The Best Of
Mills Brothers
Geffen Records (USA), 2007
1 CD
Catalogue #: MCA184840
EAN: 0602517233188
UPC: 602517233188
You save: 25%
Recorded between 1942 and 1967. Includes liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
This is part of the MCA Records 20th Century Masters series.
The Mills Brothers left behind a titanic body of recordings, all of which reveal a tonal beauty and soulful spirit. They performed for over five decades, creating strong but soft harmonies that brought out the best in the songs they sang. This CD gathers some of their most popular recordings from 1941-1956. At this time the group consisted of John, Sr., and his three sons, Harry, Herbert, and Donald.
Classic songs like "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" blaze with the group's rich and lyrical locomotion. Mellow and sweet, steady yet sprightly, the Brothers perform with infectious rhythm. "Paper Doll," a massive hit, is marked, as are most of these tracks, with the exceptionally sweet sonority of Donald's lead vocal. The tempo steps up as Harry and the rest swing that doll around in a graceful whirl.
Tracklist
Mills Brothers
The Ohio-born Mills Brothers were a vocal quartet with roots going back to early jazz and barbershop harmony, but their innovative style, which initially utilized vocal approximations of instrumental sounds, was one of the key influences on '50s doo-wop. Harry, Donald, Herbert, and John Mills started performing in the '20s, accompanied only by a guitar, as they used their voices to imitate saxophone, trumpet, bass, et al. Their intricate harmonies and unique approach scored them hit after hit in the '30s and '40s, as well as roles in numerous movie musicals. In the '50s, they switched to a more conventional band-backed format and the huge hits ("Glow Worm," "Opus One," "Smack Dab in the Middle") continued. Various versions of the group continued performing into the '80s, until Donald became the only surviving member (he died in 1999).
