Customer Reviews

Maxine Sullivan - Loch Lomond: Greatest Hits 1937-1942

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The rendition of "Blue Skies" heard on the Hewlett Packard television commercial is on this CD.

Maxine Sullivan's recordings from the late 1930s through the early 1940s are not widely known. She, however, is one of the great jazz artists, with a lilting, musical delivery that one usually associates with Billie Holiday. Her voice, particularly in the early years is pure, clear and beautiful. It's as if Peggy Lee's voice was crossed with Holiday's soul. Sullivan's music is all swing, deeply and joyfully immersed in the music. There's no loud, bombastic, self-serving delivery here, so if you are a big fan of Betty Hutton, Streisand, or Mariah Carey, this may be too subtle for you. If you love Billie Holiday or Peggy Lee, you'll love Maxine Sullivan. Sullivan had a resurgence in the 1970s and she was very big overseas, but she smoked and her 1970 and later recordings sound a little raspy. But her delivery and the result is always fine.

Ms. Sullivan was right there on 52nd street when the whole place was abuzz with the sounds of early jazz, before it became corrupted with the crazy sounds of later times. You can actually follow the melodies here. It is maybe better described as a kind of crossover pop-blues, easy listening music. Whatever it is, this album is a keeper. Very pleasant to have as background while you're working in the shop. Her vocals are soft and feminine, not the husky sound of a Bessie Smith. She wasn't a druggo like Billie Holliday, just a pure artistic expert in phraseing her vocals, with neat catchy tunes and excellent backround horns. Her story is just as amazing in which she came from Pittsburgh and thought you could just walk in to a studio and get a record contract. Well, she did. I wasn't there, but my guess is she and her band probably weren't the flashiest, but her music was dripping with soul. I'm not a big soul or jazz fan, but I purchased an extra one of these just in case they ever disappear.

Maxine Sullivan was catapulted to fame in 1937 via her recording of "Loch Lomond" with the band led by her husband of the time, bassist John Kirby. She had a light voice of limited range (I'd say about one octave) which she used sweetly with a "cool" delivery unusual for her time. She recorded standards as well as remakes of old British and Scotch folks songs like "It Was a Lover and His Lass."

But honestly, she was nothing special. There were so many other pop-jazz singers of that time who could sing rings around her, Connee Boswell, Ella, Billie, Helen Ward, Mildred Bailey, even June Richmond. Check them out if you don't believe me.

This is OK singing. I have four of her records on a John Kirby compilation and I like them primarily for her cool style which was unusual for its time, but I'd think twice before buying a whole CD by her.

Great CD that really "took me back". Great music with awesome rhythms.