The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury vol. 6 (1958-1960) [Box set]

Dinah Washington | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Original Release Date: 1958
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Mercury Records
• ASIN: B00000479F
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,589 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #80 in Music > Blues > Vocal Blues

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Collection But Pales to Previous Sets, February 2, 2001

By 

Peter (East of Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury vol. 6 (1958-1960) (Audio CD)

Dinah Washington's 7 box sets on Mercury are lovingly restored and compiled, producing a vast and memorable collection of blues, jazz and pop singing of the highest order. Interesting aspect of these box sets is that they're all so different from another as Dinah's style and choice of songs changed over the years. This set captures Dinah nearing the end of her spectacular run at Mercury. The collection of songs on this set is very good, most of it due to the soulful delivery of Ms. Washington. It's only taken into context when set alongside the previous 5 box sets that it starts to pale in comparison.

The problem lies in the choice of arrangements; it's too uniform and lacks the diversity of her previous box sets. The one instrument that keeps coming to mind after listening to this extensive set is violins, violins, and more violins. Some tracks are so overly-saturated with violins that you feel the songs were stuck in syrupy goo. The jazz combo/trio backup to some of Dinah's most memorable earlier hits are missing. With 73 tracks listed, you get the feeling not even at the half way mark, the attack of the violins starts to hit you. Dinah's singing itself remains soulful, urgent and mesmerizing as ever, but unfortunately, the arrangements do her in. Still, there are several hits and outstanding tracks that are not to be denied---her most recognizable recording, "What A Difference A Day Makes", is here along with her other R&B hits, "This Bitter Earth", "Unforgettable" (yes, that Nat King Cole song, but done Dinah's way). One of my favorites is the song later made famous by Nancy Wilson, "Don't Go to Strangers". You can feel the pain and heartache in each of the words phrased wonderfully by Dinah. For some who like their songs piled high with violins/strings, then you would definitely enjoy this box set.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Great Voices of the 20th Century & Her Best Jazz Ballads ..., September 15, 2006

By 

KC "metroxing" (Northern CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury vol. 6 (1958-1960) (Audio CD)

One of the great singers of the 20th century. This series is definitely COMPLETE with excellent sound quality considering many of these tracks are over 40-60 years old.

It's a bit over-whelming with casual fans as each disc in the series has up to 70 tracks ... but she never phones any performance and offers her unique interpretation on each track, you'll find something to like in everything but they are slightly different.

VOLUME 4: Offers Dinah Washington more bluesy and jazz swing vocals.

VOLUME 5: More mainstream swing, some brilliant torch tracks and the beginning her ballads period.

VOLUME 6: Her ballads period including her standards-setting interpretation of MANHATTEN and WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES (of course, I could list another 20 :-)

VOLUME 7: A new phase in her career where they seem to add a lot of strings and backup singers but not necessarily making her recordings better. Of the recordings on these discs, some are remade with more strings and backup singers - softening them and making them a little more pop and a little less jazz. Whether you consider that an improvement or not is your call.

Personally, I believe Dinah Washington;'s strength are doing sparse ballads - her voice range, timber and her performances somewhere between Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald ... she's not quite as haunted as Billie Holliday but without the range of Ella.

My personal favorite is Volume 6 with its mostly ballads and her standard setting vocals.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!!!!!!!!!The Queen Lives On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, September 13, 2005

By 

Renoir Curry "Grand Duke of Song" (Bahamas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury vol. 6 (1958-1960) (Audio CD)

Dinah Washington is indeed the undispuited QUEEN OF THE BLUES!!!!!!!!!!! such emotion she is the Real thing!!!!!!!!!!!! OTHERS MIGHT BE ABLE TO FAKE IT GOOD BUT DINAH SHE IS THE BLUES !!!!!ALL HAIL THE QUEEN. on the song Habour Lights in dis3 WOW!!!!!!! my heart literaly missed a beat what she delivers is just beyond words .special note listen on dis 1 to I Understand now this is some heavy stuff i can feel i mean FEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!! THE emotional pain IN IT . WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!