The Complete Recordings Vol.1 (A Room With A View)

British theater icon Noel Coward was an amazingly prolific artist whose many skills included acting, directing, and writing for both stage and screen. In addition to those talents, Coward was a fine vocalist who began cutting studio recordings of his own songs in the late 1920s. Many of Coward's early compositions are available here, displaying his signature wit and sophistication even during such a formative period.
Among the tunes Coward sings on this collection are the lilting title track, the dreamy "Lorelei", and the jaunty "Any Little Fish". Also included are clips of dialogue and songs from Coward's play PRIVATE LIVES, which feature his one-time muse, Gertrude Lawrence. Capping off the set is a medley that touches on beloved classics such as "Parisian Pierrot" and "Poor Little Rich Girl". Although these fey, stylized Coward numbers may sound like quaint antiques to some listeners, they serve as a fascinating conduit back to a bygone era and one of its most fascinating cultural figures.|