Andy Williams? Really?
Yes, really.
In an era of crooners in tuxedos that took their job as entertainers seriously, with a field of stars that included Frank, Dean, Sammy, Bobby Darin, and countless others, this guy held his own and, according to his Wikipedia page, had more nicknames than hits ("The Emperor of Easy" gets my vote!) and that's saying something!
The arrangement on this song is fantastic: the full Capital Records orchestra with those great rhythm pizzicato strings (imagine the song without them and you get a different tune, and hey, isn't that how you'd play it on a rock-and-roll guitar?), the doubled lead vocal that goes in and out of a blended harmony vocal (thank you, Les Paul), the rock-and-roll "teen beat" over the chorus, and no wonder you didn't mind hearing this song on your parents radio station (go ahead, admit it).
The guilt? Like I said; Andy Williams ('nuff said).
Sure, "Moon River" is his gold standard, and "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Hawaiian Wedding Song" are great recordings of his wonderful voice, but "Can't Get Used To Losing You" will always be the cross-generational hit that got lost under the radar.
Swoon away.
-KO
Mission Statement
Guilty Pleasures: The Music Edition is intended as a forum to review songs that were once considered out-of-favor. Readers are asked to rate the songs using a 10 point voting system (10=strong like, 1=strong dislike) and provide their comments.
The objective is to review the songs offered here with a fresh listen for things like intent (objective), structure, influences (to or from), production value, and performances, all within the context of its musical time frame and while trying to forget past reactions. Hopefully we can hear something different in a song we once thought was less-than-pleasing.
So remember, valid reactions include:
1) None of my friends ever liked this song, but I always did.
2) I never liked this song, but listening to it again after all this time now it makes me want to: (a) tap my foot, or (b) shove a pencil in my ear.
All legit.
-Ken
The objective is to review the songs offered here with a fresh listen for things like intent (objective), structure, influences (to or from), production value, and performances, all within the context of its musical time frame and while trying to forget past reactions. Hopefully we can hear something different in a song we once thought was less-than-pleasing.
So remember, valid reactions include:
1) None of my friends ever liked this song, but I always did.
2) I never liked this song, but listening to it again after all this time now it makes me want to: (a) tap my foot, or (b) shove a pencil in my ear.
All legit.
-Ken
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