When You're Smiling
No on can accuse Regis Philbin of not having a sense of humor. Why else would the 73-year-old raconteur/talk show host kick off his CD with an arch version of Myron and Gordon's "You Make Me Feel So Young" on his first recording in over 37 years? But despite that initial eyebrow-raising rendition, his famous ribald sense of humor and sense of absurd comic timing is absent from the rest of the recording. Instead, Philbin plays it completely straight on these rather pedestrian standards, his ragged but mightily recognizable tenor--from thousands of on air duets--often strains for notes, but his delivery is sure-footed and never coy. In fact, if you don't watch yourself, you'll feel a tug at your tear ducts during his version of "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral" with renowned Irish tenor Ronan Tynan. His other coupling is with wife Joy Philbin, who will surprise listeners with her nuanced and deft singing. Although he may not be the world's best singer, Philbin does have a tonality that is not unlikeBing Crosby's and his oversized, warm personality and the elegant instrumentation of his backing combo--with guest appearance by world class trumpeterWarren Vaché--seems to make everything work. --Jaan Uhelszki