The Ladies Sing: With The Big Bands And Beyond [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] 2CD SET [Import]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 3, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Jasmine Music
• ASIN: B00005RT97
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,938 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Sentimental Journey Doris Day

2. My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time Doris Day

3. It's Magic Doris Day

4. Bewitched Doris Day

5. The Trolley Song Judy Garland

6. Shoo-Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy June Christy

7. Willow Weep For Me June Christy

8. Rumours Are Flying Marjorie Hughes

9. Oh, What It Seemed To Be Marjorie Hughes

10. It's A Good Day Peggy Lee

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. It's Been A Long, Long Time Kitty Kallen

2. I'll Buy That Dream Kitty Kallen

3. Waitin' For The Train To Come In Kitty Kallen"

4. I Had The Craziest Dream Helen Forrest

5. I Don't Want To Walk Without You Helen Forrest

6. Time Waits For No One Helen Forrest

7. I Wanna' Be Loved Patty Andrews

8. I Can Dream, Can't I? Patty Andrews

9. All Of Me Helen O'Connell

10. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

At the time in the late 1930s and early 1940s when instrumental Big Band recordings were the most popular (the top three best-sellers in Big Band history were all instrumentals), the 'girl' singers were also attracting a great deal of attention. Even though the singers in that time were thought of as part of the total package, much as any orchestra member, they provided a decorative adjunct to the band's appearance on stage and in ballrooms, and often became a main musical attraction. These are some of the ladies we are presenting in this collection, twenty-eight of the many performers who distinguished themselves with the Big Bands and beyond, captured in their most memorable recordings as well as a few performers whose novelty recordings allowed their star to shine brightly for only an instant. Most of the singers in this album, however, honed their craft on the bandstand. See also: JASCD393 - The Groups Sing JASCD397 - The Gentlemen Sing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best ladies of the 1940's in one package, June 3, 2003

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ladies Sing: With The Big Bands And Beyond [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] 2CD SET (Audio CD)

This double-CD contains 51 songs from the late 1930's to the early 1950's, all beautifully sung by some of the finest ladies of their generation, all mastered to the high quality that is expected of Jasmine. Of course, there are limits to what even Jasmine can do with such old recordings, but anybody who buys such material has to allow for that. As far as I'm concerned, the sound is as good as it could be expected to be.

I'm not sure that it was necessary to include as many as four songs by my favorite lady of the era, Doris Day, but they are good ones. Three of them are famous, while My dreams are getting better all the time - every bit as good as the others - was an American number one hit.

Three of Peggy Lee's big hits of the forties are also included, my favorite among them being Its a good day. Also represented by three songs each are Billie Holiday, Kitty Kallen, Helen Forrest, Anita O'Day and Jo Stafford. Just two songs each for June Christy, Marjorie Hughes, Martha Tilton, Helen Ward, Patti Page, Margaret Whiting, the Andrews sisters and Dinah Shore. Some of the singers represented by just one song are obscure, but it is surprising that Judy Garland, Ivie Anderson, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and Vera Lynn only get one song each.

My particular favorite tracks here include Loch Lomond (Martha Tilton - a very under-rated singer), A tree in the meadow (my favorite Margaret Whiting song), I had the craziest dream (Helen Forrest) and Powder your face with sunshine (Evelyn Knight - a lady with a bubbly personality who always sang happy songs and deserved more success than she had) - but there are so many great songs here. And, most importantly, there's no rubbish.

A compilation like this will never completely satisfy anybody. For example, some will wonder why Margaret Whiting's signature song, Moonlight in Vermont, was omitted. Nevertheless, this is as good an introduction to the great ladies of the forties as you are likely to find. After hearing this a few times, you may decide to collect their individual compilations. That could be an expensive exercise, but the ladies will be well worth the money.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the money, January 3, 2007

By 

Ms. Veronica Richards "Gizwiz's Girl" (Papillion, NE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ladies Sing: With The Big Bands And Beyond [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] 2CD SET (Audio CD)

What a great CD, if you love torch songs, then you will love this CD

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nostalgic atmosphere is good., August 8, 2007

By 

Nao (JAPAN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ladies Sing: With The Big Bands And Beyond [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] 2CD SET (Audio CD)

I can enjoy various songs of many songstresses.
There is the singers whom I do not know to Japanese me, but knows a half.
Doris Day is the first favorite singer in this.
It seems to considerably take time to understand 51 pieces enough.