Customer Reviews

The Voice of the Big Bands [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
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Arguably the most underrated singer of the 20th Century -- she was also a dear friend and one of the sweetest people you could ever hope to meet. Her impeccable phrasing and unparrelled range and breath control made it sound so easy to be heard over a 17 piece brash band - but her contemporaries knew better. Miss "99 lbs. of dynamite" (according to Downbeat Magazine) was held in the highest regard as the finest big band singer ever by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, etc.... If you think I'm boasting a bit much, remember that as a band singer she never had the luxuary of either choosing her own material, or even the ability to select the tempo of the songs she was obliged to sing by her bosses (Artie Shaw - Benny Goodman - Harry James). Yet "there is not a single song she failed to elevate" by giving them all her special glory. Check out Helen's recording of "When The Sun Comes Out" with the Benny Goodman Orchestra and see if you agree with this fanatic. Albeit one of her lesser known works, it may very well be the greatest interplay you'll ever hear between band and vocalist! I'd love to get your feedback.
-----P.S.---In reply to the person who asked if Helen ever recorded any Christmas music -- the answer is unfortunately NO.

I first discovered Helen Forrest through an old 78 record I discovered of her hit "I Don't Want to Walk Without You." Although I am not of the WW II generation, I have always loved the sound of the big bands and immediately fell in love with this woman's voice. I discovered this CD and purchased it (mainly to hear a crisper, clearer version of "I Don't Want to Walk Without You") to my amazement I found this collection to be a treasure trove of great big band sounds. It is an awesome sampler of Helen's early musical days featuring a variety of tracks from her years with Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James and two duets with Dick Haymes. If you are new to the music of this great lady than I would suggest purchasing this CD to get you started. My favorite tracks are her versions of "Taking a Chance on Love," "Bewitched," "I've Heard That Song Before" and a live recording of a song called "Moonray." If you love the big band music of the 30's and 40's and have never heard Helen Forrest than you are missing a lot. Note: Does anyone know if Helen ever recorded any Christmas music?

This is an excellent Cd! Deep in a Dream, Deep Purple, Comes Love, All the Things You Are (my favorite version of this amazing song), Moon Ray, How High the Moon, Shake Down the Stars, Taking a Chance on Love, and many more are beautifully arranged, orchestrated, and impeccably sung by the incomparable Helen Forrest. Very high quality recording. You won't be disappointed!

In the Voice of The Big Bands CD, Helen Forrest demonstrates clearly that she is the most underrated singer of the Twentieth Century. Perhaps, because of the Billie Holliday fervor and the tendency to seek missing links that trace the evolution of Rock and Roll, she has not been considered "cool" enough for today's critics. Her understated vocal style runs the gamut of passions and is quite sensual, but always feminine, controlled, and simple. I personally like her material with Artie Shaw the best, particularly Deep Purple with its poetic images and brokenhearted reverie. I would recommend this CD to anyone who wants to hear what the feminine soul sounded like before it was uncool to be a classicly vulnerable, ardent, but modest woman.

Helen Forrest is one of the finest songbirds of the twentieth century; but sadly she has been largely forgotten along with the big band era that was once so wildly popular. This album clearly proves that Helen could perform faultlessly with more than just one big band leaders and their musicians; indeed, everything she sings on this album is exquisite. The quality of the sound is pretty good especially considering the age of these recordings; and the artwork is very nicely done.

The first six numbers showcase Helen singing with Artie Shaw & His Orchestra. "Deep in a Dream" is one of my favorite songs on this album; Helen sings this without ever letting go of a single superfluous note and that's grand. "Deep Purple" has Helen squarely in the spotlight--which is right where she belongs! "Day In - Day Out" is easy on the ear despite a bit of surface noise; and I really like "All the Things You Are." Helen makes this heavenly with her fine interpretation of the lyrics.

