Reviews (2)

They don't make 'em like this anymore.
I have seldom been so pleased with a purchase as I am with this one; I play it often.These Oklahoma gals really have style but this sort of song styling isn't much heard nowadays.It has to be heard to appreciate how good it is.Many today haven't heard good crossover between jazz and country and might not believe it can be done, but this group really did it!The audio signal is uniform and clear throughout.It's a bargain for so much listening time.Buy it.

Reviews (1)

Reviews (5)

Cheerful 1940's music by a cheerful lady
Evelyn Knight is one of those singers who were very successful in their time, but who are unheard of except by those old enough to remember, or those (like me) who are guided to their music via Amazon recommendations.

Evelyn had two number one hits (A little bird told me and Powder your face with sunshine) and three other top ten hits (Dance with a dolly with a hole in her stockings, Chickory chick and Brush those tears from your eyes - this was actually the flip side of A little bird told me).

As you will realise from these and the other titles, this is a bright and cheerful album from a bright and cheerful lady - but it is certainly not lightweight. Evelyn's performances are always classy and stylish. This is best illustrated on Buttons and bows.

A lot of versions of Buttons and bows were released as singles. Dinah Shore's version won the battle easily, but the Dinning sisters came a respectable second. Evelyn's version peaked at a lowly #14, but it's very different from the other versions. Evelyn chose to do it in a slower, more reflective, sexy manner which made it less instantly appealing than Dinah's version, but the more you play Evelyn's version, the more it grows on you. As I also love the Dinnings and Dinah, I am not going to fight over which is best - they are all different, and appealing in their own ways.

So, Evelyn was a classy singer who liked to sing cheerful songs of whatever tempo, but had the skill to make them sound truly great.

Long sought
In 1949 or 50 I drove to a lakeside restaurant for about a month to listen to Evelyn Knight's "Powder Your Face With Sunshine" on the jukebox. It was mesmerising. I considered making it a theme for my long entablished radio music program. I would have purchased this CD for this selection alone. I sought this recording for years and finally gave up until I found it listed on Amazon. Of all the records I have sought, now only Johnny Mercer's "Harmony" is left.

Magnificent
My family had a collection of Evelyn Knight's 78 RPM records, when I was a child during 1940s and I was enthralled by her magnificient singing voice. I tried to obtain Evelyn's performances later on, but to no avail. I wastherefore delighted when I saw this CD at the HMV shop, Oxford Circusduring a recent visit to London. I immediately grabbed it (nostalgic musiclike this is not available in India) and took it home with me to Bombay,where I reside. Listening to the CD revived the old memories as herexcellent renditions of "Powder your face with sunshine","Brush those tears from your eyes", "A little bird toldme", "Candy & Cake" came flowing in. However, there wasone small disapointment. I was looking for Evelyn's rendering of"Cherry Stones" - that number has not found its way into this CD.It is unfortunate that Evelyn's popularity waned later on, but those whohad listened to her music in their formative years will always remember herfondly.

Reviews (2)

More upbeat rocking country
If you've bought the original volume and want more, this will provide you with more of the same. Since their most famous songs from the period (1946 to 1951) were included on the first volume, this set makes no sense on its own, although there is no drop in quality.

It begins with New mule skinner blues, accidentally omitted from the first volume, plus another 29 tracks. Rose again sings lead on most songs, but Fred sings lead on four and Cal on two. On I'm sending daffydills, Rose, Cal and Lulu (their mother) get equal billing. Tracks 22 to 28 had not been released anywhere prior to this compilation.

People will forever debate where rock'n'roll music came from, but it seems likely that the wild music played by Rose and her brothers was one of its many roots. Enjoy it.

Irrepressible
As the liner notes say, this family of itinerant musicians decided that farm labor was too much hard work, so they rode boxcars to California. Wearing their stage outfits, they walked up to an A&R guy who asked, "Well, who the hell are you?", and they proceeded to show him, right there in his office.

These days people with that kind of confidence end up selling self-help courses, so it's a special gift to us that The Maddox Brothers and Rose chose country music instead.

