4.0 out of 5 stars
A Hidden Gem!, September 1, 2010
This review is from: Yes Indeed! Women Vocalists on United (Audio CD)
This was indeed a very pleasant surprise when I finished listening to the entire album. I bought the album for the Della Reese tracks, but I found myself genuinely enjoying almost every single performance on this compilation.
Like I said, I initially bought it for Della Reese. I am a huge fan, and these happen to be her very first solo recordings. Della had been making a living as a member of the group "The Meditation Singers", and before that, she toured with the legendary Mahalia Jackson. She is still coming into her own, but she was truly a gifted vocalist. Her amazing range comes shining through on the very first track "Yes Indeed", which is a lovely gospel-inflicted tune. "Blue and Orange Birds and Silver Bills" is a delightful little '50s gem, but the highlight is without doubt her take on "There Will Never Be Another You". Her beautiful soprano was later replaced with a robust alto, so she might surprise a lot of people on these early recordings.
Even though she would become the only legend among these, doesn't mean that she is the only star. The album is brimming with talent and personality. Vanita Smythe's Dinah-inspired "Until I Fell for You" is a highlight, and so is Terry Timmons' two lovely songs "I Can't Forget" and "Somebody Will Understand". I had no idea who Terry Timmons was, but she really made me extremely curious. Bixie Crawford's "Never to Cry Again" is fine, but Betty Mays' "Mays' Haze" is only mildly interesting, and Chris Wood didn't quite do it for me. Debbie Andrews proves herself a capable singer along the lines of Sarah Vaughan (the foreboding "Please Wait for Me" is particularly intriguing), but Helen Fox is too undistinguished to really make an impact.
So, it's a hit or miss when it comes to the actual vocal performances. But there is no denying that this curious release is bound to surprise a lot of people who have even the slightest interest in the early '50s jazz vocalists.
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