New Crooner Matthew Long finds the essence of Perry Como

It's always amazing to find what some folks have posted on the internet....Makes me think my interest in nostalgia isn't so rare after all!

I've always loved the singing of Perry Como and try to collect just about any recording he made. A fellow blogspot blogger went even further and created an interesting webpage featuring some "Faux Como" recordings....back in the fifites heyday of pop, other record companies and singers were trying to get a bit of the Como success by issuing their own versions of Perry's songs. Click here to see this interesting blog and if you download the zip file you can listen to some pretty good and sometimes very lame renditions of the hits.

There is no reason to re-record what Perry has done, he did it well. I have recorded several of his songs just for my own fun using karoeke type tracks. So far no record labels have been pounding at my door to mass market release these. I guess I won't be the next Susan Boyle type discovery, but it was a lot of fun recording them anyhow.

A very talented guy in the UK however has captured the essence of Perry Como. His name is Matthew Long. Click  here to listen to an original V-disc recording by Perry of his first RCA 78 called "Goodbye Sue." Then click here to listen to Matthew's acapella version. Pretty awesome, huh?

Matthew is another addicted Como fan. Unlike me, he has enough sense not to try to re-record Perry's songs (like those cheap record labels did back in the 1950s). Instead he has released a brand new song called "Dancing With You" featuring his smooth voice and a great new tune. The lyrics bring back the days of couples dancing and a big band playing. Click here for a preview.

Matthew says he is hoping to work on an entire album and if the songs are anything like this preview, it's gonna be a great recording! He gets the essence of Perry. After all, he started the Como Appreciation Society. Click here to visit.

a great summer read by Andy Williams

Biographies of great singers are always high on my must read list and this one is no exception. Singer Andy Williams has that cool easy style much like another of my favorites Perry Como.

His book "Moon River and Me" published last year by Viking is cool and easy...like visiting with an old friend....and that's how you feel with people like Andy Williams. His tv shows and albums have entertained us for years. Here's a great clip of him singing "Danny Boy"


Andy certainly has lead an interesting life. In this book he details his early years and how his father was the driving force behind getting him and his brothers in show business. He writes about what it was like to ride high with a top rated tv show, hosting the first Golden Globe awards, but ruining his marriage. He also talks about his ex-wife and the controversy surrounding her shooting her husband. Williams knew Bobby Kennedy and was getting ready to go to dinner with him when he was shot. Andy sang at his funeral and hasn't sung the song since.

The book is just like life, humorous and melancholy at times. Andy had high and low points but now seems very content with his new life and theater in Branson, Missouri. One of the most interesting updates is how just a few years ago several of his songs were used in commercials overseas, prompting a huge resurgence in his popularity there. Go get 'em, Andy!

Above left is a picture of this great biography. To the right is my copy if his "Greatest Hits" album, which I had autographed at his theater in Branson. That was a great show by the way. I understand he still does a Christmas show there. Vacation plans, anyone?