The music has been described as a mix of Texas swing, Bakersfield roadhouse, and rockabilly. I just call it some of the best hayseed party music ever made. Solid playing, spirited singing (you can't call it pretty), and help from the best sidemen in the business. My favorites are "Texas Guitar Stomp" and "South" ("Roy Nichols, play that thing!") Rose doesn't sing so much as bray and whinny, but you have to love a woman who is so delightfully uninhibited.

Reviews (6)

Nellie Knocks Me Out!
Never heard of Nellie? Me neither - until I heard "Fine Brown Frame."Buy this album and prepare to be wowed by her amazing phrasing, playfulness, sauce and energy. You won't know what hit you!

fan for 35 years
Jazz always filled my childhood home.I use to like to listen to myparent's Jazz albums as a child growing up.My parents had a NellieLutcher 78, I use to listen to it all the time. I do not have a turn tablethat will play 78's. This best of Nellie Lutcher CD has all of the tunes Iloved and then some. I can't wait to get the CD so I can listen to hermusic again!It's been years...

Reviews (1)

Excellent singer actress from a bygone age
Frances mainly recorded ballads in an age dominated by swing band music and Hollywood musicals. She played in some of those musicals, but singing was her real passion. There are only two up-tempo songs here - Nasty man and You hi-de-hi-ing me - both of which she does well and which provide a contrast with the ballads. More variation is provided via three duets with Tony Martin and one with Rudy Vallee, the singer who first discovered her.

Of the other songs, When you wish upon a star (from the Walt Disney film Pinocchio), At last and Serenade in blue (both big hits for Glenn Miller) are perhaps the most famous - and Frances sings them as well as anybody. However, there are many other excellent songs here. Whatever other problems the world faced, many brilliant songs were written back then, so many that they haven't all become standards. Listen to Frances sing songs that have only rarely been covered but which are just as good as the famous ones if you need any proof.

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (7)

An excellent singer-actress
Betty is remembered as an actress and pin-up, but her music is often overlooked. During the thirties and forties, Hollywood produced several singer-actresses, including Judy Garland, Alice Faye, Frances Langford and Dorothy Lamour. Betty may not have been absolutely the best singer among them, but she was still a fine singer whose music is well worth listening to.

This comprehensive collection begins with six songs from the thirties, during which Betty was kept busy but never made it big. These are followed, in chronological order, with songs from the musicals that she is best remembered for - Down Argentine way. Tin pan alley, Moon over Miami, A yank in the RAF, Footlight serenade, Song of the islands, Springtime in the Rockies, Coney Island, Sweet Rosie O'Grady, Pin-up girl, Billy Rose's diamond horseshoe and The dolly sisters.

Although these recordings were made during the period of the Great American Songbook, you won't find any classics here. Nevertheless, I find that the upbeat, fun music is very enjoyable to listen to, even though I haven't seen any of the movies from which the songs are taken. If you are familiar with Betty's work as an actress, I imagine that you will get even greater enjoyment from these superbly re-mastered recordings.

Enjoyable!
I enjoyed this CD very much and I actually found it while doing a search for the Dolly Sisters soundtrack. I liked the selection and the sound was quite good. For example, Pan American Jubilee sounds horrible on a Carmen Miranda CD I have and on this one it was quite clear even though the version was slightly different. I have found other songs on this CD to be edited versions of what was actually in the films. Powder, Lipstick and Rouge had the main part edited on this CD. There is no "Mascara", "Rosey Rouge" etc verses in this version which I thought was the best part of that number. That was disappointing, but overall, I like this set very much and still give it 5 stars.

Reviews (3)

Alice lives on
To fully appreciate Alice Faye you have to watch her in her greatest movies. As a song and dance performer in the late 30s and early 40s she was the best of them all, as she proved in her great renditions of You'll Never Know, No Love No Nothin' and America I Love You. This is the largest collection of the songs she sang in the movies that this reviewer knows of. A great rememberance CD.

Music by a brilliant Hollywood singer-actress
Alice was an extremely successful actress in the thirties and forties, starring in several musicals. She was also a brilliant singer, who could sing any type of song.

Unfortunately for us, the terms of her contract prevented her from recording any outside songs. All the recordings on this CD are from her musical soundtracks, although Alice did record studio versions of some of her songs from the musicals - they can be found on the ASV compilation You'll never know. So, although many of the songs on the ASV compilation are included here, you may still want both.

