormeÌ's recording career. Titles include "How Long Has This Been Going On," "It's A Blue World," "Polka Dots & Moonbeams," "I Got It Bad & That Ain't Good," "All This & Heaven Too," "Wonderful One" and "Stay As Sweet As You Are."