I am not sure I can adequately express the ecstasy I feel listening to Dick Noel. Who/what/where/whatever happened to. . .Many questions under familiar headings flood my mind and make me want to hear more. The phrasing, the sensitivity, the perfect modulations, the clarity and intelligence, the goosebumps his timbre produces...I think he is out of this world. Liner notes by Mel Torme, no less.
from: http://rifftide.exblog.jp/
by Makoto Goto
(English translation below)
このアルバムの解説は僕に書かせてくれ（メル・トーメ）
あのメル・トーメが、ふらりと立ち寄ったスタジオで聴いた、無名の男性歌手。彼の歌があまりにも素晴らしいので、感激のあまりトーメが「ぜひライナーを僕に書かせて欲しい」と頼み込んだアルバムがあります。 「ぜひライナーを書かせて欲しい」というのは、（私のような）売れない音楽評論家が営業活動する際の常套句ですが、メル・トーメは売れない音楽評論家ではありません。超売れっ子のシンガーです。だから、わざわざお仕事くださいと「営業」するわけがありません。 《この無名歌手の素晴らしさをきちんと伝えられるのは、自分しかいない》と、トーメは大きな決断をしたのだと思います。こんなライナーです。
________________
___________締めくくりのWelcome back, Dick.というキメの言葉が、かっこいいですよね。私だったら、こうは書けません。
translation by J:
"Let Me Write the liner notes for this album": Mel Torme
This is the album, by a rather obscure male vocalist, that Mel Torme---Yes, THAT Mel Torme---asked to write the liner notes for when he heard his voice for the first time. He had popped by the studio where work was being done on it and was so greatly moved by what he heard that he said, "Please let me write the liner notes." It is commonplace for a writer, such as myself, who is not mainstream to make a request like this. In the process, the writer also benefits. However, Mel Torme is not a noted critic, but rather a very popular singer. Therefore, this writing would not benefit him in any way. Torme must have decided to do this with a strong belief that "I am the only person who can accurately tell the world how wonderful this rather unknown singer is."
(see liner notes above)
The concluding sentence, "Welcome back, Dick," is so kakkoii (Japanese for "cool.)
