Michael Buble Call Me Irresponsible: Special Edition CD

Michael Buble ranks among the best of the contemporary crooners working in a classic pop-vocal style, and his 2007 album, CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE, further refines his suave, smooth style. With its finger-snapping big band arrangements, the album has its share of homage to Frank and Dino, both obvious cornerstones of Buble's music. But this isn't merely a retro exercise; the tunes, the production, and the overall feel are decidedly contemporary.

Stylistically adventurous versions of songs by Eric Clapton, Leonard Cohen, and Willie Nelson keep things lively, while "Everything," a Buble original, is one of the album's highlights. Still, cuts like the lead-off track ("The Best Is Yet to Come") and the old chestnut "I've Got the World on a String" will give listeners looking for some elegant, back-in-the-day pizzazz exactly that.

Additional Tracks; Special Edition

Personnel: Michael Bublé (vocals); Graham Dechter, Dean Parks, Heitor Teixeira Pereira, Gerald Clayton (guitar); Michael Landau, Keith Scott (guitars); David Sinclair (acoustic guitar); Frederick Fiddmont, Lee Callet, Rickey Woodard, Thomas R. Peterson (saxophone); Salvator Cracchiolo, Gilbert Castellanos, James Ford , Kyle Palmer, Bijon Watson (trumpet); Daniel Kelley, John Reynolds, Steve Becknell, Joseph Meyers (French horn); Guy Nepus, Ageorge Bohanon, Maurice Spears, Ryan Porter (trombone); James Self (tuba); Greg Phillinganes, Alan Chang, Tamir Hendelman (piano); David Foster (Fender Rhodes piano); Norm Fisher, Nathan East, Christoph Luty, Brian Bromberg (bass instrument); Jeff Hamilton , Joe La Barbera, Josh Freese, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Marcelo Costa, Emil Radocchia, Paulinho Da Costa, Rafael Padilla (percussion); Jochem van der Saag (programming); Sharlotte Gibson, Daniel Fornero, Antoinette Scruggs, Salvadore Lozano, Clorishey Lewis, Emily Blunt, Ken Stacey, David Boruff, Donald Smith, Gary Foster, Joel Peskin, Alan Kaplan, Lisa Vaughn, Louis Price, Lynne Fiddmont, Mervyn Warren, Phil Teele, Anthony Field, Rick Baptist, Siedah Garrett, Valerie Pinkston, Wayne Bergeron, Bill Liston, Charles Loper, Bruce Otto, Windy Wagner, Carmen Carter, Bryan Lipps, Beverley Staunton (background vocals).

Additional personnel: Ivan Lins, Boyz II Men (vocals).

Down Beat (p.76) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "This CD is best when Buble wraps himself around the brass and reeds of a straight-up big band....John Hamilton and David Foster also provide a few high spots."
JazzTimes (p.91) - "[Buble] suggests the caramel-smooth creaminess of Steve Lawrence, the sensual warmth of Vic Damone, the swingin' bravura of Dean Martin and the boyish showmanship of Wayne Newton."