Art Deco Series : Lovely Ladies Of Stage & Screen

Various Artists (Artist), Helen Morgan (Performer), Lee Wiley (Performer), Ethel Waters (Performer), Boswell Sisters (Performer), Billie Holiday (Performer), Jane Froman (Performer), Mary Martin (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 12, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000029GP
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #265,556 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man - Helen Morgan

2. I Must Have That Man! - Adelaide Hall

3. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues - Lee Wiley

4. They Call Me Sister Honky Tonk - Mae West

5. Heat Wave - Ethel Waters

6. Alexander's Ragtime Band - The Boswell Sisters

7. College Rhythm - Lyda Roberti

8. You're the Top - Ethel Merman

9. Shine on Harvest Moon - Ruth Etting

10. I'm in the Mood for Love - Frances Langford

11. You Let Me Down - Kay Thompson

12. More Than You Know - Mildred Bailey

13. Slumming on Park Avenue - Alice Faye

14. Swing High, Swing Low - Dorothy Lamour

15. Easy Living - Billie Holiday

16. The Folks Who Live on the Hill - Maxine Sullivan

17. Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love - Mary Martin

18. You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini) - Martha Raye

19. When the Moon Comes over the Mountain - Kate Smith

20. Boy! What Love Has Done to Me! - Jane Froman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have if you worship the songbirds of the 20's & 30's!, March 20, 2000

By 

Kelley G. Kramer (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art Deco Series : Lovely Ladies Of Stage & Screen (Audio CD)

Gives us a glimpse into the talents of female singers who performed on radio, in film, and in the posh clubs of the era. Liner notes give additional info about each artist. Thank goodness someone had the foresight to save these original recordings!

5.0 out of 5 stars A variety show of the highest order, May 8, 2011

By 

Gary Coffrin (San Jose, California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art Deco Series : Lovely Ladies Of Stage & Screen (Audio CD)

This CD (Lovely Ladies Of Stage & Screen) is a joyful potpourri of prominent performers showcased by well rehearsed and generally immaculately recorded orchestras.

The musical films of this era captured some wonderful music, benefiting from large budgets for arrangements, rehearsal time and studio technology. Since film was a better medium for delivering sound, CDs can sound much better if film is used as a master rather than 78 rpm record masters.

Since movies tried to appeal to the broadest possible audience, pop and commercial considerations were oftentimes more important than jazz content. Only a few songs here could be described as primarily jazz oriented, although most could be described as jazz influenced. Some of the leading ladies of film had earlier made reputations as big band singers: Dorothy Lamour worked with bandleader Herbie Kay; Alice Faye with Rudy Vallée's band. Many more film stars made their mark on Broadway before heading to Hollywood.

This CD has wonderful artists, including some known primarily or exclusively as signers. Since Amazon does not identify performers (May 2011), here are all 20 in order of appearance: Helen Morgan, Adelaide Hall (w/Duke Ellington band), Lee Wiley, Mae West, Ethel Waters, Boswell Sisters, Lyda Roberti, Ethel Merman, Ruth Etting, Frances Langford, Kay Thompson, Mildred Bailey, Alice Faye, Dorothy Lamour, Billie Holiday, Maxine Sullivan, Mary Martin, Martha Raye, Kate Smith, Jane Froman. This is an eclectic conglomeration, and I think the collections would have benefited greatly by adding a song from Annette Hanshaw, who ranks among the very best white jazz singers of the late 1920's to early 1930's.

Some Highlights: Helen Morgan impresses with a superlative voice, Lee Wiley is in peak form, Ethel Merman displays the clarion voice and precise enunciation that made her the singer of choice on Broadway for Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, Billie Holiday delivers the goods with typically excellent accompaniment and Mary Martin wows with superlative vocal equipment. Frances Langford's stagey delivery of lyrics does not hold up well to repeated listenings; Kay Thompson's singing has been better elsewhere (she was vocal coach to Judy Garland and Andy Williams). This is a variety show and you can always use the skip button. ****1/2.

5.0 out of 5 stars A more elegant time....., October 25, 2010

By 

John H. "Funk&Soul" (boston, ma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art Deco Series : Lovely Ladies Of Stage & Screen (Audio CD)

Beautiful, sensitive, funny, sweet & lovely voices of a time past. This is music to treasure.