“Love for Sale,” which is set to be Bennett’s final album, is the perfect final act from the Gaga-Bennett duo. PHOTO CREDIT: spotify.com
Jazz legend Tony Benentt teamed up with pop star Lady Gaga for a second time in their new album “Love For Sale,” a collection of toe-tapping hits from the past.
The pair put their own spin on 12 jazz standards originally written by Cole Porter, one of America’s most renowned jazz composers of all time. The renditions of these 1930s tunes is said to be Bennett’s bid adieu to his successful music career, as the 95-year-old big-band icon continues a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
And what an encore this album has proven to be.
“It’s De-Lovely” is the perfect opening song for this album. It’s brass heavy with plenty of tempo changes and piano licks to pull you in. More importantly, Gaga does not try to overcompensate as a vocalist, and truly embodies the tone of a jazz singer. Bennett’s harmonies are impossible to critique. His voice is a relic that shines through the busy background instrumentals. 10/10.
Track two, “Night and Day,” also opens with an upbeat feel, which transitions into a calm swing. Woodwinds and strings take the spotlight in this classic. Again, Bennett is a master of his craft, and makes it clear in his balanced vibrato. I found some of Gaga’s straight-toned notes to be clashing a bit with the old school flair of this song; her voice fits much better with a driving beat. It’s a great interpretation of Porter’s standard, but happens to fall short when compared to the other tracks. 7/10.
The title track, “Love For Sale,” isolates both artists’ vocals and features a snappy rhythm section. Whoever made the decision on the album title knows exactly what they’re doing. An intense saxophone solo mixed with the complicated vocals make for quite the listening experience. I don’t want to spoil too much of this one. 10/10.
Scratch what I said before about Gaga’s voice being more fit for uptempo music ‒‒ “Do I Love You” proved me wrong. She absolutely bodies the slower shuffle feel in this song. The only thing missing the mark from track four are the original Gene Kelly vocals, which is why I can’t give it a perfect rating. 9/10.
I grew up listening to The Four Seasons every day with my Dad. “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” has always been a favorite of mine, and I never imagined a re-recording that would strike the same chord. Bennett and Gaga brought me back in time to childhood holidays with this rendition. I have nothing but appreciation for such a well-rounded recording. 10/10.
“I Concentrate On You” is another familiar classic from my past. Bennett speeds up this standard when compared to the Sinatra version that I’m used to, but holds the same impression. The Gaga features add great dynamics, but it isn’t her best performance from the album. 8/10.
I’ve listened to Sutton Foster’s recording of “I Get A Kick Out Of You” for ages, and it’s definitely one of my all time favorite Broadway tunes. This edition brings a lot more spunk, which caught me off guard, as I think this song is meant to be more of a ballad. With that being said, I still adore the instrumental buildup in this version, and Bennett’s range is unmatched. 8/10.
“So In Love,” in my opinion, resonates the most with me lyrically. Bennett just cradles my heart with his full-bodied vocals. I feel like this review is getting repetitive, but every single track is seriously smashing. Gaga again epitomizes a modern jazz technique. 10/10.
Anything originally sung by Ella Fitzgerald is unbeatable. Gaga’s voice in “Let’s Do It” gets as close to the best as possible, and shows once again how she can tackle any change in tempo. 9/10.
Bennett originally released a version of “Dream Dancing” with Bill Evans in the 1970s. I’ve always loved the lyrics to this tune, and somehow, Gaga and Bennett’s new version is a step above the first recording. Their voices compliment each other so well, as they do throughout the entire collection. 10/10.
“Just One Of Those Things” is such a commonly performed standard. It would be easy for Gaga’s typical pop tone to wash away such a classic jazz sound, but I was pleasantly surprised by her balance. Again, what’s there to critique about Bennett? Nothing. 9/10.
“You’re The Top” is the perfect button to this album. This tune is so nostalgic, and hearing two of my favorite musicians sing it to me was a stunning experience. The rhythm section carries again, with a breathtaking saxophone solo towards the end. 10/10
I think it’s fair to say that “Love For Sale” is my favorite album of 2021 so far. Hearing some revamped Porter classics is refreshing, especially being a big fan of the genre. If you’re looking to lose yourself in some crunchy Porter chords and outstanding vocals, give it a listen.