Cy Coleman

It Started With A Dream

Sony Classical

Cy Coleman, piano and vocals; Tony Bennett and Lillias White, guest vocals

Cy Coleman never really achieved the household name enjoyed by Porter, Arlen, Gershwin, and all the rest. More's the pity, perhaps his output was not so extensive. Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett both had a good ear for classy material, and both went to the trouble to promote Cy Coleman. Coleman plays the piano and sings his own tunes here on an album full of nostalgia. All of the great tunes, some of which we made not have known were from Coleman's pen, are given a nice treatment Witchcraft, Colors Of My Life (with Tony Bennett doing the honors), The Best Is Yet To Come, I'm Gonna Love You Right Out Of My Life and plenty more. That plenty more includes I Love My Wife. This one tune catapults Coleman into the same league as Rogers and Hart, this is a hip waltz with marvelous lyrics by Michael Stewart. It was a perfect vehicle for Frank Sinatra, who sang it with an appropriate nudge and a wink. Then there is It Amazes Me. This is a gem that Tony Bennett was quick to record, and quite right he was, too (it reminds yours truly that he is married to someone he does not deserve). Coleman plays a little Jazz-inflected piano, here and there, and his voice is merely adequate, but what a lovely story he tells on I Really Love You. It all winds up with the title track, It Started With A Dream. Coleman is joined by Lillias White, who turns it into a flag-waver. Something special for the nostalgic.

by Lawrence Brazier

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