Jimmy Mesene CD The Sweetest Sweetheart Of All

1 Deep Purple (NG) 2 The Sweetest Sweetheart Of All (HH) 3 Old Pal Of Mine (HH) 4 Sophisticated Lady (NG) 5 Make-Believe Island/The Woodpecker Song (AB) 6 Lonely Troubadour (HH) 7 Donkey Serenade (NG) 8 The Greatest Mistake Of My Life (NG) 9 On The Bridge Of Sighs (HH) 10 Make Love With A Guitar/When I Dream Of Home (AB) 11 It's The Talk Of The Town (GG) 12 Afterglow (NG) 13 South Of The Border (NG) 14 Down And Out Blues (HH) 15 Waterlilies In The Moonlight (HH) 16 I'm Stepping Out With A Memory Tonight/I Haven't Time To Be A Millionaire (AB) 17 Solitude (NG) 18 Broken-Hearted Clown (NG) 19 Lullaby Of The Volga (NG) 20 You Made Me Care (SB) 21 Nicky The Greek Has Gone (AB) 22 It Costs So Little (BT) 23 Rancho Serenade (M) 24 When That Man Is Dead And Gone (AB) 25 Let The Curtain Come Down (SB) Playing time 78:32 Recording dates where known link	NG - Nat Gonella and his Georgians (1935/9) GG - George Glover (1933) HH - Harold Hood (piano and accordian) (1937/8) AB - Al Bowlly (Radio Stars with Two Guitars) (1940/1) SB - orchestra conducted by Sidney Bright (1940) M - Mantovani (1946) BT - Billy Thorburn (1942) The CD is a Highnote release and is issued on the Rex label (REXX 123). It was compiled by Colin Brown and was released on March 9th, 2009. It is available from www.MagpieDirect.com
Jimmy Mesene had a short recording career. Starting in 1933, apart from two late records, it was all over by 1940. Jimmy received many plaudits for his vocal spot during the Georgians stage shows. His voice almost operatic at times was instantly recognisable. Come the war Nat Gonella disbanded the Georgians and Jimmy teamed up as a double act with Al Bowlly billed as "The Radio Stars with Two Guitars". Five of their recordings are featured here including the two sides from their last session in April 1941. Just over two weeks after this session, Al Bowlly was killed in the Blitz. Jimmy made his last recording with Mantovani in 1946 before leaving the UK for good...
Review (1):The reasons for setting up this website were twofold - we thought Jimmy Mesene was a tremendous talent and we felt that music history rather overlooked him and we wanted to redress that. When we set up the site in 2004 it was beyond our wildest dreams that a record company would release an album solely of Jimmy's recordings. Our collection had been built by buying compilation CDs and piecing together Jimmy's records that way, so imagine the joy when this CD plopped through the letterbox! All credit to Rex Recordings - they've done a grand job cleaning up some pretty scratchy recordings but never to the extent that it sounds too clinical and pristine. I could actually review this CD with three words: "wonderful" and "long overdue" but my enthusiasm for Jimmy means that I have to say more - but what? It's hard to explain Jimmy to a newcomer; his vocals were big and theatrical and an acquired taste. "Donkey Serenade" surely contains one of the biggest notes ever committed to record. Don't worry about missing it - you'll be in no doubt when you get there! He had a huge vocal range and a shifting style - sometimes semi operatic, sometimes radio crooner; he'd also throw in some whistling and talking if the song required it. The Mediterranean accent came and went depending on how "exotic" the lyric required him to be; it was never stronger than on "The Lonely Troubadour" when you get the sense that he could be punting you down the Grand Canal in a gondola. He was the master of the big finish and it often came out of nowhere, sometimes you sense that it even took him by surprise. All of this sounds like it should be ridiculous and, yes, there are moments when he's funny but he's never anything less than brilliant. "The Greatest Mistake of My Life" is a beautiful song and performed in a sensitive, understated (well, for Jimmy!) way. The haunting , spare accompaniment perfectly matches the restrained vocals. Al Bowlly, Jimmy's great friend, takes the lead vocals on "Haven't Time to be a Millionaire" and "When That Man is Dead and Gone". If you want a perfect example of the musical equivalent of "scene stealing" then listen to Jimmy's backing vocals. They are quite mad and utterly unforgettable! My intention was to play this CD and read a magazine whilst listening to it. About halfway through the first song I realised that the magazine was resting in my lap. I think that sums up the power a great performer has compared to an ordinary one. Jimmy cannot be background music - he demands that you listen to him and give your full attention. It may be 40 years since his death but his recordings are as vibrant today as when made. This CD is a fitting testament to his hugely overlooked talent. It's often said that they don't write songs like that anymore. I'd like to add that they don't sing 'em like that anymore. Which, if you ask me, is a terrible shame. (Samantha Taylor)	Review (2): Until fairly recently Jimmy Mesene's origins and later history were somewhat obscure, but much has been uncovered, and there is now a website devoted to the man and his music. Perhaps as a result of that interest, Rex has reissued what is sub-titled "The Hits and Favourites" which spans the period from 1933 to 1946. I'm disappointed that there is no detail of recording dates or original issue, that the tracks are in random order, and that a few are attributed incorrectly which slightly detracts from the package. Nat Gonella & his Georgians feature prominently, and Harold Hood, who was the pianist in Nat's band, provides piano and/or accordion accompaniment to Jimmy on half-a-dozen sides. The earliest track was recorded with George Glover in October 1933, and has been reincarnated on vinyl and CD, so it seems a pity that an unreissued title was not selected instead. Jimmy was an accomplished guitarist, as can be heard throughout this compilation. He also had a strong tenor voice to which he gave free rein, and it can take some getting used to, particularly if you're more accustomed to the crooners of that era. That said, his voice blended extremely well with that of Al Bowlly, with whom he teamed up to form "The Radio Stars With Two Guitars", and five of their recordings are included here. Three of them combine two numbers per side, the other two are the last numbers Al recorded before his untimely death. Sound quality is excellent, and this is a welcome addition to the catalogue. (Barry McCanna) Jimmy and Al Bowlly c1940 Front page... A detailed site index... Biographical notes and recollections... Book excerpts... Memory Lane excerpts... Known pen names... Songs written by... Discography - alphabetically... Discography - chronologically... What Jimmy means to me... Gallery... Contact us...