The Intimate Keely Smith


The Intimate Keely Smith is a 1964 album by Keely Smith.

Reception

The initial Billboard magazine review from January 30, 1965 awarded the album their 'Pop Spotlight' pick for that week and commented that "Keely is warm all over...Backed by a combo, she keeps the mood intimate and thoroughly mellow from start to finish".
In a 2016 review of a reissue of the album, Marc Myers wrote for All About Jazz that "the quality of the work is, frankly, astonishing. Smith's song choices are off-beat and perfectly tailored for her voice, and her delivery is confessional and pure saloon. What's more, we hear Smith's voice completely exposed, with little to mask her intonation or articulation. Both are heart-melting". Myers praised Smith's accompanists writing that "The group frames her sensitivity, and Smith's voice is so breathy and cozy, she seems snuggled on someone's shoulder while singing" and concluded that "This is a flawless album and a perfect way to get to know a Las Vegas singer who should have been as widely known as any of the great jazz vocalists".

Track listing

  1. "Somebody Loves Me" – 4:07
  2. "As Long as He Needs Me" – 2:26
  3. "Blame It on My Youth" – 2:55
  4. "He Needs Me" – 2:40
  5. "Sinner or Saint" – 3:41
  6. "It Had to Be You" – 3:25
  7. "Time After Time" – 3:52
  8. "Nancy (with the Laughing Face)"/"You Are My Sunshine" / – 3:55
  9. "God [Bless the Child (Billie Holiday song)|God Bless the Child]" – 2:48
  10. "You'll Never Know" – 2:11
  11. "The Whippoorwill" – 2:55

Personnel