Peggy Lee works with arrangers
Billy May,
Dave Grusin, and
Lalo Schifrin on this disparate collection of new songs and evergreens. Whether or not she's taking into consideration the new rock revolution led by her new labelmates
the Beatles, she often has her chartmakers come up with light jazz-rock backgrounds, starting with the title song.
Lee has long since demonstrated her credentials in the field of Latin music, so she doesn't seem to have felt the need to treat "The Girl from Ipanema" as a samba; instead,
May conceives a swinging rhythm for the tune. Although there are ballads, including delicate versions of "My Sin" and "Shangri-La," many of these tracks are uptempo, including
Lee's own contribution, her co-write with
Schifrin on the movie song "Theme from 'Joy House' (Just Call Me Love Bird)." It all culminates in an excellent new song by old
Lee compatriot
Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, "When in Rome (I Do as the Romans Do)." ~ William Ruhlmann