Customer Reviews

Four Classic Albums: Anita Sings the Most/The Lady Is a Tramp/An Evening With Anita O'Day/This Is Anita

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This 4-albums-in-two-cds package was one of the best buys in my life...
I got it on UK amazon for the price smaller than the price of ANY of these single albums!

Starting with "Anita sings the most", I can say that it's no wonder that album is often mentioned as one of the best in Anita O'Day's rich and long career; working beautifully with Oscar Peterson classic trio (Herb Ellis-g, Ray Brown-b) plus John Pool on drums, Anita is equally impressive in slower tempos and in her trademark neck-breaking hyper-swinging elloquence...

One of the strength's of this magnificent singer is a strong individuality, ability to make every song a part of her hip and sometimes even sarcastic worldview... Although at first her style might remind you of Ella Fitzgerald, the liberties she takes with tempo and rhythm actually make her closer to Billie Holiday or Betty Carter, the mood she projects with her timbre makes her a distant cousin of Carmen McRae but, make no mistake, she is Anita O'Day, the one and only... With the nifty and versatile fingers of Oscar and the crew behind her, this album shouldn't have gone wrong and I feel it fullfiled its magnificent potential.
The second album "The Lady is a Tramp" is more commercially oriented; with some jazz tracks but also with very straightforward (dull) "Vaya con Dios" and quite insulting "Rock 'N' Blues" (that is, insulting to this jazz fan who couldn't believe to what lowsy use Anita and Roy Eldridge were put). That album (second part of the first CDs) has three arrangers (Ralph Burns and Roy Kral both of whom also play the piano on their respective tracks, and Larry Russell), even more musicians line-ups and no concept; it's quite anti-climactic after "Anita Sings the Most"...

However, the second CD is first class Anita all the way. The first brilliant album "An Evening with Anita O'Day" shows her working beautiful with one compact trio and two equally effective quartets, the format she often excelled in (although in the beginning of her carreer she was best known as an unorthodox big band singer):
- Arnold Ross-p, Barney Kessel-g, Monty Budwig-b, Jackie Mills-dm
- Bud Lavin-p, M. Budwig-b, John Poole-dm
- Jimmie Rowles-p, Tal Farlow-g, Leroy Vinnegar-b, Larry Bunker-dm.
She's magnificent on that album, at times ironic (Anita's Blues), at times creative beyond words ("The Man I love"), at times simply brilliant ("Frankie and Johnny", "I didn't know what time it was", "I cover the waterfront"...)...

The fourth and final album (simply called "Anita"), arranged by Buddy Bregman, presents Anita with only a slightly less swinging, but still nice company, with larger orchestra including nice brass (4 trombones - Milt Bernhart, Lloyd Ulyate,Joe Howard, Si Zentner) and, thankfully, quite unobtrusive and tastily arranged strings, plus Corky Hale on harp...
On this album Paul Smith plays piano and celeste, there are also Barney Kessel-g,Joe Mondragon-b, Alvin Stoller-dm
Starting with Cole Porter's "You're the top" (with slightly updated lyrics), Anita works through some well known songs ("Honeysuckle Rose", "A Nightingal Sang in Berkeley Square"...), giving them lovely, although not always equaly chance taking treatment ....
I've read somewhere that Anita thought Norman Granz was pushing Ella Fitzgerald too much; if it's true (and it seems to be), it's a pitty since she is Ella's equal (if not superior), but some claim that Anita's demanding character and serious drug habit prevented her from getting some gigs that Ella landed and professionally handled...
Nevertheless, Anita has still left us a nice recorded legacy as well and this edition brings us three (out of four) albums that must be near or at the peak of that legacy...

Anita O'Day is another one of those superb vocalists with a very long career who hit incredible peaks of artistry in the 1950's and the four albums represented in this collection recorded between 1952 and 1957 attest to that fact. A couple of Anita's best are here including This is Anita with orchestra conducted by Buddy Bregman and Anita Sings the Most with the Oscar Peterson Quartet.
Most of the songs performed are classics from the Gershwins, Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Harry Warren,Vernon Duke and so many others. The most "commercial" of the albums is The Lady is a Tramp that includes an obvious attempt for crossover pop appeal with a song called Rock 'N' Roll Blues.
The remastering by the UK company Avid Jazz is excellent and the cost is very appealing considering you could shell out $37.00 for the Japanese pressing of This is Anita by itself. You can't go wrong with this wonderful compilation at this price. Delivery for this from the Amazon marketplace seller cdzone uk was incredible. 5 days! Highly recommended!