Then there are the songs we get when Helen worked with Benny Goodman & His Orchestra. "How High the Moon" is absolute bliss to hear; and "I'm Nobody's Baby" is very well done--Judy Garland would have loved this! "Taking a Chance on Love" lets Helen deliver yet another tune with panache; and I'm very impressed. Listen also for Helen to do a splendid job as she sings "Yes, My Darling Daughter;" "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" and "I Found a Million Dollar Baby (In a Five and Ten Cent Store)." "When the Sun Comes Out" also has that big band sound that I love and Helen does this justice with a flawless performance!

We then get Helen Forrest singing with Harry James & His Orchestra; and Dick Haymes joins Helen for some duets I won't forget anytime soon. "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" charms me with its natural beauty; and they make great use of the brass on this number. "Skylark" gets the royal treatment from Helen and the band; and I also enjoy "I Had the Craziest Dream" as well as the very special "I've Heard That Song Before" which only Helen could sing this well. "Close to You" is another sweet, romantic tune; and the disc closes with two fine songs, "Long Ago (And Far Away)" and "It Had to Be You." Dick Haymes never sounded better, either!

Helen Forrest was remarkably versatile and she gave blood to please her adoring fans and the people who loved the big band sound. These numbers deserve so much more attention than they receive in our times; but maybe with continued sales of albums like this one that might change. I highly recommend this album for fans of Helen Forrest and that wonderful big band sound.

That was the question I asked when I first heard "I don't want to walk without you." Helen Forrest was among the best in a tough and highly competitive field of the so called "girl" singers in the 30's and 40's. Yet, it is an era in popular music that has largely passed from the scene. I suppose most people, if they have heard her sing at all, heard Helen Forrest sing "I've heard that song before" which was used to kick off the Woody Allen movie, Radio Days.

What I like about Helen Forrest is how well she evokes the feelings in the songs she sings. She does it in romantic songs like the one above, but also in tough, cynical songs like "Comes Love." There are many ways this song could have been sung, but she finds the right voice of the wise, experienced woman. I've heard others sing it, but Helen Forrest owns that song.

These are very fine transfers. Most of these tracks are very clean and have remarkable fidelity for what were originally 78 Records.

I am in love with Helen Forrest's voice and her songs. She is my favorite of 1930s and 40s songbirds. Her voice is magical, indescribable - like sunlight shining through honey, like the shimmer of a ringing golden bell. Her singing is truly classical popular music, perhaps as never before or since. It is full, rich, straight forward, clear - clear diction, clear melody, clear feelings, with no uncertainty, wariness, or fear of directness, naïveté, and genuine human sentiment. So richly sonorous, gracefully supple, and flexible, her voice has the youth, fresh innocence, and charm of the "girl next door" - that is, if that girl happens to be the most beautiful and charming creature in the world. Her voice is "straight" because she primarily sings the melodic line: there's no florid flurry of notes above and below the key notes, obscuring them in wildly runaway passion or dubious meanderings (the uncertainty and hyper-technique of a fluctuating flurry of notes seems to be a characteristic of cultural novelty -- difference, "coolness," "cutting-edge" -- or of decadence). Helen's voice and treatment of songs is balanced, classical. Beautiful sound rules: there's no full-lung screaming, like the siren of a passing celingine; no uncertain, muted moanings of a norah-nowhere; no jim jop, hip hop, or coarse-flung raspirations. In her music the difference between American popular culture of the 1940s and of recent years is readily apparent. Her songs resonate with many appealing human feelings, genuine love, and sympathy. Love, romance, and respect rule over sexuality. Human sympathy overcomes self-centeredness and indulgence. Beauty and propriety exclude purple uncertainty, meanness, and free-wheeling vulgarity.

I bought this for a friend and he has been really enjoying it. If this type of music is your thing you will enjoy this CD.

Helen Forrest can just plain sing! She is one of my favorites from the big band era and this disc is first rate.

It arrived on time and I've had lots of hours of enjoying it.

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