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Music CD - The Puppini Sisters: The Rise & Fall of Ruby Woo
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Music CD: The Rise & Fall of Ruby Woo
Artist: The Puppini Sisters
List Price: $13.98
Our Price: $9.99
Your Save: $ 3.99 ( 29% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Verve
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Tracks:
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1. Spooky
2. Walk Like an Egyptian
3. Old Cape Cod
4. Soho Nights
5. I Can't Believe I'm Not a Millionaire
6. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
7. Could It Be Magic
8. Jilted
9. Crazy In Love
10. It's Not Over (Death Or the Toy Piano)
11. And She Sang
12. We Have All the Time In the World
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0602517482081
Label: Verve
Manufacturer: Verve
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Verve
Release Date: 2008-02-12
Studio: Verve
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Vocal Harmony, Fun & Games: The Sisters Do It Again!
Comment: Responding to the reviewer who labeled this disc "dreck:" I'll say that he has a right to his opinion, of course, but I think he must not be listening to the radio. This new Puppini Sisters CD is much better than most of the REAL dreck being dribbled upon the airwaves. At least these women have personality and a recognizable sound. Most of the female vocalists these days sound just like each other, with all the rough edges smoothed out and any personal quirks removed. Their music is often just an exercise in vocal pyrotechnics with no real soul behind it. At least the Puppini Sisters have come up with their own sound.
Another reviewer described the Puppini's as "lifeless." Say, what? Was this CD actually listened to all the way through? This record fairly crackles with energy.
Still another listener complained that so many of theses songs were not recognizable. If the liner info had been read, it would have been noticed that several tracks are originals by each of the Puppini sisters. This fact alone makes this release more ambitious than the previous one was. And a couple of these originals do not disgrace themselves in the presence of the peerless Duke Ellington or John Barry and Hal David, also represented by songs on THE RISE & FALL OF RUBY WOO. Stephanie O'Brien's "Soho Nights" sounds like it was written sixty years ago, although the lyrics betray its modernity. It's a delightful little faux-Bohemian romp. Marcella Puppini's "Jilted" is a bit long for its limited, unoriginal idea, but it has a memorable melody. Another one of her songs, "And She Sang," is lots of fun, with its combination of Italian street café music and classical flourishes, punctuated with haunted house-evoking double bass and slide guitar. Kate Mullins' fine "It's Not Over (Death Or The Toy Piano)" reminds me a little of The Squirrel Nut Zippers, combining familiar-sounding music with an offbeat lyric and a darker mood.
As with BETCHA BOTTOM DOLLAR there's a willingness to play with more modern fare, and I don't mean just in retrofitting newer songs. The arrangements have been made appropriate to the songs, and one remembers the originals without automatically thinking of these new versions as just inferior covers; at least, that's my own experience. As the Sisters did with Blondie's "Heart of Glass" and Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" on the previous release, they breathe a new and different light into songs from the '70's on up to our present time. The Bangles' "Walk Like An Egyptian," Beyonce's "Crazy In Love," and yes, you heard it right, Barry Manilow's "Could It Be Magic" are all unexpected choices. Although "Walk" is fun, it's not strong enough to give the original a run for its money. The other two are another story: I like them both much better than the authors' own recordings of them! Good covers should be different than than their previous, hit versions, and all of these arrangements fit that particular bill.
The instrumental backing throughout this record is even more accomplished and varied than on its predecessor. Once more, it's old-timey, but with a bit more emphasis on the drums and bass than one might hear in the late `30's and `40's. And there are some nice flavors of gypsy swing and touches of acoustic psychedelia provided by the odd toy piano, triangle and melodica. The sisters themselves, further enhancing their legitimacy as musicians, sometimes play these instruments and others, including accordion and violin.
Not everything works here, I should add, without dumping on this effort as a whole. "Spooky" disappointed me in its failure to BE spooky, although it's growing on me some. "We Have All The Time In the World" just can't hold a candle to the Louis Armstrong version, although it does capture a kind of dreaminess. Somehow, it lacks some of the energy the Puppini's usually deliver. Not surprisingly, the Duke Ellington track, "It Don't Mean A Thing..." is the least original performance, here. It's so like a dozen other recorded versions I've heard, and even still, the Sisters don't toss it off as though they're not all that interested. Once they've gotten the perfunctory part out of the way, they break the rhythm and launch into a slower improvisation, before returning to the swing portion, and inserting, just for kicks, a brief vocal lick from "Mambo Italiano."
Whatever its flaws, I give this CD four stars, and would add another half star if Amazon allowed it. The Puppini's should also be commended for being among the few acts reviving early jazz and swing styles that don't just present museum-quality copies. Rather, they update the music without disrespecting it. For me, this puts them in fine company with the Squirrel Nut's, Leon Redbone and Bob Brozman. Whenever The Sisters do try to sound just like voices from a bygone era, as they do on "Old Cape Cod," they produce a sonic glow of beauty and purity that I find hard to resist. Patti Page would have been proud!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Rise and Fall of Ruby Woo
Comment: Great harmonies, fun fun music...........if you liked the harmonies of the 40'2 and 50's you will enjoy these ladies
Reminiscient of Pink Martini in innovative takes on songs.
Great feel good music.
Customer Rating:
Summary: No rum & coca-cola...
Comment: ...but plenty of great harmonizing. The music conjures up images of soda fountains, USO tours, and cinderella liberties. It's always great to see that some older musical styles aren't dead, just in hibernation. Of course, the twists on more recent songs is great. It's hard to believe Walk Like an Egyptian is over 20 years old.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Dreck!
Comment: Poor Norman Granz must be spinning in his grave! This is just dreck! Verve should be ashamed of themselves.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great CD!
Comment: I first heard the Puppini Sisters when they were on a Sirius radio station, and thought they were great. I'm sure their music isn't for everyone, but I sure am a fan. These women are highly talented in many areas of music, plus obviously have a sense of humor ("I Can't Believe I'm Not a Millionaire" and my absolue favorite, "Jilted")
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Editorial Reviews:
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2007 release of the International edition of the second album by the trio of Italian Marcella Puppini, Stephanie O'Brien and Kate Mullins who take up the mantle of the female singing trio first started by The Andrews Sisters.
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