Customer Reviews

The Jubilee Years: The Singles 1954-1959

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This 2-disc released by Jasmine Records doesn't include anything that haven't been released on CD before. Disc one was originally released by Westside as "The Jubilee Singles", and both "A Date with Della" and "The Story of Blues" have been issued by Collector's Choice. All three albums sounded great, but this one sounds even better. The audio was a bit low on "The Jubilee Years" album, and the vocals on "The Story of the Blues" only came out through one of the speakers. All of these quibbles have been rectified on this beautiful collection.

Her years at Jubilee were not terribly successful. It started off well with her truly unique take on "In the Still of the Night", which sold 500,000 copies, and she scored a million-seller and gold single with "And That Reminds Me", which peaked at number #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #9 on the weekly chart. It also reached number #16 on Cash Box' best-selling singles chart of 1957. Her subsequent singles and those before "And That Reminds Me", did not chart, except for Adderley's "Sermonette", which entered the charts at number #99 for one single week in 1958. Do not be fooled by this rather low amount of charting singles, as many of her singles were incredibly good. Della sang it all. From sweet and tender ballads like the lovely "If Not for You" and "How Could You Not Believe Me", to her hard-swinging take on "Once Upon a Dream", and straight '50s pop on songs like "Years from Now" and "Time Was". The latter being once of her very best. I won't get too deep into disc two, as you most likely already own both of them. They both showcase Della's strenght as a performer, and she was always at her best when belting the blues.

Let's hope that Jasmine Records delivers on the promise they make on the backside of the booklet, by delivering an overview of her years at RCA Victor. When they do, let us hope that they choose to issue a collection of her singles (90% of which have never seen the light of day on CD), or reissue a couple of her albums that have yet to be released on CD, like "Waltz with Me" and/ or "Della by Starlight".

In my opinion Reese's best material was in the 50's. In this cd her voice was at its greatest. There are several memorable sing-a-long like tunes. My family, who are impartial to my old music taste, even like this one.
Della does a fantastic version of "I cried for you", even beating Lady Day's take, and saying that is not easy. Also look for "When I grow too old to dream", which is a cute duet and the passionately sung "I've got my love to keep me warm."

As the title says, this CD is absolutely essential to all Della Reese fans. This collection spans her early years at Jubilee Records, from 1954 to 1959.

Della was an upcoming superstar, and her very first single (a breezy version of Cole Porter's "In the Still of the Night") sold 500,000 copies, and that is where this collections begins. The compilers did an AMAZING job at collecting the orignal master tapes, and by the grace of God, they managed to dig up almost every single A and B side she recorded for the label.

Della is perhaps best known for taking classic music pieces and adapting them into contemporary pop tunes, but this collection shows a much broader range and diversity of her considerable talents. When you have people like Dinah, Sarah and Ella breathing down your neck, you have to make yourself stand out, so a lot of the arrangements are completely unique, and different.

Della recorded one of the first versions of "I've Got My Love to Keep Warm", which she made completely her own with its frantic pace. Many of these cuts had never been released on CD before, and as the excellent liner notes point out, it wasn't exactly easy to dig up many of these lost recordings. Her gold, million-selling hit, "And That Reminds Me" (Billboard Hot 100 #12), remains a clsssic, but it is far from being the most interesting cut on this album, which is saying something. Check out the incredible "In the Meantime", and the sassy "I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'". Another highlight is her swinging rendition of "Once upon a Dream", from Sleeping Beauty.

The sound is absolutely amazing, and the art work is beautiful, so kudos to the compilers for putting so much effort, love, and care, into this project.

Della Reese is the ultimate performer.Her voice is beyond description:amazingly powerful,expressive with flawless elocution and most original articulation,that requires much taste to be appreciated by real connoissers!Each song is a unique composition and none is like the other.After you listened to Della,the other blues or jazz stars seem colourless,despite their own qualities,they all are outcasted by Della's incredible temperament and talent.She is the alpha and the omega of song:she can sing everything,from gospel,blues to jazz and even classical music!!Della reese is without contest the BEST singer in the world!She has the trumpets of Jericho in her voice,and sings like an angel!She makes songs alive,she is not only an entertainer (actually the best) but she delivers a message in singing,of life,passion and joy.She is true and authentic and once you heard her,she put a spell on you forever!Moreover,she is gorgeous,and charismatic!Della Reese is the ultimate diva!