Because these are soundtrack recordings, some tracks have things going on which can be a distraction, but it's not as serious as it might be - indeed, on most tracks, you won't hear much, if anything, apart from Alice's lovely voice and the backing music.

It is hard to pick out highlights from 62 wonderful tracks, but some songs worthy of note are The Sheik of Araby (which also featured her friend Betty Grable - they were portrayed as deadly rivals, but they got on really well), America I love you (as relevant now as it was then), You'll never know (the song for which Alice is best remembered), ..... I could list many more, but whether Alice is singing a tender love song, or an uptempo foot-tapper, her performance is flawless.

I just wonder what Alice might have accomplished as a singer if she had been allowed to record outside songs. We will never know, but even with all the contractual restrictions, Alice's music is impressive.

Got My Mind on Music : Alice Faye
I love the music and the voice of the late Alice Faye.I Love all her songs, But, I, ordered THIS album for just one song.. the name of the song on album 2 of the set titled:

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (4)

Exellent
O'Connell was one of the finest swing singers from the 1940's era, and was without a doubbt Jimmy Dorsey's best girl singer.The music here is pretty hard to dislike, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra is on every track, and you get Dorsey's hot sax solos.O'Connell often sort of used her charm and looks to communicate to audiences, but that charm comes right thru the 78's, and onto this well remstered cd!

O'Connell pretty much brought Dorsey to the publics eye, with Amapola, Green Eyes, and When The Sun Comes Out.Square jaw singer Eberly would croon the 1st part(for slow dancers), then you'd hear a brief solo from Dorsey, and then Helen would sing hot, for the jitterbugs, and lindy hoppers!

And Helen was a "Hot" singer, who puts pizazz, and swing into every songs she sings.She sounds especailly great on Six Lessons From Madame Lazonga and Arthur Murray Tought Me Dancing in A Hurry.She also was a more then able jazz singer as one can hear on All Of Me, When The Sun Comes Out, and One Sweet Letter From You(particlarly showing what an effective torch singer she was).

A perfectly done cd, that leaves off a few of her hits with Eberly & Dorsey, but no USA record label has bothered(only a mail order Good Music Co., put out a better collection, but good luck finding that!).

Buy it, you'll love it!

Disappointing
I have to disagree with the previous reviewers. Although I'm a fan of 30s-40s swing, and particularly of female vocalists of the period, I found O'Connell mediocre compared to her contemporaries. Part of it is her style, which is pedestrian at best; and when she tries to imitate Billie Holiday I can only groan. There is no comparison. Worse, a good portion of this disc contains those awful, insipid novelty songs that became so popular in the 40s - "Boog it," "I Bought a Wooden Whistle," "Six Lessons from Madame la Zonga," "Little Curly Hair in a High Chair," "Bad Humor Man," "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry," etc. Yuck! CD quality is overall good, but that's about all I can say.

Reviews (2)

Excellent singer in peak form
Kate first recorded for Columbia from 1927 to 1933, but all these recordings were laid down between 1940 and 1946. She topped the American pop chart in 1931 with a lovely song titled When the moon comes over the mountain and had a minor hit around the turn of 1933-34 with Shine on harvest moon. Re-recordings of those songs are included here. Sadly, River stay `way from my door, a song that gave Kate a 1932 number one after she recorded with Guy Lombardo, is not here - perhaps Kate didn't re-record that song. The original can be found on a Guy Lombardo CD - The band plays on 25 number one hits.

Kate had several new hits in the forties, so it is the original versions of those that are on this collection. These are The last time I saw Paris, The woodpecker song (Reginella Campagnola), I'm stepping out with a memory tonight, Rose O'Day (The filla-ga-dusha song), (There'll be bluebirds over) the white cliffs of Dover, How do I know its real?, I threw a kiss in the ocean, Don't fence me in (a top ten hit despite the song having already been a monster hit for Bing Crosby and the Andrews sisters), There goes that song again, And there you are and Seems like old times.

So, all the Columbia hits of the forties and a couple of re-recordings of her earlier hits are included, but there's more - 25 tracks altogether. Such is the quality of the music, sung beautifully by Kate in her clear soprano, that you can't tell which were the hits and which weren't.

