Customer Reviews

Sweeter as the Years Go By [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED]

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Helen was one of the finest and most successful female singers of the late thirties and early forties, in an era dominated by big bands who created some great music. Perhaps the most famous bandleader in those days was Glenn Miller, but singers were not particularly important to him (and that explains why most of the music he is remembered for is instrumental), so the truly great singers, of whom Helen was certainly one, looked to other bands for employment. So, Helen worked for Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Harry James. Her greatest successes came with Harry James, but the music here covers her time with Artie Shaw.

One of two collections covering the recordings that Helen made with Artie Shaw and his orchestra, this includes the American number one hits They say and Thanks for everything, together with the other hits You grow sweeter as the years go by, I poured my heart into a song and Many dreams ago.

In keeping with the music of the time, the musicians get plenty of chance to demonstrate their skills via long instrumental breaks, but Helen's lovely, clear voice is the most important instrument of all.

For Helen's other recordings with Artie Shaw, including I have eyes, Deep in a dream, Between a kiss and a sigh, Deep purple, Comes love, Melancholy mood, Day in day out and All the things you are, see the companion volume Sweet and simple. Together, these CD's include everything that Helen and Artie recorded together.

This is an outstanding collection of music by Helen, possibly the finest female band singer of them all.

This CD is excellent. Everyone who has to listen to it in my car has asked how to buy a copy. However, we're all senior citizens.

Helen Forrest's compilation of recordings with Harry James is accurately called "Complete Helen Forrest with the Harry James Orchestra ", so you need to know, dear listener, that here, we're not dealing with "Sweeter as the Years Go By" (a lame philosophy by the way) but with the "Complete Helen Forrest with the Great Artie Shaw Orchestra." If you think that Jo Stafford was the ultimate Big Band female singer, with Peggy Lee coming close, give Helen Forrest a try - or a new try. You won't regret it!

Helen Forrest had simply put one of the best voices of the big band era. Singing with such bands as the Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. You could not pick a better selection for an introduction for this singer. Includes some of the best tracks of the big band era "Thanks For Ev'rything" and "I Poured My Heart Into A Song".

Age wise I just missed the Big Band and Swing era. As I learn more about that great time I become more enamored with it. Helen Forrest and The Artie Shaw Orchestra show that this music will be around forever. This album can only be surpassed by the acquisition of the follow-up album "Sweet & Simple".

Helen Forrest always impressed me with her exquisite singing. She was a very special songbird especially during the big band era of the twentieth century and her CDs still sell in our times. While Helen worked with Harry James and Benny Goodman, her work with Artie Shaw & His Orchestra is the focus of this album--and she nails every song with her sophisticated phrasing and her excellent sense of timing. Her diction is impeccable as well. The sound quality on this CD is very good considering the age of these recordings; and I like the artwork, too.

"You're a Sweet Little Heartache" opens the album with Helen singing very sweetly; and right away you'll be struck with her command of this genre of music. The music that accompanies her fits in perfectly with her vocals--Artie Shaw always could make music sound wonderful! "Thanks for Ev'rything" has Helen again in her natural element; and I like the way the musical arrangement makes good use of the brass. "Day After Day" is easy on the ear; and I really like other amazing numbers including "Say It With a Kiss" that has Helen singing faultlessly; "They Say;" "Bill" which gets the royal treatment from Helen; the energetic "It's All Yours;" "Any Old Time" with yet more of that splendid big band flavor as Helen sings with all her heart and soul; the charming "You Grow Sweeter as the Years Go By;" Irving Berlin's "I Poured My Heart into a Song;" "All I Remember Is You" which really highlights Helen's ability to handle complex tempo and key modulations; "Easy to Say" with that phenomenal horn solo and yet more brass playing along with Helen's gorgeous vocals; "I'll Remember;" "Many Dreams Ago" that has Helen singing along with some incredibly fine music; the memorable "Love Is Here;" "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" and the remarkably sweet, romantic "Do I Love You" which ends the CD so well that I want to push the replay button on my CD player to enjoy this over and over again.

Helen Forrest deserves to be remembered so much more than she currently is and hopefully that will become a reality with continued sales of albums like this one. I highly recommend this for Helen's fans; and people who enjoy that big band sound, especially from Artie Shaw, would do well to add this to their collections.

Dear Reader,
I am no musical expert as I have stated before, but I am an enthusiast of the first half of the twentieth century. If, like me, you are seeking a way to bring that era to life - the lovey Miss Forrest's voice will do it! Along with "Sweet and Simple" which I purchased together with this CD, you need little else to transport you back in time to the 1940's. Shaw's band is in perfect form and Miss Forrest's voice has got to be one of the sweetest and silkiest I have ever heard. Listen to the samples Amazon provides and see if you don't agree. I watch a lot of classic films from the '40's and have long wanted to get the music I hear playing in the background. Fait accompli!