Gertrude Lawrence - Someone To Watch Over Me 1951

Gertrude's voice shows a marked maturity and richness in this beautiful recording of the song that she introduced to the world in ' Oh Kay '.Had she not died soon after, her fans would have enjoyed many more recordings of this quality.
I have uploaded her 1932 recording too because the comparison of her vocals in each is quite extraordinary.
This is a vinyl rip.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gertrude
• Lawrence
• Someone
• To
• Watch
• Over
• me
• Gershwin
• Broadway
• 1950s
• jazz

[satori03]

Thank you

[zzenzero]

@satori03

You're welcome. :) It's a nice contrast to her earlier versions.

[SirChezarie]

That was wonderful a tribute !

[zzenzero]

@SirChezarie

Tribute to a wonderful lady. :-) Thank you for commenting.

[SirChezarie]

@librarybob1958 STAR !

[librarybob1958]

@GaryFTaylor It wasn't long after that, of course, that Lawrence collapsed in her dressing room after a matinee performance, and what was initially thought to be hepititis was untimately diagnosed (by Lawrence's MD son-in-law) as terminal liver cancer. Lawrence and Yul Brynner had become friends during the run of the show, and her last request (according to her widower, financier/producer Richard Aldrich) was that he get top billing because she felt he'd earnt it.

Unlike so many today, class.

[zzenzero]

@thechinadesk

Ah Al Bowlly! What splendour! I must say that I simply adore this 1950s version of Someone ... but I also love her earlier version(s) I think I just love Gertie. :) I am myself a recording artist, and would say that my own style has changed, or maybe fluctuates, in a way not dissimilar to the two versions in question here. Jolson in 1911 ... oh how different to the 1927 man ... and then the 1940s man. Three completely different vocalists.

[zzenzero]

@GaryFTaylor

I didn't know that. Thank you for sharing. The public indeed loved her, and had she lived a little longer, there was more still to come from Gertie. She went out at the top. :)

[thechinadesk]

@zzenzero

Interesting observation. It's true that different eras had different styles -- also.

Some of the performers who made their debut in the 20s had careers that spanned several decades.

Were the changes in their voice due to enhanced technical ability or to changing musical styles? That's a good question!

In truth, I prefer the earlier styles, for example, Al Bowlly.

[zzenzero]

@thechinadesk

I would add that the 20s/30s era itself might have influenced her technique a little. Or styles such as Noel Coward's. In other songs of the era, eg. Limehouse Blues, the effect is different. However, your analysis makes alot of sense. Thank you.