Customer Reviews

Peggy Lee - All-Time Greatest Hits

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This compilation of Peggy Lee hits has the look and feel of a generic, quickly-assembled collection of readily available commercial material aimed at the mass market. Maybe it was advertized on one of those cable television infomercials, or manufactured for the impulse purchasers at Walmart and truck stops. In any case, genuine Peggy Lee fans and close followers of her career will want a remastered, intelligently edited collection that provides information about the original recordings, their labels, and dates of release.

That a best hits album with only 11 songs could do such a good job capturing an alltime great performer is unlikely, but this one turns the trick.

This one includes two songs Lee wrote herself, including "It's a Good Day" - a good enough song to lead the album with - and "Manana", which is unPC by today's standards but considered amusing in the 1950s.

And it covers songs identifieid with her, including the haunting "Is That All There Is", "Fever" and "I'm a Woman."

Her South-of-the-Border-tinged rendition of "Heart", from the musical "Damn Yankees", is distinctive. "Alright, Okay, You Win" has a driving rhythm to it. "My Man", with its dark, old-timey wah-wahing trumpets, actually sells the idea that she loves a guy despite his beating and running around on her. "Why Don't You Do Right" calls a lazy, weak man to better behavior. "Hallelujah, I Love Him So" is a great upbeat song, as is "I Enjoy Being a Girl", which finishes the album. Lee's song choices here speak to a different era of relations between the sexes and that's part of their appeal; they draw vivid pictures of another time and place. She delivers each with her unique punch and verve.

Really, there isn't a bad song on this album and each one is distinctive; none seems to cover ground touched by another. Lee's voice is fresh and light and her working around the rhythm is confident and skillful. I sometimes buy this album as a gift for others. It's a great way to introduce yourself to Peggy Lee.

Okay, so these songs go against every feminist sensibility I have. Okay, so "Manana" does not fit into today's P.C. world. Okay, so Peggy Lee is not the hippest chick around. Then again... This album is a blast! Forget the fact that this is the music your mom and dad used to listen to. The retro sound is hip and there's nothing like "Fever" to put you and your honey in the mood for some romance! And if you liked P.J. Harvey's version of "Is That All There Is," you'll love the original Peggy Lee sound of it (who knew people back then could be so morose?). And remember the ad for Enjoli perfume? ("I can bring home the bacon...") Well, Peggy Lee's "I'm a Woman" may not be so broad-minded, but it's still quite sultry. This album is a must for any well-rounded CD collection.

This is a good introduction to Peggy Lee. 'It's a Great Day', 'Manana' and 'My Man' are stand-outs. I've listened to this disc hundreds of times ...the packaging is rather generic but the collection is a good start. When you are ready to hear more inclusive collections check out classic must haves like Black Coffee, Mink Jazz and Best of the Decca Years.

I've never listened to much Peggy Lee before, but in an attempt to get to know some of the traditional pop singers better, I selected this album. I am really quite impressed. The song "Is that all there is" is a great song, and so many more of the songs are really good. Her voice is excellent, and reminds every now and then of even Billie Holiday.

Peggy Lee possessed the ability to perform a wide variety of songs and ballads all the while capturing the hearts of her adoring audiences. She was a prolific recording artist who tuned out album after album over a career that lasted several decades. Peggy's voice on this CD is rich, warm and vibrant. Peggy Lee also imparts a sense of intimacy on great numbers like "Is That All There Is;" "Fever" and "I'm A Woman."

The CD starts off strong with the joyful ballad entitled "It's A Good Day." Peggy sings this with high octane energy and you truly believe that she is overjoyed to be alive and self-fulfilled in this world. The big band flavored musical arrangement is catchy, too. The track set then does a complete about face to go into the next number, "Is That All There Is." Now Peggy sings of a world of pain, disappointment and utter despair. She feels empty and unfulfilled; nothing will change her outlook, either. Peggy's remarkable versatility is showcased by the sharp contrasts between these first two songs.

Other great songs on this album include the sensual "Fever" and "I'm A Woman." "Alright, Okay, You Win" has a playful tone to it as Peggy sings of a woman who after some thought gives in to a man to become his sweetheart. The musical arrangement for the horns shines brightly on this number!