This is, perhaps, the strongest collection of Kate's music available, but it only looks at part of her career - so if you haven't got any of her music, this is a good place to start. Once you've heard it, you will surely want more, especially as the song for which she is most famous (God bless America) is not here.

Reviews (3)

Excellent singer actress from a bygone age
Although Mary took a long time to make her breakthrough, she eventually had a long and successful career as singer and actress. This particular compilation focuses on the early part of her career.

The set opens with My heart belongs to Daddy, her breakthrough song - it made the top ten in the American pop charts. Her biggest hit, I'll walk alone, is also included. Bing Crosby and Jack Teagarden join Mary to sing about The Waiter, the porter and the upstairs maid. Bing also duets with Mary on Wait till the sun shines Nellie.

There are many other excellent recordings here, some taken from the shows in which Mary performed. The booklet provides a great overview of Mary's career but says little about the actual recordings on this CD. Nevertheless, it's the music that counts and this collection proves that Mary was one of the finest singer actresses of her time, along with Judy Garland and Ethel Merman.

Our Heart Belongs to Mary...forever
Being a lifelong Mary Martin fan, perhaps I am a bit too forgiving, but this album is truly a gem.Although some of the recordings suffer somewhat from low-tech "bugs", Mary's spirit and talent shine through each number.For those old enough to have remembered her as a force on Broadway and early TV, this is a bonanza.Her duets with legendary Bing Crosby are a delight and will evoke wonerful memories of these late unique talents.Being a Texan myself, I always felt that Mary was 'one of ours" but with this retrospective of her vocal talent, I believe she was truly "one of all of us" I don't know if they make them like this anymore and we are poorer for it. Treat yourself to this album nd enjoy!

Reviews (1)

You Will Never Forget The "Feel" of Her Voice
Get this CD. Here she is: the great Lee Wiley, who sings with such feeling and that exquisite breathy, earthy sound to her voice, that the jazz numbers she sings come to life and so does she.It is to hercredit that she sang with the jazz greats such as Eddie Condon' s groupsand it brought out the best in her deep feeling and understanding of themoods.Most jazz historians know that she began singing at 15 withReisman's band on cut No.1.Here, the writer of the liner notes chosesright off the bat to start his hatchet job by saying; "he knows"she was born in 1908 and not 1915. Who cares? Aren't we talking aboutmusic? Or is he? (Here comes a "no" vote from him probably, justas on my other review of her first CD.) As if getting ready to write abook, the writer goes on to take cheap shots at her throughout the linernotes, pretending to show such praise for her wonderful singing. Hergreatest moments come from her singing with Eddie Condon's groups (whichwas a collection of the greatest jazz musicians of the day), on tracks 7,8, 9, 22, and 23. The writer, obviously not a jazz devotee, disagrees.Andhe blames her spendthrift ways (as if the writer would know) for ruiningJess Stacy's band and her marriage to Jess Stacy.And later he refers toher as the "old warhorse" on tracks 17-20 in 1954.Her CherokeeIndian background would groan at that remark.

Critics know thatpianist Jess Stacy's band (which the writer says Wiley talked him intosetting up) was not great. You can hear it on tracks 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24and 25. That band was an insipid, "elevator music" group, with nojazz instincts. Listen to the tracks mentioned. Wiley would never haveinspired the formation of such a group. But she loved the guy and did thebest she could.Only Wiley's majestic effort pulls the Stacy band throughon those tracks.And note that Stacy had played piano with Eddie Condon'sgroup, (or didn't the writer know? ) and did so beautifully behind Wiley onthose numbers. With his own band it sounds like Stacy is playing with onefinger. Tracks 1,2,3,7,8,9,22 and 23 are the ones you will never forget.Get the CD and set up those tracks.

Asin: B00000I0YZ
Sales Rank: 280985
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Classic Female Blues    3. Jump Blues    4. Piedmont Blues    5. Prewar Country Blues    6. Swing    7. Vocal Jazz   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (2)

Combination of great standards and fine singing
Although I understand those who appreciate the songs Ms Stafford made popular in the fifties, it is her singing of the great standards that I find immensely appealing - it is this combination that provides the reason this 4CD set is well worth the investment.
In the forties, the "cool" style of female singing reached its apex I believe, along with the domination of the strong female roles in cinema often in FILM NOIR.Such singers as Ms Christy andMs O'Day kept a distance from the material, even adopting an ironic stance to the lyrics. This "distancing" had its own appeal, and its own sexiness, as we knew that she knew that we knew it's just a song. Although, Ms Stafford is not a stylist of the same level as either of those two singers, she too maintains a distance but has also a "sweeter" voice tinged with a touch of melancholy.But in such songs as AMOR, AMOR and THE TROLLEY SONG
the songs seem written for her.With so many great songs, this collection is a bargain.

