Danny Boy – ANDY WILLIAMS****

Danny Boy/Tammy/The Twelfth Of Never/I’m Old Fashioned/Come To Me Bend To Me/Secret Love/The Heather On The Hill/Can I Forget You/It Could Happen To You/I Want To Be Wanted/Summertime/Misty

Danny Boy was the first release from Andy Williams during his lucrative contract with Columbia. The LP contains old time tunes and standards with plenty of strings in the background. (US:19)

“He sang some show tunes, some old standards, and some songs that had been hits for other people recently. Danny Boy adopted a consistent style of arrangement, the songs performed as lush ballads with lots of strings.”

“For the listener encountering this 40 years later, the treat is getting to hear Williams singing standards like Come To Me Bend To Me, Summertime and Misty, in his rich voice.”

“Sometimes the notion of an 'early' album suggests lesser quality recordings or something else a little dodgy. Have no fear in this case, however, for by the time Andy Williams recorded Danny Boy the studio had found the way to bring out the full qualities of his warm, lustrous singing. These are comparatively old-fashioned songs, but they are sung with such masterful control it fills the room, and inspires the listener to join in with full-throated abandon.”

“This is the most romantic Andy Williams album. Produced at the beginning of his career, it shows Andy at the peak of his singing ability. His vocal range is astonishing; his ability to hold a note unlike any other singer. I love I'm Old Fashioned and It Could Happen To You. Backup instrumentals are terrific as well.”

“Danny Boy, the title track has Andy squarely front and centre. You can tell he truly feels the words he's singing by the way he delivers this, and other songs here, so passionately. Tammy is delightful; and I really like other gems including The Twelfth Of Never with Andy never sounding better; Come To Me Bend To Me with those strings in the background as Andy sings; Secret Love that sparkles in Andy's more than capable hands, and memorable treatments of other ballads including the romantic Misty with that sophisticated piano arrangement.”