BARBARA LEA — Lea in Love (1957-1990) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Singer Barbara Lea often recalls her idol and friend Lee Wiley on this set of love songs. The backup is uniformly tasteful but changes from song to song with such impressive stylists as trumpeter Johnny Windhurst, baritonist Ernie Caceres, Garvin Bushell (on oboe and bassoon), Dick Cary (the arranger on piano and alto horn), guitarist Jimmy Raney and (on a beautiful version of "True Love") harpist Adele Girard making memorable appearances. Lea's straightforward and heartfelt delivery is heard at its best on such songs as "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Mountain Greenery," "More than You Know" and "Autumn Leaves" (which is partly taken in French). These interpretations are often touching. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Will I Find My Love Today?  3:45
 Sean Fogarty / Sidney Shaw 
2.    We Could Make Such Beautiful Music Together    2:00
 Henry Manners / Robert Sour 
3.    You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To    3:18
 Cole Porter 
4.    Am I In Love?    2:00
Howard Ryan, Ronald Barrett 
5.    The Very Thought Of You    3:05
 Ray Noble 
6.    I've Got My Eyes On You    2:12
 Cole Porter 
7.    True Love    2:53
 Cole Porter 
8.    Mountain Greenery    2:18
 Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers 
9.    More Than You Know    4:36
 Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans 
10.    Ain't Misbehavin'    2:40
 Harry Brooks / Andy Razaf / Fats Waller 
11.    Autumn Leaves    3:17
 Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert 
12.    Sleep Peaceful, Mr. Used-To-Be    3:18
 Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer 
Credits:
Bass – Al Hall, Beverly Peer
Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone – Ernie Caceres
Drums – Osie Johnson
Guitar – Al Casamenti, Jimmy Raney
Harp – Adele Girard
Oboe, Bassoon – Garvin Bushell
Piano – Jimmy Lyon 
Piano, Alto Horn, Arranged By – Dick Cary
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Trumpet – Johnny Windhurst
Vocals – Barbara Lea 

BARBARA LEA — Barbara Lea With The Johnny Windhurst Quintets (1957-1991) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Singer Barbara Lea's second album is pretty definitive of her early years. Lea is joined by the great (but ill fated and largely forgotten) trumpeter Johnny Windhurst, Dick Cary on either piano or alto horn, sometimes pianist Richard Lowman, guitarist Al Casamenti, bassist Al Hall, and drummer Osie Johnson. Originally a dozen selections, the CD reissue adds an alternate take and an additional title. Lea remains true to the lyrics yet uplifts the material, while the rhythm section swings lightly. Among the many highlights are "Nobody Else but You," "I'm Comin' Virginia," "My Honey's Lovin' Arms," and "Baltimore Oriole." Delightful music by a singer who deserves to be celebrated. Scott Yanow
Tracklist : 
1 Nobody Else But Me 3:13 
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
2 Where Have You Been? 3:31
Cole Porter
3 I'm Coming Virginia 3:22 
Will Marion Cook / Donald Heywood
4 Honey in the Honeycomb 2:47 
Vernon Duke / John Latouche
5 Thrusday's Child 2:26 
Lee Holdridge
 6 I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams 1:21 
James V. Monaco
 7 My Honey's Lovin' Arms 2:46 
Joseph Meyer / Herman Ruby
 8 I Had Myself a True Love 3:45 
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
 9 Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You 3:08 
Andy Razaf / Don Redman
 10 I Feel at Home with You 2:34 
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
11 Baltimore Oriole 3:52 
Hoagy Carmichael / Paul Francis Webster
12 Blue Skies 3:07 
Irving Berlin
 13 I Feel at Home with You 2:46 
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
 14 Straw Hat Full of Lilacs 2:46
Credits :
Bass – Al Hall (tracks: 1 to 13)
Drums – Osie Johnson (tracks: 1 to 13)
Engineer [Recording Engineer] – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Al Casamenti (tracks: 2 to 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13)
Harp – Unknown Artist (tracks: 14)
Horn [Alto Horn] – Dick Cary (tracks: 1, 7, 8, 11, 12)
Piano – Dick Cary (tracks: 2 to 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13), Richard Lowman (tracks: 1, 5, 8, 11)
Trumpet, Leader – Johnny Windhurst (tracks: 1 to 8, 9 to13)
Vocals – Barbara Lea

