SARAH VAUGHAN – 1951-1952 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1296 (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Aficionados of Classics' chronological series of compilations may be disheartened by this volume of Sarah Vaughan sides, taken from her early-'50s stint on Columbia. After years of perfection, listeners soon came to expect the best from Classics -- thorough compilations, faithful sound, and dozens of hot sides by some of the best jazz artists of the swing era. Unfortunately, while few female vocalists swung as righteously as Sarah Vaughan, there's no evidence of it here. The compilation includes two dozen sides, from the beginning of 1951 through the very end of 1952, at a time when Columbia was marketing her as a "serious" vocalist, neither jazz fire nor pop novelty but straight, trad balladry. Backed by large, string-filled orchestras (most led by Paul Weston or Percy Faith), Vaughan doesn't shine. Her voice, majestic and filled with drama, should be perfect in this setting, but the gauzy arrangements and often subpar material make a difficult task nearly impossible. Since Vaughan's delivery was usually direct, it was difficult for her to fight poor material and lackluster backing (unlike Billie Holiday, that notoriously excellent singer of bad material). She performs the opener, "Ave Maria," with operatic precision, and exercises her deep, low vibrato on "My Reverie," but shows little interest in anything more than straightforward readings. "Street of Dreams," one of the few songs here that outlasted the '50s, is one of the few bright spots amidst the gloom. John Bush  
Tracklist + Credits :

JO STAFFORD - American Folk Songs (1962-2013) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Jo Stafford was one of the few Swing-era popular singers who was able to communicate the homespun beauty of the American folk idiom. Not surprisingly, since she always brought a Midwestern serenity, even a devotional quality, to just about everything she sang, even the most soaring big-band numbers. In this, she is reminiscent of the great Wagnerian soprano Kirstin Flagstad, who also brought a restrained, serene delivery to highly emotional material. AMERICAN FOLK SONGS, from 1950, benefits from the highly musical, Copland-like arrangments by Stafford's husband and long-time musical partner, Paul Weston. Judy Collins once said that she decided to become a folk singer herself after hearing "Barbara Allen" from this album for the first time. That would be a high recommendation, if nothing else. by Richard Mortifoglio
Tracklist:
1 Shenandoah 3:38
Traditional
2 Black Is the Color 2:58
Traditional

3 Old Joe Clark 1:43

Traditional

4 Wayfaring Stranger 3:02

Traditional

5 Barbara Allen 2:57

Traditional

6 Single Girl 2:14

Traditional

7 Red Rosey Bush 2:56

Traditional

8 I Wonder as I Wander 3:07

Traditional

9 Cripple Creek 1:30

Traditional

10 The Nightingale 3:26

Traditional

11 Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier 2:52

Traditional

12 Sourwood Mountain 1:46

Traditional

Credits:

Conductor – Paul Weston  (tracks: 1-12)

Vocals - Jo Stafford

DINAH SHORE - Columbia and RCA Recordings 1942-1948 [1999] 2CD / FLAC

Vocalion's two-disc The Dinah Shore Collection focuses on the singer's RCA and Columbia period, spanning her most popular years. At first glance, it appears to be an excellent summation, including no less than 50 songs and many great performances. Unfortunately though, the compilers must have assumed that listeners had no need for several of Shore's biggest hits of the era, including "I Walk Alone," "Anniversary Song," and "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons." There's also a troubling four-year gap (1942-1946) that coincides with the World War II recording ban. (In fact, except for the first five songs, the entire set consists of recordings from 1946-1948.) The odd part here is that Victor -- a division of RCA, so no trouble for the compilers from a licensing standpoint -- continued to release material during those years. It begs the question: Why did Vocalion skip almost two dozen Hit Parade entries? Regardless of what's missing, there's still a lot of great material here and it's presented in the best sound ever heard for these recordings -- it's just that The Dinah Shore Collection is obviously tailored to collectors and vocal-music obsessives.  by John Bush   
Track Listing - Disc 1
1 On a Bicycle Built for Two 2:27
2 Manhattan Serenade 3:09
Harold Adamson / Louis Alter
3 You and I 2:42
Meredith Willson
4 Mad About Him, Sad About Him, How Can I Be Glad Without Him Blues 2:35
Dick Charles / Larry Markes
5 You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To 2:56
Cole Porter
6 Shoo-Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy 3:04
Sammy Gallop / Guy Wood
7 Coax Me a Little Bit 3:13
Nat Simon / Charles Tobias
8 Two Silhouettes 3:10
Ray Gilbert / Charles Wolcott
9 The Gypsy 2:58
Billy Reid
10 Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside) 3:09
Ben Raleigh / Bernie Wayne
11 I Got Lost in His Arms 3:19
Irving Berlin
12 That Little Dream Got Nowhere 3:14
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
13 All That Glitters Is Not Gold 3:10
14 Come Rain or Come Shine 2:56
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
15 Doin' What Comes Natur'lly 3:11
Irving Berlin
 16 You Keep Coming Back Like a Song  2:23
Irving Berlin
17 I May Be Wrong (But I Think You're Wonderful) 2:49
Harry Ruskin / Henry Sullivan
18 You, So It's You! 3:08
 19 Who'll Buy My Violets? 2:49
E. Ray Goetz / José Padilla
20 A Rainy Night in Rio 2:42
Leo Robin / Arthur Schwartz
21 You'll Always Be the One I Love 2:50
22 Through a Thousand Dreams 2:58
23 (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons 3:29
William Best / Deek Watson
24 The Kerry Dance 2:25
25 Dixie 2:46
Traditional
Track Listing - Disc 2
1 The Thrill Is Gone 3:26
Lew Brown / Ray Henderson
2 There'll Be Some Changes Made 2:41
Billy Higgins / W. Benton Overstreet
3 Georgia on My Mind 3:23
Hoagy Carmichael / Stuart Gorrell
4 (What Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry? 3:17
Walter Donaldson / Abe Lyman
5 Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man 3:19
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
6 They Didn't Believe Me 3:11
Jerome Kern / Herbert Reynolds
7 Mama, Do I Gotta? 3:01
Manny Curtis / Victor Mizzy
8 When Am I Gonna Kiss You Good Morning? 2:37
Eddie DeLange / Ted Grouya
9 Ask Anyone Who Knows 3:14
Bob Marcus
10 Poppa Don't Preach to Me 3:05
11 Tallahassee 2:53
Frank Loesser
 12 Natch 2:34
Paul Cooper / Matt Dennis
13 Tea for Two 3:19
Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans
14 My Romance 3:18
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
15 It's De-Lovely 2:56
Cole Porter
16 I'm Yours 3:18
Johnny Green / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
17 When a Woman Loves a Man 3:14
Bernie Hanighen / Gordon Jenkins / Johnny Mercer
18 Bill 3:22
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern / P.G. Wodehouse
19 Crying for Joy 3:05
20 In a Little Bookshop 3:20
21 Love That Boy 2:39
22 This Is the Moment 3:13
23 Buttons and Bows 2:03
Ray Evans / Jay Livingston
24 Little White Lies 2:23
Walter Donaldson
25 Always True to You in My Fashion 3:07
Cole Porter
Credits
Dinah Shore Primary Artist, Vocals
Axel Stordahl Conductor
Nathan Vancleave Conductor
Paul Weston Conductor
Harry Zimmerman Conductor

DINAH SHORE - The Dinah Shore Collection : 

Columbia and RCA Recordings 1942-1948 

[1999] Vocalion / 2CD / FLAC /scans

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