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Donna Courtell: I Want a Doll

By C. Michael Bailey
December 10, 2021
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Track review of "I Want A Doll"

Some music is self-evident and some needs unpacking.

Donna Courtell

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Donna Courtell's holiday single "I Want A Doll" is music of this latter category. Courtell splits her professional time between singing and running her Courtell Talent Agency. Her creative arc recently intersected with that of bassist

Greg Nathan

multi-instrumentalist
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Greg Nathan and by extension, Nathan's father, Charles. There is a bit of history here. Nathan released a duet recording with guitarist

Mike Denny

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Denny in 2014, I'll Think Of Something (Self Produced), featuring some tried-and-true and some road-less-traveled standards performed and sung by Nathan. The charm of this release was the honesty and intention in the Broadway lyricist voice of the bassist. At about the same time, Nathan founded Soaring Music Publications, acting as their CEO in charge of Production and Marketing, Since then, he has divided his time between teaching and his music company..

The late Charles Nathan, a noted songwriter known for writing Perry Como's 1953 hit, "Say Your Mine Again," wrote the secular holiday tune "I Want A Doll." This song was in search of a performer until Courtell's and Nathan's said creative arcs intersected, resulting in the single considered here. It is a classic peri- World War II vintage modern seasonal song in perfect keeping with the

Sammy Cahn

composer / conductor
1913 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Sammy Cahn -Jules Styne}} composition "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" (1945) and

Irving Berlin

composer / conductor
1888 - 1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Irving Berlin's "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" (from the 1937 film On the Avenue). Greg Nathan arranged the piece for jazz septet (piano guitar, bass (Nathan playing), drums, saxophone, clarinet, percussion)) giving it an upbeat, urban personality with a light and swinging pacing. Courtrell digs deep, providing a 1950s hip vibe with a crisp, clever spoken coda, all properly accented with

Paul Biondi

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Biondi's tenor saxophone. "I Want A Doll" is a trip down memory lane in real time and a holiday canon contender.

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Track Listing

I Want a Doll

Personnel

Donna Courtell

vocals

Paul Biondi

saxophone, tenor

Gus Russell

piano

Don Elkington

drums

Don Latarski

guitar

Greg Nathan

multi-instrumentalist

Additional Instrumentation

Paul Biondi: tenor saxophone - clarinet Don Elkington: drums - sleigh bells Donna Courtell: voice Greg Nathan: string bass

Album information

Title: I Want a Doll | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Soaring Music Publications

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