COLE PORTER

Elegant, witty, unconventional--these adjectives describe Porter's imcomparable lyrics and the man himself. Songs like "Night and Day" and "You're the Top" are probably better known than the shows they came from or the Indiana native who wrote them. Long married, Porter was, nonetheless, homosexual and, for the last 27 years of his life, crippled by a riding accident. The text focuses on Porter's lyrics at the expense of musical analysis; Edwardson enlivens a flat narration with spoken excerpts of lyrics that make the most of Porter's timing, rhyming and meaning. Edwardson's voice is pleasant and wears well, which is a good thing given the length of this tape. Those interested in how shows and hit tunes get put together will enjoy the hours spent with this most sophisticated of songwriters. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 00]