Customer Reviews

Sometimes I'm Happy... Sometimes I'm Blue (with Bonus Tracks)

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During the `50's many new promising perky bright-voiced female singers appeared, and following the demise of the big-bands, were able to learn their craft by appearing on television, only to lose both pace and race when rock `n roll became the ruling factor. Jill Corey was certainly one who shone brightly, with proof clearly evident on this delightful collection which puts its spotlight on an album originally released by Columbia in 1958. Ironically, the focus falls initially on songs written in the Twenties and Thirties, and nicely packaged with punchy orchestral arrangements by Glenn Osser, so I DOUBLE DARE YOU, AIN'T WE GOT FUN and BYE BYE BLUES emphasise the fun side of the set. With Osser's string section in place, HE WAS TOO GOOD FOR ME, BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME and IN LOVE IN VAIN slow the pace for contrasting heartbreakers from a wider time-span and they really display Jill's considerable emotional range in ballad mode. Six welcome bonus tracks, originally singles, include EXACTLY LIKE YOU and HAVE YOU EVER BEEN LONELY? which contain some soft-rock arrangements. The extensive notes indicate that Jill continues to occasionally sing.

REVIEW OF JILL COREY CD: "SOMETIMES I'M HAPPY...SOMETIMES I'M BLUE"

Ever seen a seventy-seven year old man with tears in his eyes?
That's me, every time I listen to this CD - tears of pure joy and emotional involvement!
Let me step back in time. About five decades ago I acquired the original mono 10" LP, which I loved and played frequently. Then, to preserve the record, I dubbed it onto tape.
I still have a large collection of music on open-reel tapes and, wishing to burn some tracks to CD, I had my Revox tape decks serviced in December. The tape that I chose at random to test the machines was the one with Jill Corey on it. I played it several times, enjoying it as much as I did all those years ago. I recalled that I had unsuccessfully tried many times to find out more about Jill Corey and trace any further records she had made. There were no personal computers and search engines in those days!
So I "Googled" her and learnt about her life, her remarkably rapid rise to fame and a Life Magazine cover, then virtual disappearance from the recorded music scene at the end of the Fifties. I found that "Sometimes" had been re-issued on a CD, that there was another CD of hers - "Little Girl Blue", as well as feature tracks on two compilations. So I ordered the lot from Amazon. Little Girl Blue was the first to arrive and I was disappointed. Most tracks were pleasant to listen to but her voice lacked the emotional involvement with the lyrics that is such a feature with
"Sometimes....".
Then "It" arrived. Her voice was as riveting as on the LP, but the magnificent Glenn Osser backing is now in full stereo. According to the cover notes, a magician called Ken Robertson had remixed the original tracks. What a wonderful job! The Osser arrangements are a perfect compliment to Jill's voice and presentation. But the new stereo separation of the backing now gives her a greater focus and increased clarity to the words, which she sings with such feeling! I'm happy when Jill is "sometimes happy" and still happy when she is "sometimes blue"! If I were to choose my favourite tracks from a perfect lot they would be "I Double Dare You", "In Love in Vain", "He Was Too Good To Me" (which should be titled "He Was Too Good To Be True") and "Gee! I Hate to Go Home Alone". I have yet to hear better versions of these songs from any other singer!
The bonus tracks are okay but mostly unremarkable, as are her songs on the other CDs, although I do like "Big Daddy" and her signature "Love Me to Pieces" on Four Gals Sing the Hits.
In a library of many hundreds of LPs, and CDs, I rate "Sometimes" as one of my very favourite female vocal discs.

Richard van Lingen
South Africa)
(2011/03/02)