Micky's vocal delivery is much better on "Somewhere Out There" but overall, the song is just too mellow for me, heck, it's way too mellow for my Sun. morning hangover mix. The song is nicely done and gets a 3/5 even though it's really not my thing
Today's song is Put On a Happy Face: We take another step down here imo... Micky is back to over-emoting and, while I can understand it, I'm not sure this song needs such enforced jollity. The lyrics and tune are upbeat enough as it is, without the need for the vocalist to add extra positivity with the delivery. The cutesy production doesn't help matters, and I'm not sure of the wisdom of Micky's scat singing towards the end. It kind of feels like the producers needed to be a little stricter in terms of reining in Micky's more excessive tendencies. I do like the fact that he covered Dick Van Dyke on this album, even if the results were mixed... 2.5/5.
Put on a Happy Face Well, there is definitely variety on this album. Cheesy, though slickly done, intro and then kids. It makes me dread the reappearance of the kids, but the interjections around the solos appear to work. They do appear later but not too much, and not sickly sweet. I do feel that once this song was chosen, that an unstoppable process was set in motion that landed us with the finished result. The scat singing was OK, and Micky doesn't over-do the vocal. His performance suits the song. The production is well done, but for a style that I don't really like. 2.8/5
Put On A Happy Face - From the Broadway musical ‘Bye Bye Birdie’, originally done on stage and film by Dick Van Dyke. A fun number, and it’s charming hearing Micky’s daughters joining in. I think the scatting adds to it. As a theater buff, I think Micky’s rendition of the song is fine. 4/5. Here’s Dick Van Dyke with the original Broadway cast of ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ performing the number on the Ed Sullivan Show.
I just listened to Micky scat yesterday on the M and M show CD, which is my driving music the last few months. I think he enjoys that and think he thinks he does a good job at it. Sounds better to me on Alternate Title and Goin' Down, it is not bad here but I can see where both Turk and HitAndRun are coming from. I would guess I will never listen to this particular track again but I do think Micky performed it as they wanted, just not my thing.
I really like this! I don't mind the kids or scatting (I can't believe I just wrote that), I love the arrangement, and while Mick's hamming it up, he's got a bit of a rough/bluesy edge in his voice - I mean, he could have gone into full cartoon mode and that would have made this unbearbale but instead he finds an interesting balance that's not part of his usual repertoire and it definitely works. 4/5
This one has a bit of character to it. I'm in a good mood today so another 4/5 for me. If this came on while I was in a foul mood, it wold probably annoy me pretty quickly though, ha ha .
Having thought more about this, I want to bring my vote up to: 3.5/5 I've decided I like it more now that I've thought about it a bit.
Today's song is You're Never Full Dressed Without a Smile: A fitting song thematically to follow yesterday's track, and Micky's performance is more of the same. Again, it's not to my tastes and is too OTT for me. Obviously I can't complain too much about him giving theatrical performances on a Broadway album, but I think he and Davy were always at their best when they toned it down. 2.5/5.
You're Never Full Dressed Without a Smile: From the musical ‘Annie’. This is a unique arrangement for the song, done in New Orleans Mardi Gras style. Micky’s performance is wonderfully theatrical and it works. Another one he should do in his ‘A Little Bit Broadway’ show. 4/5. The original ‘Annie’ Broadway cast performing the song.
This is the song that I am least familiar from the CD. I surely prefer it to the one Fred posted, which definitely is not my thing. Given what we have heard so far, Micky has done a good job with the material and adapted the songs to fit him and for those who are not big Broadway fans as well.
Put On A Happy Face - 3/5 This is not the type of music I seek out. Even so I can enjoy it once in a while. It' fun. Micky does a good job here. You're Never Full Dressed Without a Smile - 3/5 What a jazzy number here. I haven't listened to this album all that much overall. Perhaps I could change my mind. Perhaps getting a little older makes me appreciate it a tad more.
Much like yesterday, I dig it! Mick finds the perfect balance between schmaltz and r&b, the arrangement is great, and the backing vocals are the icing on the cake. 4/5
You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile Actually I like the jazzy style of this one. More variety for the album. While Micky hams it up a bit, I think it suits the song better than some of the others. I like the bit where the backing vocals fade in. This could work well as a change of pace on a more rock/pop album. 3.2/5
"You're Never Fully Dressed..." is my favorite song on the album and almost always makes it onto my solo Micky sampler cd's. Another fine backing track with vocals that don't make me cringe for a change. 4/5
Well, for 25 years I thought this album was just sort of meh... yet, here we are and I'm giving another track a 4/5? At the time of this album's release, I was ready for some rock and roll from Micky. But since we've gotten that since then-- I think I can appreciate this record a little more (even if I find the production a little slick in places.)
Today's song is NeverEnding Story: I never thought I would see the day when this composition would become trendy, but I guess that's what happened due to Stranger Things (though not this version obviously). The original Limahl has plenty of cheesy 1980s charm, and a fair amount of quality due to it coming from Giorgio Moroder. I think Micky's version is a successful update, and it has a sense of dignity and elegance about it. The slower tempo isn't necessarily an improvement on the original, but it does mark it out as something different. A low 4/5.
