Ed Ames operates in the pop music tradition of show tunes, film themes, and powerful vocalists; his well-trained, masculine baritone has more in common with
Mario Lanza than his adult pop contemporaries like
Andy Williams. "My Cup Runneth Over" was
Ames' biggest hit because, even though it came from the stage, the tender sentiment and simple melody appealed to adult pop listeners across the board -- those who could appreciate vocalists like
Jim Nabors and
Gordon MacRae as well as those with less old-fashioned tastes. The album
My Cup Runneth Over holds less general appeal because it leans toward the traditional pop instead of the 1960s adult contemporary end of the spectrum. Most of the songs are from the stage and screen, with sophisticated melodies and excursions into continental pop. The arrangements, by nearly half a dozen conductors, are elaborate orchestral constructions that in some cases sound like they could have been made 20 years earlier. "There's a Time for Everything" swings in the Vegas style, and several tunes are very well known, but there is no guarantee that enthusiasts of "My Cup Runneth Over" will find the rest of the album to their liking. ~ Greg Adams