Sirens of Song: Classic Torch Singers

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 1, 1997)
• Original Release Date: April 1, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B0000033V0
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,971 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #10 in Music > Pop > By Decade > 1950s
  • #22 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Cabaret
  • #52 in Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz > General AAS

Track Listings

1. Cry Me a River - Julie London

2. Black Coffee - Sarah Vaughan

3. Stormy Blues - Billie Holiday

4. I'm Getting Sentimental over You - Ella Fitzgerald

5. But Not for Me - Judy Garland

6. Stormy Weather - Lena Horne

7. Come Rain or Come Shine - Marlene Dietrich

8. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - Eartha Kitt

9. La Vie en Rose [English] - Edith Piaf

10. At Last - Etta James

11. Since I Fell for You - Nina Simone

12. What a Diff'rence a Day Made - Dinah Washington

13. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) - Carmen McRae

14. Soul on Fire - LaVern Baker

15. I'll Wait for You - Ruth Brown

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars give those gals a spotlight !!!, April 24, 2008

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sirens of Song: Classic Torch Singers (Audio CD)

Sirens of Song: Classic Torch Singers has fifteen magnificent songs from some of the greatest songbirds of the entire twentieth century. The sound quality is excellent and I love that artwork!

The CD opens with Julie London singing one of her signature songs, "Cry me A River." I don't think anyone ever sang "Cry Me A River" any better than the great Julie London sang it; and just one listen should prove this to you. I really like ho Julie opens up during this song and lets her heartfelt passion spread out to her listeners--it's quite majestic. Sarah Vaughan also does "Black Coffee" with panache; Sarah could sing quite well and this tune was one of her best ever in my opinion. Sarah's excellent sense of timing helps her performance immeasurably and "Black Coffee" is easily a highlight of this album.

Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady Of Song, performs "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You;" Ella sings this so well there's no doubt as to why she was so popular whenever she performed. Ella's voice is rich, warm and very vibrant and I like that a lot. She sure did give her all! Judy Garland also does a sublime rendition of "But Not For Me;" this song was one that Judy first sang in the MGM film Girl Crazy; and Judy still sang it beyond perfection many years later when this was recorded. Great!

Lena Horne performs "Stormy Weather" with heart and soul; and the big band arrangement enhances the natural beauty of this ballad. Lena sings this with her heart wide open and "Stormy Weather" is yet another highlight of this CD. Marlene Dietrich also sings her best on "Come Rain Or Come Shine" Marlene did this up right! I'm very impressed by Marlene's treatment for "Come Rain Or Come Shine."

Edith Piaf sings an English version of "La Vie En Rose;" this was one of Edith's signature songs and her English version of this ballad sounds heavenly to me. There's also Dinah Washington doing "What A Difference A Day Makes;" "What A Difference A Day Makes" sounds exciting whenever I hear Dinah sing this out so strong!

LaVern Baker performs "Soul On Fire" with panache; her fine treatment of "Soul On Fire" rocks gently and the arrangement that goes with LaVern's singing couldn't be better. The CD also ends very nicely with Ruth Brown's "I'll Wait For You." "I'll Wait For You" features Ruth Brown at her very best and that's quite all right by me!

Overall, this is an excellent CD for people everywhere who love classic pop vocals and the songbirds featured on this CD. You won't be disappointed!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen once and you're hooked, January 22, 2004

By 

selkie1964 "van" (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sirens of Song: Classic Torch Singers (Audio CD)

I used to work part-time at Tower Records. Every day when you work at Tower, you get to play a CD sometime during the course of your shift. Whenever I played this CD, customers would flock up to the front counter wanting to know what it was and where in the store they could find it (the first time the copy I was playing was the only copy in the store -- the first customer who asked me for it got to buy it right off the CD player and I had to special-order it for a bunch of other people). It got so popular in the store that the manager ordered a bunch and put the CD on one of the preview-play stations.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Emotional Time Worp, July 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sirens of Song: Classic Torch Singers (Audio CD)

It is wonderful! All of the songs bring one to a place of deep blue emotion. Soothing and Sassy, these torch singers will set soul ablaze with their mezmarizing lyrics and melodies. You'll love it and so will your Mother, Father , Sister , Brother, Spouse...You get now, so get it already!