Reviews (1)

A fine sample of Peggy's music from 1946 to 1949
This is not a greatest hits (it omits Manana, Peggy's #1 from 1948, and several other hits from the period) but there are other compilations which cover them. There are hits here (including Golden earrings and Riders in the sky, both #2 hits) but all the tracks here (according to the liner notes) were issued as singles, although the first six tracks were originally released as an 'album' of three 78 rpm singles, collectively titled Peggy Lee Rendezvous (giving it's name to this CD).

This is a real treasure trove. Such is the consistent high quality that you couldn't tell from listening to the CD which were hits and which were not, but who cares? You can hear Peggy's outstanding renditions of many classic songs and many obscure songs. Just listen to Peggy's laid-back version of Swing low sweet chariot - I nearly didn't recognise it !!!!

If you are familiar with Peggy's music of the late 1940's, this will provide you with a selection of (mostly) less obvious material recorded to the same high standard. If you are just getting into Peggy's music from this period, there are many compilations to choose from - and more seem to be appearing all the time.

Reviews (4)

First of two sensational Dinah hits collections
Dinah may now be remembered more as a TV star, but she was one of the most successful female pop singers of the 1940's. This collection and it's companion volume, 16 greatest hits Encore!, contain all the essential hits that Dinah recorded for Columbia from 1946 to 1950. Some lesser hits have been omitted to allow the inclusion of some high quality recordings (like Willow weep for me) that were not hits - perhaps they were B-sides.

Dinah's biggest hit, the lightweight but brilliant Buttons and bows (#1 for ten weeks), opens this collection, which includes the major hits Shoo fly pie and apple pan dowdy (#6), The gypsy (#1), Doin' what comes naturally (#3), Dear hearts and gentle people (#2) and Baby it's cold outside (with Buddy Clark) (#4). Some of these songs faced stiff competition from other versions of the same song and it wasn't always Dinah's version that charted highest, but Dinah's versions are all of a high quality.

The 1940's were a particularly strong decade for female singers, but Dinah was certainly among the best of them. This CD and it's companion provide a wonderful introduction to her music.

Great stuff!
An excellent album, 16 beautiful songs sung only the way Dinah can sing them. And digitally remastered to boot! These were the songs I practically grew up with. My grandparents and parents had a few records and always watched any telly shows that featured her during the late 60's through 70's. Although during the 70's I would never admit to liking these songs...kids can be so silly at times. But I grew up, and learned to appreciate this music, love it even. I was familiar with a lot of these songs before I bought this album, and a lot of them bring back pleasant memories. Recommended!

Reviews (1)

Second of two sensational Dinah hit collections
Dinah was one of the most successful female pop singers of the 1940's, though she could also sing jazz when she was allowed to. This collection and it's companion volume, 16 greatest hits, contain all the essential hits that Dinah recorded for Columbia from 1946 to 1950.

This collection includes the major hits Laughing on the outside crying on the inside (#3), You keep coming back like a song (#5), I love you for sentimental reasons (#2), Anniversary song (#1), You do (#4) and I wish I didn't love you so (#2). Some of these songs faced stiff competition from other versions of the same song and it wasn't always Dinah's version that charted highest, but Dinah's versions are all of a high quality. Another of Dinah's hits included here, Far away places, stalled at 14, partly because Dinah's version came too late to compete with Maggie Whiting, Bing Crosby and Perry Como, all of whom hit the charts earlier. Perhaps Dinah only recorded the song after hearing it on the radio - if so, she did well to chart at all.

Reviews (10)

Upbeat, fun music with class and style
Bing and the Andrews sisters made such great music together and all of it is collected together on this double CD. There are also a few out-takes (they call them blow-ups on the track listing, and they appear near the end of CD 2) and they provide further proof of just how much FUN Bing and the ladies had recording this music.

