The Nearness of You (Helen Merrill album)

Track listing

1. "Bye Bye Blackbird" (Mort Dixon, Al Henderson) - 2:57
2. "When the Sun Comes Out" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) - 4:47
3. "I Remember You" (Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger) - 2:11
4. "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg) - 3:19
5. "Dearly Beloved" (Jerome Kern, Mercer) - 2:07
6. "Summertime" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward) - 3:28
7. "All of You" (Cole Porter) - 3:33
8. "I See Your Face Before Me" (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) - 2:39
9. "Let Me Love You" (Harlan Howard) - 2:48
10. "The Nearness of You" (Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington) - 4:06
11. "This Time the Dream's on Me" (Arlen, Mercer) - 2:21
12. "Just Imagine" (Lew Brown, Buddy DeSylva, Henderson) - 3:21

Reception

John Bush of Allmusic said that "Alternately breathy and atmospheric or bright and dynamic, Helen Merrill often reaches a bit too far on The Nearness of You, though her distinct style and strong personality may be refreshing to vocal fans tired of the standard versions of standards...Her powerful voice occasionally gets her into trouble, breaking from breathy to brash and often occupying a rather awkward middle ground.".

Personnel