You are a Sarah Vaughan fan, you love Ella, Peggy Lee gets props, you listen to contemporary singers like Cassandra Wilson and the wonderful Nnenna Freelon. But for whatever reason you never came across an Anita O'Day album. This is your lucky day! At least it was for me - you are about to (re) discover an amazing artist! As it is, I am stunned that I have never heard her music before this. If you have not - or if you have, and want to get more....this is IT!

I'd heard her name over the decades because i am a jazz enthusiast . When the documentary came out a couple , several years ago , i really wanted to see it . I finally did , thanks to my exclusive club called " " . I was not really knocked out by that docu . I was ignorant . No longer . Because i got this set , i am no longer as ignorant . That's a start . Man , (or woman) you've got to get your hands on this awesome gold . To my ear , it's instantly one of my favorite collections ever . If inclined , check it out . It's well into that place we know as "wonder" . Killin' and swingin' and so on . Apply your own adjectives . But do apply . Six enormous stars .

Buy. Buy now. Right now. The sound quality is just fine. And, of course, the music is exceptional. Each album is great. The first four cuts from 'The Lady is a Tramp' feature arrangements by and a band led by Ralph Burns--one of the great forgotten arrangers in jazz history. These stand out as highlights of the collection despite a slight lack of fidelity, but anyone who listens to jazz regularly from this era won't blink an eye. Light, swinging arrangements with a touch of gravitas courtesy of Cecil Payne's meaty baritone sax. Fun and happy stuff. Anita must have been feeling good that day. I would honestly have bought it for just these four tunes. The fact that there are forty-four other brilliant performances is icing on the cake. You really can't beat this collection.

i have followed oday for years but it wasn't until i viewed a youtube clip of anita singing" sweet georgia brown" at newport,that i was transfixed and mesmerized.from 1959, her entire gettup and persona floored me. there are at least seven cuts on these cds that are as good as it gets in jazz. well, not counting monk.

This 4 album set is a steal at $13. Any sane Anita fan would grab it immediately before it's too late.

You get Anita's 1st, 3rd and 5th Verve releases and also her final disc from Norman Granz's Norgran label just before they started the verve label together the next year.

I must differ with some of the other reviewers who dismiss "The Lady is a Tramp". It has a very interesting history and is definitely worth a listen. Its 12 songs were recorded in 1952. 4 of them feature Roy Eldridge. 8 of these songs were released as "Anita O'Day Collates" in 1953. It was a 10" disc. In 1955 it was released with all 12 tunes and finally again in 1957 as Anita's 3rd Verve release finally titled "The Lady is a Tramp". In my opinion, some of it has sort of a "Kentonesque" feel. The track entitled "Lullaby of the Leaves" is a definite highlight. This disc can't match the other 3 but is has some great tracks and fills in a gap in a tough period of her career.

"An Evening with Anita O'Day" was recorded in 1954/1955 and released on Norgran in 1956. It has a great dreamy feel. This one might be my favorite.

"Anita" was recorded in late 1955 and released in 1956 as not only her first Verve release but the first Verve release period. This one might be my favorite.

Finally, you get "Anita Sings the Most". Recorded and released in 1957. Anita is accompanied by the great Oscar Peterson. What can I possibly add to that?

The last 3 all indispensable. This is a great set.

The packaging is practical and arrived with no damage. The liner notes of the 4 original albums are included as are the original cover designs. The set is also digitally remastered.

There's no need to go into how great Anita O'Day is. All I can say about this collection is that it is an amazing bargain! Four of her classic albums on two CD's--WOW. The booklet contains the original LP liner notes for each album. I highly recommend this collection if you are looking to kick start your O'Day album collection!

This is a bargain considering 4 of Anita O'Day's albums on 1 CD. Ms. O'Day is a one of a kind singer that had a style all her own. There is a pleasant surprise around every bar and note of music she wraps her voice around. Two of the albums featured on the CD are "Anita" and "The Lady Is A Tramp" which I consider the strongest of the 4. It's Anita in her prime!

I enjoy my cd and will get another Anita O'day. She is a great singer and will add to anyone's collection.