Marvelous Marilyn Maye!

The indomitable Marilyn Maye released a string of entertaining albums for RCA in the mid-to-late 1960's, but very little of her recorded material even hinted at this lady's tremendous talent--blame the A&R department, blame the rise of acid rock; but be very grateful that Marilyn Maye is STILL singing, performing incredible, sold-out cabaret shows, and now interpreting the superb material that she wants to do.

On Sunday, April 13, I had the pleasure of seeing Ms. Maye at New York's fabulous Metropolitan Room. She knocked 'em dead--and I got to sit two seats away from another one of my idols, Lesley Gore, Miss Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows herself. The title of Marilyn's current show is "It's My Party--And I'll Sing 'Cause I Want To" (a nod to La Gore's classic pop hit), and the program consisted of such feel-good material as "Walking Happy," "Let the Good Times Roll," "Don't Bring Me No Bad News," and, of course, Maye's signature closing tune, "It's Today" from Mame.

To say that Marilyn Maye brought the house down would be a vast understatement. The entire room was in her thrall from start to finish, and the applause after each number was deafening. One personal highlight was her inclusion of the obscure Broadway tune, "Celebration," from the equally obscure show of the same name. It appeared as the B-side to Marilyn's 1969 cover of "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," from the Bacharach/David show Promises, Promises, and is a quintessential slice of inconsquential yet irresistible show tune schlock. And, in the hands and vocal cords of a consummate pro like Marilyn Maye, it sounds one hundred times better than it is. Listen to Maye's lovely 1969 recording here: http://www.box.net/shared/92aa2ten4c, but rest assured: it was even better, more urgent, and more knock-your-socks-off terrific in 2008. She's at the Metropolitan Room through Wednesday, the 16th--catch her while you can. I already have my reservations for her closing night.