Hummin' Too Myself is Ms. Ronstadt's 2004 and one assumes final foray into the Great American Songbook. And while it is a very good set, and her voice is still a thing of beauty, "Hummin' to Myself" lacks the swing of her first three "Standards" sets. Her voice is still lovely, but as should be expected it isn't what it was 20 years earlier.

So should you buy this CD? If you have the first three sets avaiable in 'Round Midnight],] or get them individually.[[ASIN:B000002H3L For Sentimental Reasons, What's New,Lush Life then by all means you should. If however you are buying your first set of Standards by Ms. Ronstadt, I'd go with one of the others first.

So here's the deal, in a time when everyone seems to be trying the American Songbook, Linda Ronstadt, shows how it is done right, so complete your collection!

This is hardly jazzy in any way. The vocals are very hard sounding when her volume increases. And all the cuts sound pretty much the same. Check out the Sarah Vaughn or Ella Fitzgerald versions of these songs and see how truly awful these renditions are.

Linda seems to select material that is time-less and sings with a voice that is moving and angelic. Her phrase-ology is reminiscent of Judy Garland and Sinatra. perfectly articulated with just the right emotion and nuance. This is a GEM, BUY IT, it is great while driving, and also a romantic date.

Linda has sung all kinds of music over a long span of years...country...pop...jazz...Latin...and, remarkably, sung it all well. This 2004 release shows her voice to be better at 60 than it was at 25....see my title....

To the issue at hand...Jazz...done right. The whole album is a joy to hear, but several cuts deserve mention; Sammy Fain's "Miss Otis Regrets" and "I'll Be Seeing You" are, for me, the highlights. I don't think Cole Porter ever produced less than perfection; "Get Out Of Town" is one of his best. Of course, "Day Dream" by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn is a work of genius, to which Linda does full justice. The instrumental work is all that we could ask, but the musicans aren't identified. [On Linda's three albums of this genre twenty years earlier, Nelson Riddle got star billing].

This is a great album that I can easily recommend. For those turned off by Linda's politics, I understand, and, to a point, agree. Her comments about our brave troops nauseate me. Personally, I only buy her records on the secondary market. Linda is a fabulous singer; she has never sung a wrong note, or given us a less than stellar recording. I just wish she could keep quiet when she isn't singing.

Linda has a beautiful voice, but she shout too much. Perhas she must think to record a different songs and with diferent style.