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 :

TONI ARDEN - This Is Toni Arden [2005] FLAC

Track Listing
1 I Can Dream, Can't I? 3:07
Toni Arden feat: Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra And Chorus
2 Rain 2:58
Eugene Ford
3 Don't Ever Leave Me 2:54
4 It's Love 2:41
5 And You'll Be Home 3:11
6 My Tears Won't Dry 3:12
7 My Man (Mon Homme) 3:07
Jacques Charles / Channing Pollack / Albert Willemetz / Maurice Yvain
8 Too Late Now 3:10
9 Too Young 3:04
10 Dark Is the Night (C'est Fini!) 3:09
11 Wonder Why 3:20
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith
12 Invitation to a Broken Heart 3:28
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith
13 If You Turn Me Down (Dee-Own-Down-Down) 2:30
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith
14 Once 2:56
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith
15 (Ah, The Apple Trees) When the World Was Young 3:27
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith
16 There's Always My Heart 3:05
17 Kiss of Fire 2:30
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith Orchestra
18 I'm Yours 2:27
Robert Mellin
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith & His Orchestra
19 Blow out the Candle 2:21
Toni Arden feat: Jann Arden / Percy Faith
20 Where Did the Night Go? 3:00
Toni Arden feat: Jann Arden / Percy Faith
21 Tell Your Tale, Nightingale 2:51
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith
22 Kiss 2:39
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith
23 F'R Instance 2:20
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith
24 I'm Praying to Saint Christopher 2:58
Toni Arden feat: Norman Luboff Choir
25 Three Coins in the Fountain 3:02
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith & His Orchestra
26 Where the Rolling Mountains Meet the Rolling Sea 2:51
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith
27 In Paris and in Love 3:02
Toni Arden feat: Percy Faith

TONI ARDEN - This Is Toni Arden 

[2005] Sepia Records / FLAC / scans

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