Customer Reviews

Ultimate Collection

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Only seven years into the millennium and already EMI have delivered the bargain of the century! This collection is worth so much more than the derisory price that Starr fans and all lovers of quality vocalising should snap it up instantly.

All the old favourites are here, but what makes this collection infinitely desirable is the presence of all the unissued Capitol material that could be unearthed. When the label began to realise that they had signed an artist who genuinely could sing absolutely anything, they had her record an astonishing range of material and it's all covered in this set. With her rich, burnished, bluesy tones, Kay could always bring style and distinction to even unremarkable songs and this set, spanning almost twenty years, demonstrates beautifully how Kay developed her increasingly individual vocal style, getting more and more juice out of the material she recorded while keeping up with musical trends.

DISC ONE covers 1947 to 1952 and includes six unreleased tracks. It underlines how Kay's darker voice and dynamic style stood out from so many of her more buttoned-up ladylike competitors. She's the supreme communicator, always selling a song and conveying such sheer pleasure in singing. One mystery: a version of "You've been flying too high" was apparently recorded by Kay for Capitol on 30 June 1950, but the version included here is a 1945 recording for Standard featuring violinist Joe Venuti with noticeably poorer sound than the Capitol tracks.

DISC TWO (1952-1961) Lots of Kay's later hits here, sung in those mature, torchily blue tones that became her hallmark. Many of them appear on CD for the first time, but the items of the greatest interest to Kay's fans will be the six unreleased recordings form 1961. These are knockouts, and it's a crime that they haven't been available till now because the lady is in prime form.

DISC THREE continues from 1961 to 1964 and the end of Kay's years with Capitol. Hardly any of the 25 tracks on this disc have appeared on CD before, and there are eight previously unissued tracks. A few numbers suffer from the somewhat over-resonant recording fashionable at the time and quite unnecessary for a singer of this quality, but again it's wonderful that they're available on CD. It has been a l-o-n-g time since Starr fans were treated to new material!

Kay remains one of the most influential singers of her era and was integral in the establishing Capitol as a major label in the late forties and early fifties, so it's a little disappointing that neither they nor any of the reissue specialists have seen fit to put together a luxury boxed set to commemorate her contribution, but meantime this fascinating collection, graced by Drew Blackburn's information-packed and appreciative liner notes will do very nicely. Unalloyed pleasure from start to finish - champagne at beer prices!

This 3CD Set Is A Blessing To Kay Starr Fans And To The Disc Jockeys That
Still Play This Music//What A Joy To Hear To Each His Own//No Regrets//
With Wonderful Arrangements But The One Song That Just Blew Me Away was
Kays Rendition Of The Tony Bennett Hit THE GOOD LIFE/
I Have Heard Many Great Renditions Of This Song Dinah Washington/Billy Eckstine/Della Reese/Steve Lawrence
Ray Charles/Frank Sinatra/Bobby Darin//All Wonderful But Kays Record Of
THE GOOD LIFE With A Delicious And Tasteful Arrangemen/
The Price Of The 3CD set Was Worth It For The Good Life Cut Alone//
It Was Recorded May 9th.1963//WHY WHY WHY Has It Been Hidden And Lost For So long

Stanley Cooper Jupiter Florida

Listening to this sumptuous package from EMI makes me wish I could assign more than 5 stars to it. Earlier reviewers have enumerated and extolled the previously unreleased tracks that are included, and which make it an essential purchase. I'm just bowled over to hear again Kay's burnished tones, the sexy vibrato, and the dynamic range, backed up by some great musicians playing superb arrangements.

Everybody enjoyed themselves, which comes across very clearly, and the range of material and intelligent programming make this a set to revisit frequently. Sound quality is first-rate, and the artwork features illustrations of Kay's LP covers, with pertinent and informative liner notes. What more can I say?

This triple CD features 75 tracks that Kay recorded for Capitol, including most of the hits that she had with them; however, a few of them are re-recordings that Kay made in the sixties rather than the original hits. The liner notes explain that some of these re-recordings made their CD debut here, so that's why they were included. Yes, the original hits had already been released on CD and I don't mind, but some people will object, but please note that the majority of the tracks here are the originals. The most noticeable difference is that Kay had two double-sided hit duets with Tennessee Ernie Ford, but while all four songs are featured, only one of them (Oceans of tears) is a duet. The others are solo re-recordings from 1961. Kay's 1964 re-recording of Rock and roll waltz, the song with which she had a massive international hit on RCA in between her two spells on Capitol, is also featured..

Among Kay's classic solo hits here in their original form are her first American number one (Wheel of fortune) as well as You were only foolin', So long, Hoop-dee-doo, Bonaparte's retreat, Mississippi, Oh babe, Come on-a-my-house, I waited a little too long, Comes-a-long-a-love (her first British number one), Side by side, Half a photograph, Allez vous en, When my dreamboat comes home, Changing partners and If you love me really love me (originally an Edith Piaf song written in French as Hymn l' amour), all of which were hits in America. Kay's lament and The man upstairs are represented by re-recordings.

Apart from the hits and re-recorded hits, this collection contains five previously unreleased tracks (I haven't changed a thing, Between a kiss and a sigh, Believe it beloved,, Baby you're flying too high, Shiv-a-ree) as well as a variety of tracks from Kay's later singles and alums, showing the diversity of her music. Dedicated fans will want the previously unreleased tracks, but less committed fans will also find plenty to get enthusiastic about.