In his self-written liner notes, crooner Tom Culver proclaims his product as “the Gone with the Wind of CDs.” The man has confidence. Well, who wouldn’t with a disc containing some of Mercer’s most beloved songs. But, is this the moment, or will “tomorrow” be “another day?”

Clearly, Mr. Culver has a promising theme with Mercer’s revered songs which were written with assorted collaborators throughout a brilliant career. Mr. Culver pays respectful homage and sings sincerely from a warm “Dearly Beloved” (Kern) that swings to a brisk “Something’s Gotta Give.” These songs have been recorded by the great crooners of the last century—and by some of today’s torch bearers like Michael Bublé, Harry Connick, Jr., and Michael Feinstein. All have been praised for their efforts. And, it’s hard to outdo song legends like Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Dick Haymes, Mel Tormé, Sarah Vaughan—and Sinatra. To his credit, Culver doesn’t try to be anything but himself (unlike the plethora of Sinatra clones). His mellow baritone is best on the likes of “Fools Rush In” (Bloom) and a great arrangement of “And the Angels Sing” (Elman). But there are also some unexpected songs in the mix that stand out, such as the less familiar “Love in a Home” which Mercer co-wrote with Gene DePaul and was recorded by several diverse pop singers of their day, including Perry Como, Doris Day and Mario Lanza. It’s a sweet song with a sweet lyric, and Culver perfectly captures its heart. He also includes gems like “Harlem Butterfly,” which goes back to the 1930s and the almost forgotten likes of Jack Teagarden, Maxine Sullivan, etc. In his liner notes, he mentions wanting to “... take the listener to a club in Harlem in the 1930s and paint a picture of a pretty girl having way too much fun.” It works, making for one of the CD’s most interesting cuts. Culver wears it like a glove, capturing the smoky, sentimental groove this rarity is meant to have. It’s all aided by Nolan Shaheed’s brilliant trumpet wailing, which shines on several cuts.

All songs are arranged with a nod to the swing style popular in the 1930s and ‘40s with some really great musicians. While Culver’s vocals have a sameness on many tunes, this is made up for with a generous dose of heart and respect, making for a loyal tribute to the American Songbook.

John Hoglund
Cabaret Scenes
January/February 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org