Customer Reviews

It's Wonderful

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This is a great addition to any collection of jazz and popular vocals. I got to see Maxine Sullivan during the second phase of her career, when she came back after working and raising her children to thrill those of us who weren't around for Phase 1. The lady loved good music and presented it well. "Loch Lomond" and the other classics from her early career were not among my favorites. But even in the 1930s and '40s, Maxine made memorable recordings of ballads like "Easy to Love," "Spring Is Here," "Ill Wind," "When Your Lover Has Gone," "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" and others. Her later recordings for the Concord, Audiophile, Atlantic, Baldwin Street, Kenneth and DRG labels were better than some of these early efforts, but this four-CD set shows you how it all began. It's nice to see this recognition for Maxine 20 years after cancer claimed her life.

Maxine Sullivan hit on a winning formula with her recording of "Loch Lomond" and often returned to traditional sources for material, many of which are included in the 100 tracks on offer here, spanning almost 20 years. Her voice was a delicate instrument, but her faithfulness to the lyric and the tune cannot be faulted. Those familiar with her recordings will know already that she sang with a curious sense of detachment. That distinguished her from the competition, but did not always produce a compelling performance. Furthermore, a few of the tracks contain audible surface noise. Against that, her accompaniments included the orchestras of Claude Thornhill, John Kirby, Benny Carter, and Teddy Wilson, and the 32-page booklet includes an informed commentary by Joop Visser, together with a full discography.

Another great complilation by Proper. Thanks for keeping these classic tracks in circulation for the general public!