Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye

Marilyn Maye was performing in nightclubs throughout the Midwest United States. In 1961, she recorded her debut studio album titled Marilyn...the Most, which attracted the attention of Steve Allen. Exposure on his nationally syndicated television show brought her to the attention of RCA Victor. Maye then signed a recording contract with the label.{{cite journal |last1=Loudon |first1=Christopher |title=Marilyn Maye |journal=JazzTimes |date=April 26, 2019 |url=https://jazztimes.com/features/columns/marilyn-maye/ |access-date=29 May 2023}} Maye recorded several albums with the RCA label between 1965 and 1970. Her debut album with the label was issued in 1965 called Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye.

Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye was recorded in 1965 at Webster Hall, a performing venue and nightclub in New York City.{{cite web |title=Carbaret Singer Marilyn Maye Discography |url=https://www.marilynmaye.com/marilyn-maye-discography.aspx |website=Marilyn Maye.com |access-date=29 May 2023}} Although not recorded at an official studio, the project was not recorded as a live project. Instead, the album was given arrangements and recording procedures that would categorize it as a studio recording.{{cite journal |last1=Maye |first1=Marilyn |title=Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye (Liner Notes) |journal=RCA Victor |date=August 1965 |id=LMP-3397 (Mono); LSP-3397 (Stereo)}} The project was produced by Joe René, with arrangements by Don Costa and Manny Albam. The liner notes were written by Steve Allen, who concluded by calling it "the best damned vocal album of 1965".

Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye consisted of 12 tracks. It included several covers of musical theatre songs, opening with "Get Me to the Church on Time". The song originally appeared in the Broadway musical My Fair Lady. Also included was the title song from the musical Hello, Dolly!. "I Love You Today" was a song that originally appeared in an eight-show musical about the life of Sophie Tucker called Sophie. "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" had originally appeared in the film Cabin in the Sky. Other tracks were covers of Jazz songs, such as "Take Five", which originally had been successful for Dave Brubeck. It also featured a cover of "Misty", which had been a commercial success for Johnny Mathis.{{Cite web|url=https://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2014/11/27/making-misty-the-legendary-johnny-mathis-recording/|title=Making "Misty": The Legendary Johnny Mathis Recording (2010)|date=27 November 2014|website=Mornings on Maple Street|access-date=30 April 2021}} Other Jazz and theater covers included "The Song Is You", "Put On a Happy Face", "Make Someone Happy", "Washington Square" and "Where Are You".

Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye was originally released in August 1965 on RCA Victor. It was offered as a vinyl LP in both mono and stereo formats. Six songs appeared on either side of the record. It was her first album with RCA Victor and second studio album in her career. It has since been re-released digitally to retailers that include Apple Music.{{cite web |title=Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye by Marilyn Maye |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/meet-marvelous-marilyn-maye/908838984 |website=Apple Music |access-date=29 May 2023}} According to an article from Billboard magazine, Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye was given regular promotion from RCA Victor shortly after its release. This included a performance at The Living Room venue in New York City, where Maye performed the entire album track listing.{{cite magazine |last1=Sternfield |first1=Aaron |title=Marilyn Maye Breaks Up Room and House Too |magazine=Billboard |date=October 16, 1965 |page=16 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1966/Billboard%201965-10-16-OCR-Page-0016.pdf#search=%22meet%20marvelous%20marilyn%20maye%201965%22 |access-date=29 May 2023}}

After its original release, Billboard magazine highlighted the album as a "Pop Special Merit" pick. The publication described Maye as "a talented girl who will be heard from". Will Friedwald of the book The Great Jazz and Pop Vocal Albums praised the project by saying, "Nearly every other aspect of her work is already in place here in 1965." Friedwalkd further highlighted Maye's vocal delivery and found her to be a seasoned Jazz vocalist by the time of the album's release.

{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Get Me to the Church on Time

| writer1 = {{hlist|Loewe|Lerner}}

| length1 = 2:35

| note1 = from the musical production of My Fair Lady

| title2 = Misty

| writer2 = {{hlist|Johnny Burke|Erroll Garner}}

| length2 = 3:27

| title3 = Washington Square

| writer3 = Bob Goldstein

| length3 = 3:25

| title4 = Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe

| writer4 = {{hlist|Arlen|Harburg}}

| length4 = 3:41

| title5 = I Love You Today

| writer5 = Steve Allen

| length5 = 3:11

| title6 = Hello, Dolly

| writer6 = Jerry Herman

| length6 = 3:50

| note6 = from the musical production of Hello, Dolly!

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| title1 = Take Five

| writer1 = {{hlist|Brubeck|Desmond}}

| length1 = 2:24

| title2 = Where Are You

| writer2 = {{hlist|Adamson|McHugh}}

| length2 = 2:57

| title3 = Night of My Nights

| writer3 = {{hlist|Wright|Forrest}}

| length3 = 2:26

| title4 = Put on a Happy Face

| writer4 = {{hlist|Adams|Strouse}}

| length4 = 2:31

| title5 = Make Someone Happy

| writer5 = {{hlist|Comden|Green|Styne}}

| length5 = 3:16

| title6 = The Song Is You

| writer6 = {{hlist|Hammerstein|Kern}}

| length6 = 2:10

}}

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye.

• Steve Allen – Liner notes
• Manny Albam – Arranger
• Don Costa – Arranger
• Mickey Crofford – Recording engineer
• Joe René – Producer

{{reflist}}

{{Marilyn Maye}}

Category:1965 albums

Category:Albums arranged by Don Costa

Category:Albums arranged by Manny Albam

Category:Marilyn Maye albums

Category:RCA Victor albums