Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen

Playing The Field

Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen

Photos: Jerry Tiffany

Cadence Records CLP-1018

1956

From the back cover: Here is a lot of Andy Williams at his best, singing at his best, like he means it and with admiration for Steve Allen's words and music.

Andy Williams has been singing and having fun with friend Steve Allen for the past two years, so it is a natural turn of events and follows in sequence that Andy and Steve should get together on records. You will be delighted with these 12 songs which Andy sings, some familiar, and some not too often heard songs written by Steve.

In this album Andy blends his singing with an interesting combination of string quartette, and a made-to-order, high calibre alto sax accompaniment by Alvy West. The result is a neat package for those who enjoy listening to songs sung and interpreted with a love for the special turn of phrase, and a care for the meaning of the lyric.

Andy Williams was born in the middle west and started his career in Iowa, migrating west to Los Angeles where he lived until he toured the night club circuit with Kay Thompson and the William Brothers to make entertainment history. When the act disbanded, Andy headed straight for television and settled in New York.

He signed an exclusive contract with Cadence Records and with the sure guidance of Archie Bleyer, Andy Williams scored a direct hit with his recording of Canadian Sunset. 

In two years Andy had built a nationwide popularity that reverberates loud and wide from the waterfalls of Buffalo to the cactus in Hollywood.

Also from the back cover: Steve Allen has become a natural part of the scene and is here to stay like tires, tobacco, Hershey Bars, and the New York Times – and there is a good reason. Here is an attractive somebody who puts his many varied talents to work and into the most productive and fruitful channels.

His tremendous popularity is no illusion. It is firm and solid. Here is first rate ability, and talent that goes in several directions.

He write books and they are published.

He plays the piano and sings.

He writes short stories and he is an actor.

He writes songs and they are sung.

His tremendous personality and wide and varied talents are now a legend to TV watchers. He does everything and does it well. Both on TV and in person Allen emanates an extraordinary charm. There is a kindness and humaneness to him that is rare among successful men.

His songs are very like him. Lying somewhere in between the notes and words is the personality of Steve Allen – at times sincere, at times romantic, at times humorous, but always the undeniable personal stamp of one Steve Allen. – Notes by Kay Thompson

From Billboard - December 22, 1956: Williams, recently named most promising new male singer in The Billboard disk jockey poll, proceeds to show why in this new album. The dozen tunes are all the cleffing of Steve Allen, on whose show Williams appears regularly, and they have distinct-charm and class. Mostly ballads, each one seems to show singer at his best. Lad has the poise, polish and style to become a top pop singer. Album can be another step up the ladder. Backing showcases the talent well. Cover shows only a photo of the singer with no copy and it might have been a better bet to identify the personality. Nevertheless, this is likely to get airplays and that in itself can lead to sales.

Tonight 

Meet Me Where They Play The Blues

Stay Just A Little While

Playing The Field 

Impossible

Young Love

Picnic

Old Piano Plays The Blues

Spring In Maine

All The Way Home

Lonely Love

Forbidden Love