Under Paris Skies
Under Paris Skies | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by Andy Williams | ||||
Released | 1960[1] | |||
Recorded | June 1960 | |||
Studio | Barclay Studios, Paris[2] | |||
Genre |
| |||
Length | 35:03 | |||
Label | Cadence | |||
Andy Williams chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [3] |
The Billboard | [4] |
New Record Mirror | [5] |
Under Paris Skies is the seventh studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams and was released in the fall of 1960 by Cadence Records. This, his final LP for the label, is a collection of songs that Joseph Laredo describes in the liner notes of the CD release by Varèse Sarabande as "a delightful program of twelve compositions, selected by Williams, that proved an engaging mixture of genuine French popular songs and American-penned emulations."[1]
The title song "bubbled under" the Hot 100 in Billboard magazine for two weeks that began in the issue of the magazine dated August 8, 1964, and took it to number 121.[6]
The album was released on compact disc for the first time in 1997 after being digitally remastered by Varèse Sarabande.[3] It was also released as one of two albums on one CD by Collectables Records on September 12, 2000, the other album being a 1962 Cadence compilation entitled Andy Williams' Best.[7] Collectables included this CD in a box set entitled Classic Album Collection, Vol. 1, which contains 17 of his studio albums and three compilations and was released on June 26, 2001.[8]
Production
Although no album producer credit is listed on any of its releases, Laredo writes, "Unlike his previous Cadence efforts, which were meticulously supervised by label owner Archie Bleyer, Under Paris Skies was a pet project for which Williams assumed the producer's responsibilities."[1]
The album was recorded in Paris, and Quincy Jones led an orchestra of both American and French musicians in the studio. In the liner notes from the original album, jazz critic Nat Hentoff quotes the description of the recording of the album that Williams gave. "Our first session was for 9:00 p.m., and I was all set to record. At 9:30 some musicians were still arriving. After about an hour, we had finished one song. The sound was wonderful, and I was very happy. At this point, I was informed that the orchestra has to have a 15 minute break. The musicians vanished to a local café for some wine. About 45 minutes later, they began arriving back in the studio. We got one more song recorded before the contractor stood up and, in perfect English, said, 'Overtime'. Overtime is expensive in Paris, and so we released the orchestra for half an hour and started another three-hour session at 12:30. The musicians naturally returned to their café and their wine, and showed up for the second session about 1:00 a.m., happy and very friendly."[9] Laredo adds that the "French musicians were paid on the honor system. Unfamiliar with local routine, Andy simply hauled a suitcase of francs into the studio and invited each man to take his fair share."[1]
Reception
In his review of the album for Allmusic, Cub Koda described it as "a sumptuous package, full of beautiful arrangements that perfectly frame Williams' pop croonings."[3] He concluded that it was "one of the most lush-sounding Andy Williams albums in his vast catalog."[3]
Billboard also gave it a good review. "Williams offers his usual tasteful vocal stylings--both in English and French--on a group of nostalgic Parisian-flavored oldies and standards with fine backing by Quincy Jones."[4]
Track listing
Side one
- "Under Paris Skies" (Jean Andre Brun, Kim Gannon, Hubert Giraud) - 3:03
- "Let It Be Me" (Gilbert Becaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë) - 3:24
- "April in Paris" (Vernon Duke, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg) - 3:38
- "Mademoiselle de Paris" (Henri Contet, Paul Durand, Eric Maschwitz, Mitchell Parish) - 2:52
- "I Wish You Love" (Albert A. Beach, Charles Trenet) - 3:44
- "Domino" (Louis Ferrari; Jacques Plante; Don Raye) - 2:07
Side two
- "I Love Paris" (Cole Porter) - 2:50
- "Mam'selle" (Mack Gordon, Edmund Goulding) - 3:33
- "Comme Ci, Comme Ça" (Bruno Coquatrix, Pierre Dudan, Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney) - 2:14
- "La Valse des Lilas" (Eddie Barclay, Michel Legrand, Eddy Marnay, Johnny Mercer) - 2:39
- "Boum!" (E. Ray Goetz, Charles Trenet) - 2:28
- "Au Revoir, Paris" (Kay Thompson) - 2:41
Personnel
Original album
- Andy Williams - vocalist
- Dave Grusin - pianist
- Quincy Jones - orchestra conductor
- Billy Byers - arranger
- Frank Gauna - cover design
- Jean-Pierre Leloir - photographer
- Nat Hentoff - liner notes
Varèse Sarabande reissue
- Cary Mansfield - producer
- Marty Wekser - sound producer
- Paul Elmore - digital remastering
- Joseph F. Laredo - liner notes
- Top Design Studio, Los Angeles - design
References
- ^ a b c d (1997) Under Paris Skies by Andy Williams, [CD booklet]. Studio City: Varèse Sarabande.
- ^ "The Cadence Era: "Canadian Sunset" brightens Andy's disk career". Billboard. 1967-11-11. p. AW-21.
