CD Review: Seth MacFarlane - In Full Swing

Seth MacFarlane (vocal); Joel McNeely (producer/arranger); Norah Jones, Elizabeth Gillies (guest vocals).

(Review by Lance)

Seth MacFarlane is more than just a Family Guy, to quote the title of the TV show he's perhaps best known for - in the eyes of Joe Public. However, in the more discerning eyes and ears of the Bebop Spoken Here readership, MacFarlane is much more.

He's just about the classiest male vocalist around at present. Is he a jazz singer? Was Sinatra, Astaire or Crosby? Are Bublé or Bennett? Who cares? His albums invariably hit the top spots on the jazz charts but what do they know?

What I do know is that he can interpret a lyric as good as any singer past or present. The only thing he lacks is that individual stamp that identifies any of the above names. MacFarlane, nevertheless, has such a great voice that upon hearing him on late night radio you'll end up having a sleepless night trying to put a face and a name to the voice.

The singer also had a hand in the arrangements by Joel McNeely suggesting tempos and subtle changes of mood. The result would have done Nelson Riddle proud.

The material is a mix of the lesser known and the almost forgotten. The blurb sums him up accurately.

MacFarlane is the rare revivalist who knows that the Great American Songbook is more than a 100 pages thick.

Take a look at the list:

1.          The First Time It Happens                 0:03:53  

2.          Almost Like Being In Love               0:02:49           

3.          Isn't This A Lovely Day                     0:03:41           

4.          For You, For Me, For Evermore        0:03:08           

5.          Like Someone In Love                      0:03:26

6.          That Face                                           0:02:36           

7.          If I Had A Talking Picture Of You    0:03:06

             (Featuring Norah Jones)           

8.          I'm Glad There Is You                        0:03:07           

9.          You Couldn't Be Cuter                       0:02:30           

10.        I Like Myself                                      0:03:55

11.        You Can't Love 'Em All                     0:02:25

12.        Have You Met Miss Jones?               0:03:06

13.        A Kiss Or Two                                    0:02:23

14.        But Beautiful                                      0:03:52

15.        Moonlight Becomes You                    0:02:58

16.        Bonus Track: My Buick, My Love and I         0:02:01

             (Featuring Elizabeth Gillies).

After Seth MacFarlane's debut album back in 2012 I was so excited that I got myself on the Press List for his concert at Ronnie's. Alas, such was the demand for tickets from his fans that the Press List was trimmed and me with it.

This has made up for that disappointment.
Amazon.

Listen.

Lance.