Ken Dodd was mostly known for his comedy, but this album presents the other side of his work, as a romantic balladeer. He's somewhat less interesting than Matt Monro, but the mix of passion and exceptional intonation in his work makes him a compelling singer nonetheless. With the playful orchestral arrangement and the female chorus backing him on "Thank Heaven for Little Girls," one has to take some of this album as intentionally ironic, while other numbers, such as "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," are presented totally straight and meant that way. ~ Bruce Eder