BARBARA LEA — The Evil is Afraid of Music (1977-1997) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Willard Robison was one of the more underrated songwriters, whose wistful melodies, unexpected chord changes, and nostalgic lyrics (which often yearned for a earlier simpler time) were actually quite charming. On this CD reissue, singer Barbara Lea is joined by a rhythm section headed by pianist Loonis McGlohon in 1976 (clarinetist Bob Mitchell sits in on one song), and on five equally rewarding numbers recorded in 1992 with pianist Dick Cary, guitarist Dave Koonse, and bassist Putter Smith. (The latter were recorded so as to bolster the playing time of the CD.) Lea, whose basic and lightly swinging style perfectly fits this music, performs such numbers as "Think Well of Me," "Guess I'll Go Back Home," "Deep Elm," "A Woman Alone with the Blues," and Robison's three best-known songs: "A Cottage for Sale," "'Tain't So, Honey, 'Tain't So," and "Old Folks." A perfect project. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. The Devil Is Afraid Of Music 1:46
2. Don't Smoke In Bed 2:38
3. Deep Summer 2:33
4. Think Well Of Me 3:10
5. Born To The Bayou 4:30
6. Run To The Roundhouse, Nellie 2:56
7. Guess I'll Go Back Home (This Summer) 3:16
8. Lonely Acres 2:47
9. Deep Elm, You Tell 'Em I'm Blue 4:51
10. Peaceful Valley 1:48
11. A Woman Alone With The Blues 3:49
12. A Cottage For Sale 3:17
13. 'Tain't So, Honey, 'Tain't So 2:32
14. Old Folks 3:17
15. Little High Chairman 3:28
16. My Egotism Is Hurtin' Me 2:34
17. 'Round My Old Deserted Farm 2:39
18. The Devil Is Afraid Of Music 1:53
Credits :
Arranged By – Dick Cary (tracks: 2-6), Loonis McGlohon (tracks: 1, 7-18)
Bass – Mel Alexander (tracks: 1, 7-18), Putter Smith (tracks: 2-6)
Clarinet – Bob Mitchell (tracks: 9)
Drums – Tony Cooper (tracks: 1, 7-18)
Guitar – Dave Koonse (tracks: 2-6)
Piano – Dick Cary (tracks: 2-6), Loonis McGlohon (tracks: 1, 7-18)
Vocals – Barbara Lea (tracks: 1-18)

BARBARA LEA — Remembering Remembering Lee Wiley (1978-1996) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Lee Wiley has long been one of Barbara Lea's idols, so her tribute to the swing-era singer is heartfelt and full of sympathy. Lea recorded 11 songs in 1976 and three in 1977 using a trio led by pianist Loonis McGlohon, with guest spots for clarinetist Bob Mitchell. When the music was being made ready for its CD reissue in 1995, Lea got together with McGlohon and a different rhythm section (plus Randy Reinhart on trumpet and trombone) to cut eight more songs. Although Lea lacks Wiley's quiet intensity and understated sensuality, she does an excellent job throughout the ballad-oriented set; highlights include "I Left My Sugar Standing in the Rain," "Time On My Hands," "Down to Steamboat Tennessee," "Sugar" and "Wherever There's Love." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 I Left My Sugar Standing in the Rain 4:45
Sammy Fain
2 Soft Lights and Sweet Music 2:56
Irving Berlin
3 Time on My Hands 5:08
Harold Adamson / Mack Gordon / Vincent Youmans
4 Easy to Love 3:57
Cole Porter
5 This Is New 3:54
Ira Gershwin / Kurt Weill
6 I'll Follow My Secret Heart 2:05
Noël Coward
7 Chicken Today and Feathers Tomorrow 4:27
Johnny Marks
8 Oh! Loot at Me Now! 3:34
Joe Bushkin
9 Down to Steamboat, Tennessee 3:19
Willard Robison / Jess Stacy / Lee Wiley
10 Someone to Watch over Me 3:21
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
11 Sugar 3:16
Edna Alexander / Maceo Pinkard 
12 A Ship Without a Sail 2:59
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
13 Let's Fall in Love 2:29
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
14 Fun to Be Fooled 3:53
Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
15 Supper Time 3:33
Irving Berlin
16 Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere 1:08
Ned Washington / Lee Wiley / Victor Young
17 Who Can I Turn To? 3:24
William Engvick / Alec Wilder
18 I've Got the World on a String 2:52
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
19 Wherever There's Love 2:25
Eddie Condon
20 Fools Fall in Love 3:06
Irving Berlin
21 I've Got a Crush on You 2:22
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
22 Basin Street Blues 3:36
Spencer Williams
Credits
 Bob Mitchell - Clarinet
Loonis McGlohon - Piano
Randy Reinhart - Trumpet, Trombone
Barbara Lea - Vocals
Tony Cooper - Drums
Jay Leonhart, Mel Alexander, Terry Lassiter - Bass