Holly Cole -- Talk to Me, Baby

 

Holly Cole has graced the pages of "Kayo Kyoku Plus" before when I introduced her via her seasonal "The Christmas Blues" which she released back in 1989. In fact, it was through a ROY article that she got through and once again, I'm giving her the same treatment here and now.

As I said in that article, in terms of Canadian jazz singers, before Michael Bublé and before Diana Krall, there was Holly Cole. I mentioned there that I had been back in Toronto on vacation during my time on the JET Programme, and most likely through Canada's MuchMusic video channel, I'd seen Cole for the first time through a music video whose song title I couldn't remember at the time.

Well, I remember now. I mean, I certainly remember the video with Cole looking like the ultimate torch song singer in a dramatically black strapless gown on a dimly-lit soundstage as she cooed the song into our ears while backed up by a classy combination of pianist and wood bassist. That song was "Talk to Me, Baby" which was originally written and recorded by singer-songwriter Johnny Mercer and composed by Bobby Dolan back in 1964 for the Broadway musical "Foxy". Cole's sultrier version was recorded onto her 1st full album "Girl Talk" from 1990.

Also, listen to Mercer himself take on his creation. His take has a bit more of the swing orchestra behind him.

Well, since only a year was given for the release of Cole's "Girl Talk", let's show the usual Japanese comparison with a few of the winners at that year's Japan Record Awards -- Pop/Rock Division.

Grand Prize -- B.B. Queens -- Odoru Ponpokorin （おどるポンポコリン）

Rock Gold Disc Award -- Southern All Stars -- Manatsu no Kajitsu （真夏の果実）

Best New Artist -- Tama -- Sayonara Jinrui （さよなら人類）