The Happiness of Joe Mooney/The Greatness of Joe Mooney

The Happiness of Joe Mooney/The Greatness of Joe Mooney

ASIN: B00003OP30

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Singer-keyboardist Joe Mooney, who died in 1975, was simply too hip and classy for his time. His innovative New York quartet of the 1940s, admired by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett never scored with the public. His mid-1960s solo comeback attempt with the two Columbia LPs repackaged here met similar fates: acclaim within the industry, indifference elsewhere despite their warm, lithe vocals, fleet-fingered keyboard accompaniment and airy, clever arrangements, rendering each number a concert in miniature. On Happiness, he brought his joi de vivre to "What Kind of Fool Am I" and "I Wish You Love" and infused "Lollipops and Roses" with a bright, easy swing light-years from Jack Jones 's hit version. Greatness maintained a similar vein: toying with Neal Hefti's "Cute" and drenching "I Wanna Be Around" with a bluesy, 3 A.M. flavor. And on "Honeysuckle Rose," an organ instrumental, he can be heard cheerfully scat-singing away beneath his solo. With much of Mooney's work now available on reissues and John Pizzarelli paying a small homage on each album, perhaps the public is ready at last. --Rich Kienzle

Tracks:

Wait Till You See Her
But Beautiful
The Second Time Around
I Wish You Love
Call Me Irresponsible
Nobody Else But Me
Once Upon A Summertime
Lollipops And Roses
This Is All I Ask
What Kind Of Fool Am I
Days Of Wine And Roses
The Good Life
Cute
When I Fall In Love
Emily
You Irritate Me So
I Wonder What Became Of Me
Honeysuckle Rose
Happiness Is You
She's Not For You
I Wanna Be Around
When The World Is At Rest
When Sunny Gets Blue
This Is The Life

Amazon.com

Singer-keyboardist Joe Mooney, who died in 1975, was simply too hip and classy for his time. His innovative New York quartet of the 1940s, admired by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett never scored with the public. His mid-1960s solo comeback attempt with the two Columbia LPs repackaged here met similar fates: acclaim within the industry, indifference elsewhere despite their warm, lithe vocals, fleet-fingered keyboard accompaniment and airy, clever arrangements, rendering each number a concert in miniature. On Happiness, he brought his joi de vivre to "What Kind of Fool Am I" and "I Wish You Love" and infused "Lollipops and Roses" with a bright, easy swing light-years from Jack Jones 's hit version. Greatness maintained a similar vein: toying with Neal Hefti's "Cute" and drenching "I Wanna Be Around" with a bluesy, 3 A.M. flavor. And on "Honeysuckle Rose," an organ instrumental, he can be heard cheerfully scat-singing away beneath his solo. With much of Mooney's work now available on reissues and John Pizzarelli paying a small homage on each album, perhaps the public is ready at last. --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews:

Light and Smmoooooth.......2001-07-23

I tripped over the name of Joe Mooney when searching for crooners who performed "When Sunny Gets Blue". I bought this CD based on the two reviews listed above and can re-affirm their convictions. The organ grooves under the light-phrased, honest singing of Joe. For a man with such a sad story, the optimism and genius come out with warm clarity in "the Happiness of... and the Greatness of..." Thanks, Koch, for this re-issue.

Pure Genius !.......2000-03-14

Joe Mooney singing and playing is absolutely delicate, extraordinary, sophisticated, elegant, refined. Thanks to Koch Jazz to reissue his solo albums on CD. He was a genius and made something uniquely special that belong to jazz history. Listen and you will fall in love.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music