Songs I Like to Sing

Helen Humes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B000000Y9R
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,189 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)

2. Don't Worry 'Bout Me

3. Don't Worry 'Bout Me [Alternate Take]

4. Mean to Me

5. Every Now and Then

6. I Want a Roof Over My Head

7. St. Louis Blues

8. You're Driving Me Crazy

9. My Old Flame

10. Million Dollar Secret

11. Love Me or Leave Me

12. Imagination

13. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious stuff, October 7, 2004

By 

N. Dorward "obsessive reviewer" (Toronto, ON Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Songs I Like to Sing (Audio CD)

This is perhaps a slightly overlooked album--but if you hear it you'll know why anyone who's heard it treasures it. Humes' voice is absolutely gorgeous (you'd almost believe the lyrics to "Million Dollar Secret" when she says she's 33!--she was 47), & she handles a challenging set of tunes & Marty Paich's complex arrangements effortlessly, modulating easily between intimate, plainspoken ballads & spirited numbers that bring out the joy & a certain steeliness too in her voice. The band's mostly West Coast musicians--Art Pepper gets the alto solos (this was one of the last things he did before getting thrown in the slammer for 6 years), Jack Sheldon the trumpet solos, Teddy Edwards gets one spot, & Barney Kessel, Andre Previn, Leroy Vinnegar & Shelly Manne are an instantly recognizable, blue-chip rhythm section. But the biggest pleasure is the presence of Ben Webster, who gets all over the ballads--just sample his work on the opening "If I Could Be With You", or his obliggatos on "Imagination". A few tracks have (discreet) string quartet accompaniment, which for once complements rather than oversweetens the music. Paich is respectful of Humes &, while there are plenty of modern touches to the charts, he always stays in touch with a 1930s/1940s big band sound & doesn't pepper the charts with cute touches (the bane of 1950s arrangements, I've found).

Virtually everything here is first-rate, but let me single out "If Could Be With You", "Mean to Me", "Every Now and Then", "My Old Flame" & "Imagination", all of them classic readings which bear out Humes' statement in the liner notes that "Primarily, I like to sing ballads." Somehow, despite the slight oddity of pairing Humes & Webster with a crack West Coast band, the results are a classic album. Do try.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humes' finest 50's seesion!!!, September 21, 2000

By 

roarin20sGuy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs I Like to Sing (Audio CD)

Helen Humes who started out singing dirty blues in the 20's, also was Count Basie's "girl singer" in the 30's, but her biggest success was when she went out on her own in the 40's and made it big with her hit "E-Baba-Leba." Humes always had a bell like vioce, which is hihly appealing, her jazz phrasing is exquisitem, and she indeed gives Ella a run for her money on this essential 1959 set titles "Songs I Like To Sings" and they are songs we like to hear her sing. Included are essential versions of "If I Could Be With You" "Every Now & Then" and "Million Dollar Secret". All arrangementa are by Mel Torme's regular arranger Marty Paich, Paich's arrangements are perfect for Humes' honey dipped vocals. Humes' singing style had only improved with time(in fact she cut some great seesions in the 1980's) This is perhaps one of the finest jazz vocal LP's ever to be reissued on CD(another one is Lee Wiley's "West Of The Moon) This is essental music folks, buy a copy today.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Miss Helen Humes gives Ella Fitzgerald a run for her money.., February 23, 2000

By 

Aaron (Aaron) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs I Like to Sing (Audio CD)

This CD reissue of the 1959 LP "Songs I Like To Sing" by Helen Humes with Marty Paich's Orchesta is simply one of the best jazz vocal albums of all time. Helen Humes has a highly appealing voice and is able to swing and tackle ballads with ease. One of the most underrated singers of our time. THis CD comes highly recommended and should be in any serious jazz collectors library.