Seth MacFarlane Once in A While

Seth MacFarlane
Once in A While
Verve/ Republic

Seth MacFarlane is best known as the person behind TV's "Family Guy." Besides being a very funny person and a master of many voices, he is a crooner of quite some ability. This album was recorded at a marathon 2016 session at London's legendary Abbey Road Studio 2, the room in which the Beatles cut the majority of their catalog. The session produced his prior album "Full Swing," described as "hard-charging big band swing" as well as material for another, future record. Unlike the hard swing of the prior release, the press release states that "the thirteen songs on this album are all ballads that MacFarlane says 'deal with longing, lost love, and sadness, infused with fond recollection and a hint of hope.'"

Songs on this include compositions by such masters as Irving Berlin, Rogers, and Hart, and Johnny Mercer, with MacFarlane digging deep into their songbooks. The tracks were recorded live in the studio by the hand-picked "Dream Town Orchestra." MacFarlane added his vocals over the last year. Arranger Andrew Coffee states that "They're not necessarily sad break-up songs. They're more reflective, thoughtful, even philosophical, but they're not all torch songs."

A full album of ballads sung wonderfully against lush, scrumptious orchestrations is a bit much for this person to enjoy in a straight sitting. And let me be clear, Seth MacFarlane is a wonderful vocalist, singing with a warm, baritone with clarity and nuance with care about the lyrics whether the opening "Half As Lovely (Twice As Full)" with lovely trumpet punctuating the backing or the romanticism and nostalgia of "I Remember You" despite the syrupy strings. The reeds harken the beginning of "They Say It's Wonderful," with the celebration of being in love. Then there is his sober rendition of the classic lounge song "The Party Is Over," and a lovely "You Are Too Beautiful."

Listening to this, I am thinking of sampling "Full Swing," which I likely will enjoy more than as a whole album. I would find it hard to fault any specific performance here. MacFarlane is a first-rate crooner, and the accompaniments are superlative in their fashion. Rather than being a hard-swinging recording in the manner of Sinatra, we have a fine recording of pop vocals that make for easy listening.

I received a download to review from a publicist. Here is Seth MarcFarlane singing.