Customer Reviews

Soft Sounds

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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This double album set -- representing Miss Albright's entire recorded output -- is very pleasing in a subtle, vampy sort of way. Lola was a moderately-successful actress (a very good one, nonetheless) whose main claim to fame was as Peter Gunn's squeeze on the old TV series. She proves herself a very fine singer here; I like her propensity to reach for occasional low notes in the manner of Ella Fitzgerald or Sarah Vaughan. I also admire her bravery in tackling no fewer than 12 original songs on this set that I doubt had ever been sung before & carrying it off with considerable brio. Her undoubted acting abilities enhance her approach to singing.

I rather prefer the Mancini session, with its 6 vocals of Peter Gunn soundtrack items, but that's not to fault the Dean Elliott set. I thought I knew my Gershwin pretty well, but AREN'T YOU KINDA GLAD WE DID was an amusing surprise.

The notes imply she made some or all of the choices amongst the non-original songs, & she made those choices very intelligently. Female vocal albums with sexual undertones were not uncommon in the Fifties, but Lola carries off these 2 sets with a nice touch of humour that somehow, I think, would elude most contemporary singers. It's not all late-night balladry here either; she & Mancini impart a groove to the old piece JUST YOU, JUST ME that left me replaying that & other tracks several times.

I don't normally evince much interest in vocal recordings, but I've got nothing but respect for Lola. She's in her eighties now & long since retired, but I wish her nothing but the best. Recommended.

This is a great album featuring the lady who played Peter Gunn's girl friend, Edie Hart. The selection of numbers shows Miss Albright's range and will evoke images of her singing on the the stage at Mothers. If you have ever relaxed in a nice lounge and listened to lite jazz, you will appreciate Miss Albright's performance. Sit back, sip a 3 olive martini with the lights low and enjoy!

The digital transfer is seamless, it compares favorably to the LP's that I own. I'm glad they finally got around to putting Lola's music back on CD's.

The underrated Lola Albright really shines here, evoking the smoky magic of late-night city life in the 1950s ... night clubs & neon, saloons & sultry shadows, private eyes & private heartaches. While her voice has its limits, she uses what she's got to full advantage & makes it sound wonderful, just filled with bluesy, jazzy ambience & longing. You can almost see the flickering of cigarettes in the twilight, the gleam of rain-slick streets; and you can practically hear the clinking of cocktail glasses, the hazy murmur of languid & lonely conversations in the background. Perfect music for a moody retro-evening!