BLOSSOM DEARIE - Whisper for You (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

An odd Japanese collection, Whisper for You reissues one of the New York cabaret singer's rarer sessions, 1970's That's Just the Way I Want to Be, and adds nine songs from her 1958 Verve LP Give Him the Ooh-La-La. Though the schmaltzy title and cover (featuring a sleepy kitten) may deter vocal fans, anyone wanting to hear one of her only post-'60s records available on CD would do well to search this one out. Blossom Dearie adapted pretty well to the changing times, stretching out on atmospheric songs that sound familiar to any fans of singer/songwriter or folk-rock forms. The title-track opener of That's Just the Way I Want to Be is a good start, her own composition (one of nine here, most of them collaborations) and one that nicely illustrates her outsider status -- a plus, as far as rock audiences were concerned. Brian Gascoigne's floating arrangement makes good use of vibes and flute, and his charts wisely stay out of the way, except on one dated arrangement for Dearie's "Long Daddy Green" (it has the same muddy sound as the spots for Schoolhouse Rock, which Dearie contributed to). Elsewhere, Dearie finds common ground with Joni Mitchell ("Both Sides Now"), and also sings tributes to (presumably) her favorites among British rock singers, "Sweet Georgie Fame" and "Dusty Springfield" (both probably owed small debts to her as well). The nine tracks tacked onto the end, from her Verve date Give Him the Ooh-La-La, far outshine any from the later session, including "Just One of Those Things" and "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea." by John Bush  
Tracklist:
1 That's Just the Way I Want to Be 3:44
Jim Council / Blossom Dearie
2 Long Daddy Green 3:20
Blossom Dearie / Dave Frishberg
3 Sweet Surprise 3:15
Jim Council / Blossom Dearie
4 Hey John 3:29
Jim Council / Blossom Dearie
5 Sweet Georgie Fame 3:22
Blossom Dearie / Sandra Harris
6 Both Sides Now 3:17
Joni Mitchell
7 Dusty Springfield 1:52
Jim Council / Blossom Dearie / Norma Tanega
8 Will There Really Be a Morning 3:04
Emily Dickinson
9 I Know the Moon 3:24
Jim Council / Blossom Dearie
10 Inside a Silent Tear 2:12
Blossom Dearie / A. King
11 Yesterday, When I Was Young 5:07
Charles Aznavour / Herbert Kretzmer
12 I Like London in the Rain 2:40
Jim Council / Blossom Dearie
13 Just One of Those Things 2:02
Cole Porter
14 Like Someone in Love 4:32
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
15 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 2:28
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
16 Try Your Wings 3:25
17 The Riviera 3:48
Cy Coleman / Joseph McCarthy
18 The Middle of Love 2:35
19 Plus Je T'Embrasse 2:31
Ben Ryan
20 Give Him the Ooh-La-La 2:41
Cole Porter
21 I Walk a Little Faster 4:14
Cy Coleman / Carolyn Leigh
Note:
1-12 taken from the album "That's Just The Way I Want To Be"
13-21 taken from the album "Give Him The ooh-La-La"