When Harry Met Sally: Music From The Motion Picture

That having been said, this 10-track set is an enjoyable collection of romantic standards, some of them now over six decades old yet sounding timeless. Some of them are cheerful and peppy ("It Had To Be You," which is heard in two versions here), some are riffs on loneliness and separation ("But Not For Me" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"),others still are odes to romance ("I Could Write a Book" and the gently reflective "Where or When"). There is even a little bit of the holiday spirit added in for good measure (a solo piano rendition of "Winter Wonderland").

Connick pulls double duty as vocalist and piano player in most of the tracks (with the exception of "But Not For Me," with Marc Shaiman doing the honors at the piano), ably reflecting each song's emotional context with his old-fashioned stylings and New Orleans accent. Listen carefully to the World War II-era "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" and there's a sense of longing there for an absent spouse or lover. In his rendition of "Where or When," Connick conveys the feeling of awe everyone feels when he or she has fallen in love with someone, yet can't figure out "where or when" the transition occurred.

I suppose I like this album because I am, as Louis Renault said of Rick Blaine in Casablanca, a "rank sentimentalist" -- a charge to which I cheerfully plead guilty. The fact that these songs were around 30 or more years before my birth over 40 years ago and can still touch people's hearts and minds is proof that some things are indeed timeless. Connick and Shaiman (who also produced the album) chose their material well, making When Harry Met Sally....Music From the Motion Picture a fine addition to anyone's library of jazz and easy listening CDs.


Exquisite to say the least!   January 4, 2001
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

I loved it! It's that simple! At first, I was a little apprehensive of the fact that only one artist was present. The majority of soundtracks, as we all know, feature a variety of artists which makes them appealing because we experience different musical genre on a single cd. I was, however, pleasantly surprised and think that Harry Connick Jr. did an excellent job on this soundtrack! I appreciated it most on one cold rainy day when I curled up with a hot mug of mocha latte to read a book (Actually, I enjoyed the music so much I ended up just sitting there listening to it and staring out of the window).


Can't say enough...!!!   October 30, 1999
Gia J. Moris (Louisiana)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I can't say enough about this album! It has had the single most important infulence on my musical taste. My freshman year of high school(1993) a friend let me borrrow this tape and it has affected me ever since. The songs on this album first opened me up to the wonderful world of jazz. Harry's smooth, melodic voice allows you to feel the pain and despair behind songs such as,"But Not For Me", and "Where or When".It also allows you to feel the joy and jubilation on "It Had to Be You". Not only is his singing superb, his piano performance, band leading, and arranging put him in a league all his own. This album began my LOVE affair with Harry Connick Jr. and also with Frank Sinatra, for I never would have sought out his music had it not been for Harry's versions of these timeless songs. In my vast collection of cds I have to say this is one of my top three favorites. Anyone would be privledged to listen to this fine work of art!


THE most romantic CD Harry Connick has done!   August 30, 2000
Holly Candelas (St. Louis, MO)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Although it's not actually the soundtrack, it's fine by me. He's incredibly gifted and a joy to listen. Who doesn't want to dance around with the the one you love when you hear him croon, "It had to be you"? My mother's forty years older than me and the generation gap is bridged when we heard this stuff. It's great! Check out other great CD's from him such as "She" & "We Are In love" :) Note of interest: Harry actually wanted to use "Recipe of Love" for the movie, "When Harry Met Sally", but much to his dismay, it was turned down.


Honestly my favourite cd   May 16, 1998
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

This is the one to take to the desert island if you're stranded! I listen to it over and over and never get tired of it. Harry Connick Jr. does an incredible job with these classic tunes. If you've seen the movie, it makes it that much better. One note though, if you are looking for the songs to be sung by the artists who sing them in the movie, you may be disappointed. No Louis Armstrong or others, just Harry. An incredible cd!