Essential - Great Songs

Dinah Washington | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 3, 1992)
• Original Release Date: November 3, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B000001DWK
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,707 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dinah Does It All, December 5, 2000

By 

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

This review is from: Essential - Great Songs (Audio CD)

After listening to this CD and reading about Dinah Washington's infamous big ego, I think to myself if that woman was conceited, then so what? That's a small price to pay for such a big talent. This CD collection is FABULOUS! I'm continuously boggled by what a versatile artist she was and this CD is a stunner! It shows off every facet of Dinah talent---big bands, orchestras, string ensembles, jazz trios, studio cuts and live concerts---Dinah does it all. All her big jazz and pop dates are captured here with her equally talented sidemen. Verve did a great job picking out the spectacular sides from her vast catalog (there's no way ONE CD can do Dinah justice). Contrary to what some listeners said, I think the recordings are remastered clearly, there's no evidence of hisses here. And Dinah is not a forgotten woman. Her many fans still hold her dearly in their hearts and cherish her recordings. No wonder Broadway did a show based on her life!

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Title Is Accurate: This Really Is An Essential!, June 1, 2002

By 

Gary F. Taylor "GFT" (Biloxi, MS USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essential - Great Songs (Audio CD)

Reknowned for a straight-forward, powerhouse voice and a knock-out stage presence, Dinah Washington is one of the great vocalists of the 20th Century--but is today little known outside the circle of serious jazz fans. This is a great pity, for the lady was a remarkable talent, as this Verve release makes abundantly clear.

Washington had a rather limited range, but like Billie Holiday she carefully sculpted her voice to maximum effect--and her instrument is a knock-you-flat one, with many of her vocals relying on her ability to strike and hold a high, intensely voiced tone. But if Washington's vocal range was limited, her material was not: she is as at home with hard jazz and blues as she is with sleek orchestral arrangements and throw-away numbers, and this collection presents examples of it all: from the funky jazz of "I've Got You Under My Skin," in which she offers a completely unexpected interpretation of the Cole Porter classic, to the more orchestrial scored "Blue Gardenia," a personal favorite, these cuts are winners all the way.

If you've heard about Dinah Washington but never actually encountered her music, this compilation is a perfect place to start. But be forewarned: the lady's music is addictive, and once you begin to explore it you're likely to leap feet first into every available recording. For once, the title THE ESSENTIALS is dead-on accurate; strongly recommended.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Somebody Do A Movie On This Woman..., February 10, 2004

By 

K. J. Bryant "peachycream" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essential - Great Songs (Audio CD)

...maybe it will wake my generation up to respect this woman. Her music and life is truly a discovery of wonder, love, comedy, and heartaches. If you thought Whitney's life is a mess, you need to research Dinah's. At least Dinah had fun, right? The one thing I can say about Dinah is that all her trials, happiness and misfortunate she always put them into her songs. This woman was not shy about being real when it came to her music and it didn't matter whether it was pop, jazz, blues or r&b. And unlike Whitney and today's singers, she was a TRUE professional singer. She never allowed her personal problems to affect her music. I wish somebody will do a movie about her life and get Jill Scott to play her. Until then, I will continue to listen to this woman's amazing music and dreaming of the day that she gets some respect. If you are new to Dinah, this is the collection you need to start with.