Everything I Have Is Yours - Billy Eckstine

 

Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me

Everything I Have Is Yours

Billy Eckstine 

A&R Coordinator: Ira Stimler

Director of Engineering: Val Valentin

Cover Photo by Charles Stewart

Electronically enhanced for stereo reproduction

Metro MS 537

1965

From the back cover: In an era when too many male vocalists are of the non-singing variety, it's a pleasure indeed to hear th big, masculine voice of Billy Eckstine. New styles enter and depart. Current faddists may sing everything in subdued key or, on the opposite side of the musical coin, treat every song as though it's a Grand Finale. But there remains Mr. B. with his beautifully trained, mellow voice, and his expert showmanship. It's all still there, the gigs, clear as bells and those resounding, vibrating lows that have been much imitated but never duplicated.

The imitation factor, incidentally, is an interesting facet of Billy's career. At 17 he won an amateur contest show by imitating Cab Calloway, as well as singing like himself. Even today, Billy enjoys mimicry, and likes to include the Calloway bit in his night club routines, reminiscent of Ella's charming imitation of Louis Armstrong in here's! And, to round the whole cycle, Billy is, of course, often imitated in other acts, along with Bogey, Lionel Barrymore and Jimmy Stewart. You have to  be a pretty vivid personality to move in that company.

What makes a Mr. B? A lack of gimmickry, for one thing. Sincerity. Discrimination. A genuine respect for and appreciation of the intent of the lyricist. And talent.

Billy's style is more subtle than you may be aware of. It all seems so forthright and commanding. But the underplaying is still there, just beneath the booming surface. In this album, Billy sings old favorites such as Temptation, Blue Moon, That Old Feeling and, of course, Everything I Have Is Yours. He sings them, not only straight from the shoulder, by t straight from the heart.

Everything I Have Is Yours

Temptation

I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart

Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me

If You Could See Me Now

Don't Get Around Much Anymore

No One But You

That Old Feeling 

Wonder Why

Blue Moon