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I love Anita O'Day! For those of you who don't know, her personally adopted last name came from the terminology meaning "dough" in pig-Latin. She thought it may bring her monetary rewards. "Anita" was not only her 1st album on the Verve lable but the very 1st artist recorded on the newly formed Norman Granz label (even before Ella) who's former labels included Clef & Norgan. Anita O'Day is a pure vocal jazz Improvisationalist. Jazz in it's very definition is improvisation but very few jazz artists sing solely in this way. It is very doubtful that Miss O'Day EVER sang a song the very same way twice in her long & illustrious career which was also burdened w/mismanagement & 12 plus years of heroin addiction but like Ray Charles who dealt w/the same addiction, she never ever missed a performance nor recording date unlike others like our beloved Billie Holiday or Charlie Parker.
Being an avid collector of vinyl, I also have this album on the the big, round, black recorded format & was immediately impressed by it's special orange & yellow label as opposed to the traditional black & silver color scheme which usually graced the Verve label. This is neither here nor there except for people who are as obsessed w/vinyl & the impact it made on recorded music as I am. Just like many artists who recorded on Verve, Mr. Granz recognized the artistry & appeal his artists generated when in live performance when they had the energy of the audience coming back at them on which to play. With this being said, even Anita's studio recordings evoke the energy of live performance since it was not her way to stick solely to the melody of any given song at any given time. Her personal style was that of a jazz musician playing chords & sounds created by the other musicians who accompied her. It's magical. If you are a 1st-time Anita O'Day listener or a novice to her sound, I invite you to listen because no one has ever done it like Anita O'Day & it is doubtful that anyone ever will.
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