Rosemary Clooney & Perez Prado- A Touch of Tabasco

TabascoThis was $4.50. Rosemary Clooney was singer of the 1950’s and probably best remembered today as George Clooney’s aunt.  Perez Prado was a Cuban band leader known as King of the Mambo.  He also wrote “Mambo #5”.73385068_-1_991755a

This album, released in 1959, was Clooney’s first effort for RCA after leaving Columbia and it is her only collaboration with Prado.  Apparently, bottles of tabasco were used from promotion of this album.  Also, the husband of Clooney, Puerto Rican Jose Ferrer, wrote the liner notes. It is said that he helped her with pronunciation on this album as she initially struggled with it.Jose_Ferrer_and_Rosemary_Clooney_in_Deep_In_My_Heart

The album itself is pretty good although I would say that there should be more Prado.  I felt compared to his other works. the music on this album is more subdued.  But that being said, it is still a good album combining Clooney’s cabaret style with Prado’s Cuban rhythms, complete with his trademark arrangements and percussion.DSCN4543

For samples, I went with the swinging, “Mack the Knife” as well as “I Got Plenty O’ Nothing”.  Both really good numbers.

Photo of Perez Prado
Perez Prado

This is a top rated album despite the scant criticism I gave it.

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