Harry Connick Jr. Review and Giveaway

I have long loved Harry Connick Jr. His voice just makes me melt and, well, he's not too hard to look at either.

When approached by the One2One Network about reviewing Harry's newest CD, Your Songs, I jumped at the chance. Like I said, I LOVE HARRY! His smooth, sultry voice is enough to lift my spirits, and this CD is no different.

This is a cover album, and oh how I love those. Especially when it is Harry covering greats like Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Nat King Cole, Elton John and so many others.

Album Tracklisting:

All The Way (Frank Sinatra)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Elvis Presley)
And I Love Her (The Beatles)
(They Long To Be) Close To You (The Carpenters)
Besame Mucho
The Way You Look Tonight
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)
Your Song (Elton John)
Some Enchanted Evening
And I Love You So (Don McLean)
Who Can I Turn To? (Tony Bennett)
Smile (Charlie Chaplin)
Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole)

Harry teamed up with Clive Davis Jr. to create this fabulous album. Harry says, "Although I have wrestled with this for some time, I don't think that anyone's version of a great song, however classic, should preclude my singing it," he insists. "I respect the originals, but believe that there is always room for another interpretation. I take each song in its rawest form, as it appears on the sheet music, and go from there."

Not only is Harry a fabulous entertainer, but he also wrote each of the arrangements of the songs. Davis also suggested that Connick orchestrate the album, rather than turning arranging chores over to someone else. "I was fine with that, and even kind of excited," Connick admits. "To use a film analogy, it would have been like an actor showing up on a movie set, knowing that the director and producer had worried about everything else. But Clive persuaded me to do it myself." It was a wise decision, as Connick displays a unique and subtle manner of balancing the sensitivity of strings and the punch of his big band. "I have never really been able to do that kind of writing throughout an entire record," he acknowledges. "It's a more spacious approach, with the orchestra in service to the singing; and it was a kick to sing over those charts."

My children and I love listening to this album. Libby loves to dance to All The Way with me, and Seth and Amelia love Close To You. As for me, my favorites are when he does big band era songs; All The Way, The Way You Look Tonight, Who Can I Turn To, Smile and Mona Lisa. These songs were written for someone like Harry to sing.

My least favorite songs? Well, that's tough because I really do enjoy the whole album. However I am not a huge fan of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

Not only did I get to review this album, but I get to give one of YOU a copy of your very own to drool over, er I mean enjoy!

To enter this contest leave me a comment telling me what your favorite genre of music is, pretty easy eh?
You want more chances? Well, I can do that!

1. Tell me your favorite genre of music.
2. Follow this blog.
3. Tweet about the contest.
4. Blog about this contest.
5. Friend Harry Connick Jr. on Facebook

There you go my friends, 5 chances to win this amazing album! I will choose a winner one week from today, October 12 at 9 PM MST. So, get your entry in and tell your friends!!

**Be sure to enter my contest to win Cheer Detergent by telling me how you brighten the lives of others!