- ^ a b c d e "Under Paris Skies - Andy Williams". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
- ^ a b "Reviews and Ratings of New Albums". The Billboard. 1960-10-31. p. 46.
- ^ Watson, Jimmy (21 September 1963). "Andy Williams: Under Paris Skies" (PDF). New Record Mirror. No. 132. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ Whitburn 2009, p. 1059.
- ^ "Andy Williams' Best/Under Paris Skies - Andy Williams". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ "Classic Album Collection, Vol. 1 - Andy Williams". allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ (1960) Album notes for Under Paris Skies by Andy Williams, [album jacket]. New York: Cadence Records CLP-25047.
Bibliography
- Whitburn, Joel (2009), Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 1955-2008, Record Research Inc., ISBN 0-89820-180-2
- v
- t
- e
- Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen
- Andy Williams Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein
- Two Time Winners
- To You Sweetheart, Aloha
- Lonely Street
- The Village of St. Bernadette
- Under Paris Skies
- Danny Boy and Other Songs I Love to Sing
- Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes
- Warm and Willing
- Days of Wine and Roses and Other TV Requests
- The Andy Williams Christmas Album
- The Wonderful World of Andy Williams
- The Academy Award-Winning "Call Me Irresponsible" and Other Hit Songs from the Movies
- The Great Songs from "My Fair Lady" and Other Broadway Hits
- Andy Williams' Dear Heart
- Merry Christmas
- The Shadow of Your Smile
- In the Arms of Love
- Born Free
- Love, Andy
- Honey
- Happy Heart
- Get Together with Andy Williams
- Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
- The Andy Williams Show
- Love Story
- You've Got a Friend
- Love Theme from "The Godfather"
- Alone Again (Naturally)
- Solitaire
- The Way We Were
- Christmas Present
- You Lay So Easy on My Mind
- The Other Side of Me
- Andy
- Let's Love While We Can
- Greatest Love Classics
- Close Enough for Love
- I Still Believe in Santa Claus
- Nashville
- We Need a Little Christmas
- I Don't Remember Ever Growing Up
- Andy Williams
- Andy Williams' Best
- Million Seller Songs
- Canadian Sunset
- Andy Williams' Newest Hits
- May Each Day
- The Andy Williams Sound of Music
- Andy Williams' Greatest Hits
- The Impossible Dream
- Love Story
- Andy Williams' Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (CBS)
- Andy Williams' Greatest Hits Vol. 2
- Reflections
- The Best of Andy Williams (1992)
- Personal Christmas Collection
- 16 Most Requested Songs: Encore!
- The Best of Andy Williams (1996)
- The Love Songs
- In the Lounge with...
- The Very Best of Andy Williams (2000)
- Andy
- The Essential Andy Williams
- B Sides and Rarities
- Music to Watch Girls By: The Very Best of Andy Williams
- Moon River: The Very Best of Andy Williams
- The Very Best of Andy Williams (2009)
- The Classic Christmas Album
- 40 Christmas Classics
- Greatest Hits
- The New Andy Williams Christmas Album
- "Walk Hand in Hand"
- "Canadian Sunset"
- "Butterfly"
- "I Like Your Kind of Love"
- "Lips of Wine"
- "Are You Sincere?"
- "Promise Me, Love"
- "The Hawaiian Wedding Song"
- "Lonely Street"
- "The Village of St. Bernadette"
- "Danny Boy"
- "Fly by Night"
- "The Wonderful World of the Young"
- "Stranger on the Shore"
- "Don't You Believe It"
- "Twilight Time"
- "Can't Get Used to Losing You"
- "Days of Wine and Roses"
- "Hopeless"
- "A Fool Never Learns"
- "Charade"
- "Wrong for Each Other"
- "On the Street Where You Live"
- "Almost There"
- "Dear Heart"
- "...and Roses and Roses"
- "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)"
- "May Each Day"
- "You're Gonna Hear from Me"
- "Bye Bye Blues"
- "How Can I Tell Her It's Over"
- "In the Arms of Love"
- "Music to Watch Girls By"
- "Holly"
- "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"
- "Sweet Memories"
- "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
- "Happy Heart"
- "Live and Learn"
- "A Woman's Way"
- "Can't Help Falling in Love"
- "One Day of Your Life"
- "It's So Easy"
- "Home Lovin' Man"
- "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story"
- "A Song for You"
- "You've Got a Friend"
- "Speak Softly Love (Love Theme from The Godfather)"
- "MacArthur Park"
- "Solitaire"
- "Getting Over You"
- "Love's Theme"
- "Another Lonely Song"
- "Cry Softly"
- "Sad Eyes"
- "The Other Side of Me"
- "Tell It Like It Is"
- "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
- "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
- "I Want to Be Wanted"
- "Summertime"
- "So Rare"
- "Emily"
- "Red Roses for a Blue Lady"
- "I'll Remember You"
- "Something"
- "My Love"
- "They Long to Be Close to You "
- "I Love My Friend"