It's Lonesome Old Town
The Smart Set
Produced by Alvino Rey
Cover Photo: Hal Adams
Warner Bros. Records WS 1258
1959
From the back cover: The selections fit the talent, and they embrace the favorite tunes of a span covering more than thirty years. Frank Loesser and Burton Lane contribute the light and breezy "I Hear Music," taken from the 1941 picture "Dancing On A Dime." From the smash Broadway musical "Brigadoon" comes Alan Jay Lerner's compelling "Come To Me, Bend To Me." The giants of American popular music of the 1930's, George and Ira Gershwin, are represented by "Nice Work If You Can Get It," one of the nation's farvorites ever since Fred Astaire danced light-footed through it in "Damsel In Distress" in 1937. And to wind up the first side, there's the jivy, heart-catching "Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue," written by Sam Lewis and Joe Young.
Flip the record over and you have a change of pace: "Lonesome Road," a low-swinging piece that first caught the ear in Rex Allen's picture, "Old Oklahoma Plains." But the blue mood doesn't last long as the Quadling-Howard-Jurgens 1939 hit "Careless" and the silver-lining "Hurray For Love" follow. Oscar Hammerstein II adds his plea of "Lover Come Back To Me." round out a dozen pieces that are ageless: both from the point of view of their popularity, and the listener to whom they appeal.
From Billboard - February 23, 1959: Mildly progressive vocal sound by the Smart Set is heard in listenable advantage on a group of standards. Tunes and tempos are nicely varied. Ork backing complements, and various soloists, Ted Nash, alto; Red Norvo, vibes, etc. are also featured. It's an excellent programming set and for those who like easy-listening albums, this is a good buy. Very charming cover is a displayable item. Fine example of vocal stereo.
The Lonesome Road
Careless (Benny Carter, alto sax)
Hooray For Love (Dick Cathcart, trumpet)
Lover, Come Back To Me (Ted Nash, alto flute)
It's A Lonesome Old Town (Ted Nash, alto sax)
It's All Right With Me
A Sunday Kind Of Love
I Hear Music
Mean To Me (Bob Enevoldsen, tenor sax)
Come To Me, Bend Me
Nice Work If You Can Get It (Red Norvo, vibes; Ted Nash, alto flute)
Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue
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