This Fling Called Love

One of the high spots in the business of producing records occurs when two artists meet musically for the first time. At Columbia, I’ve been a fortunate witness to many such moments—including these memorable performances by Percy Faith and Eileen Farrell. The combination of these two is magic arithmetic—the whole is equal to more than the sum of its parts.

Percy’s arrangements have often flattered great singers, but none has been greater than Eileen Farrell. She warms a dozen ballads about the joy and sadness of love as only the best singer of torch songs can. Listening, you hear how much Eileen Farrell loves these songs, which words and phrases move her most. And you can also hear the inner melodies Percy wrote to complement her voice.

André Previn, who came to hear Eileen sing his composition, The Faraway Part of Town, paid her the ultimate compliment.

“When she sings,” he said, “you feel that you’ve never really heard these songs before.”

IRVING TOWNSEND,
Producer