The official recordings are presented in chronological order, beginning with Ciribiribin and Yodelin' jive, which provided them with a double-sided hit in 1939 and 1940, up to and beyond their last hit (Sparrow in the tree top, a top ten hit from 1951). In between, you get all the classics, including two number ones (A hot time in the town of Berlin and the often-covered Don't fence me in).

The music is happy, upbeat, swinging, good-time music of the type you expect from the Andrews sisters. If you want the slow, romantic stuff, look elsewhere (including Bing's solo recordings).

The sisters really had only one way of singing, and they were better than anybody else at their type of music. Their contribution to popular music remains unique to this day, and I find their music very addictive. They will always have a special place in my CD collection.

Bing was more versatile. He could sing all types of song, but he just fitted in with the sisters when he sang with them. What he added to their music was a certain gravitas, and the combination made for some of the best - and most enjoyable - music ever recorded.

The BEST of both worlds
When I listened to this CD, I was like a child at Christmas.I could not wait to hear the next song!I happened to be in the Air Force at the time, and I knew that my Grandmother had always liked them.So I bought this CD and I was blown over. This CD has everything. And the harmony is legendary, (they ARE the Andrews Sisters, after all!).From the Christmas classics of "Jingle Bells" to "(There's a Hot Time) in the town of Berlin", I know that anyone who wants to hear the core of wartime music on the civilian side should have this CD in their collection!

Features

• Import

Reviews (1)

Features

• Box set

Reviews (5)

Better appreciated now than in her lifetime
Nobody sings the blues quite like Billie Holiday. This boxed set represents the best value for money, not only for the quantity of music and the extensive liner notes, but also for the sound quality and the fact that this contains music recorded for several different record labels (Brunswick, Vocalion, Commodore, Okeh, Columbia, Capitol, Decca) between 1935 and 1949. Billie continued to record great music in the fifties (for Verve, Clef and Norgran) but that music is not represented here.

Billie had plenty of hits on the American pop charts between 1935 and 1938 (when she was with Teddy Wilson), after which she had just four more hits, none of them reaching the top ten. However, the passage of time has added substantially to her credibility as many blues, jazz and R+B singers cite Billie as one of their influences. Her first hit was What a little moonlight can do, a song I first came across via a Crystal Gayle cover. I didn't realize the song's origin at the time but I've heard several versions since. I love them all but Billie's is the definitive version.

Billie's other classic hits included here are These foolish things, A fine romance, The way you look tonight, I can't give you anything but love, I've got my love to keep you warm, This year's kisses, Carelessly (her only number one hit), How could you, Moaning low. Mean to me, Easy living, Me myself and I, Sailboat in the moonlight, Nice work if you can get it, My man, You go to my head, I'm gonna lock my heart, Strange fruit, God bless the child and Trav'lin' light. Some big hits are omitted including Twenty-four hours a day, Who loves you and Pennies from heaven, but I'm not complaining. Some of the songs that Billie is best remembered for didn't chart at all.

Although the hits became rare after 1938, this was not due to the quality of the music. Listen to Billie's versions of such classic standards as I gotta right to sing the blues, Night and day, Body and soul, Let's do it, All of me, Love me or leave me, It's a sin to tell a lie, As time goes by and You're my thrill (to name a few). And, of course, there's the classic That old devil called love, revived by Alison Moyet in the eighties, when it became a UK number two hit for Alison.

If you only buy one collection of Billie's music, make it this one. You might begin by asking yourself if you really want five hours worth of Billie's music - but eventually, you are likely to ask yourself if it's enough.

Another Outstanding Product from the Proper Label
Great sound quality, packaging, liner notes and booklet. 4 discs, 99 songs, 21 bucks. Huh?What's the catch?

The best part is - there isn't any.Just another great product from the British label, Proper - which seems to appreciate great American music even more than Americans do.

Most, if not every, Holliday song on every label - Decca, Commodore, Columbia - released between 1935 to 1949. Now you've got the early to mid (and in many people's minds, the best) recording eras of Holliday covered.

It sure beats any other "best of" out there. Why save $6 to get one disc with 10 to 20 songs. (And unlike the Ken Burns collection, the songs on this box set sound great).

Buy it as an introduction to Lady Day. Keep it as a collector.