Mañana is the most difficult sell on this album. The beat is catchy and the melody is fantastic. The lyrics, however, are no longer considered cute or amusing. I'll tell you a secret, though: I know many hardworking Spanish people AND I still love this song anyway! Peggy maintained that she wrote this song with husband Dave Barbour after they vacationed south of the border. Peggy and Dave envied the relaxed pace of life there that they could not enjoy in the world of show business.

"Hallelujah, I Love Him So" celebrates the joy of love; and the album ends just as strong as it began with "I Enjoy Being A Girl." Sure, I agree with the reviewer who writes that some of these songs may be dated including "I Enjoy Being A Girl." Nevertheless, "I Enjoy Being A Girl" has a wonderful musical arrangement and there's nothing wrong with celebrating the person you are. The Latin beat enhances the beauty of the song. I love that early `60s Latin beat!

The liner notes offer a brief essay and the song credits are there for you. The cover art features a beautiful picture of Peggy, too.

Ordinarily I would give a CD like this a four star rating for being very strong but just too short; this CD clocks in at a brief 31 minutes. However, in this case I am comfortable giving this CD five stars because the price is comparatively low. Hopefully this low priced budget CD will tempt people to buy it and become more familiar with the incomparable talents of Miss Peggy Lee.

May you get this CD and enjoy it as much as I did! SMILES

I think Peggy Lee is a really great singer. I remember when i was a little girl and in my grandma's car she would always play this tape , and when i hear the songs i think of her.

Peggy Lee celebrates a strongly woman's point of view in her own special style with such timeless classics as "Fever," "Is That All There Is?" "I'm a Woman," and "Why Don't You Do Right?"

Endless imitators have tried to capture her spirited strength and sensuous charisma, but there is no comparison to the one and only Peggy Lee.

In calling this "cheap packaging" one of the other reviewers describes Curb perfectly. Never anything in the way of substantial liner notes or a discography of the contents, barely acceptable sound quality, minimal selections [usually 10 or 11], and always something substantial left out.

In deciding to call this her "all-time greatest hits" they certainly had a wealth of singles to choose from because, counting her three smash vocals with the Benny Goodman band from 1941 to 1943, she had 51 hit singles for the Columbia/Okeh, Capitol. and Decca labels up to her last in 1969. Ironically, titled Is That All There Is [# 1 Adult Contemporary and # 11 Billboard Pop Hot 100] they include it at track 2 and there is no denying that this fits the "all-time greatest" category.

So too do Why Don't You Do Right, one of her Goodman collaborations which reached # 4 in early 1943, her only other # 1, 1948's Manana (Is Soon Enough For Me), done with the backing of Dave Barbour & The Brazilians, and what became her signature tune of sorts, Fever, which peaked at # 5 R&B/# 8 Billboard Pop Top 100 in the summer of 1958 with Jack Marshall and his orchestra - right in the middle of the beginnings of R&R.

A case could also be made for each of It's A Good Day [# 16 in January 1947 with the Barbour band], I'm A Woman [# 54 Hot 100 in January 1963 with Benny Carter's orchestra], Alright, Okay, You Win [# 68 Hot 100 in February 1959, and its flipside, My Man [# 81], and Hallelujah, I Love Him So [# 77 in May 1959] - the last three all with Marshall's orchestra.

But tracks 8 and 11 were never hits for Peggy, so why include them in a volume so titled? Better choices, if they wished to remain within the 1955-1969 time-frame and limit it to 11 tracks, would have been Mr. Wonderful [# 14 in 1956 with Sy Oliver's orchestra] and Light Of Love [# 63 late in 1958 with Jack Marshall's orchestra and the Ev. Freeman Singers].

Of course, they could also have gone to 14 tracks and included Joey, Joey, Joey [# 76 in May 1956 with Sy Oliver, from the musical Most Happy Fella], Sweetheart, the flip of Light Of Love and a # 98 on its own, and Pass Me By (# 93 in March 1965 with Lou Levy and his orchestra), from the film Father Goose. But, of course, this is Curb, remember?

I notice my copy of this release says "Volume 1" - but to my knowledge there never was a Volume 2 from Curb. But don't bother looking for it. Instead, spend a few dollars more and get one of the other volumes of her hits which at least contain some background information on this fascinating and legendary artist who most influenced one of today's better jazz-styled vocalists, Diana Krall.

Manana is a good song but Fever is the Jam.Her voice has so much feeling.Madonna had no Business touching Fever.Peggy Lee is a One of a kind Artist.Classy Material that is timeless.