Vocalists — Recently Added LPs, CDs, Vinyl Record Albums -- Dusty Groove is Chicago's Online Record Store
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Vocalists — Recently Added

XSingers we love -- from vintage torch to vocalese, scat, jazz poetry, standards, and more!


Colpix, 1960. Very Good+
A key early moment for Nina Simone – recorded live at Newport in 1960, at a time when the festival was one of the most important showcases for groundbreaking jazz – and a perfect setting for Nina to really let loose in that righteous style that would fuel her career during the 60s! ... LP, Vinyl record album
Capitol, Late 60s. Very Good+
The shrill goofy vocalist lays down a second album of groovy camp tunes that'll make your dog cover his ears! There's a few lame tracks on here, but there's also some great ones, like her versions of "Girl From Ipanema" and "Monday, Monday". Mod arrangements by Fred Bock and ... LP, Vinyl record album
ABC, Late 50s. Very Good
A landmark album from vocalist Betty Carter – not her first time in the recording studio, but maybe one of the first full length sets to really communicate all the genius she was bringing to the field of jazz vocals in the postwar years! The record is one of Carter's more sophisticated ... LP, Vinyl record album
Capitol, Mid 60s. Near Mint-
Who can ever figure this chick out? Mrs Miller was a strange denizen of the bottom level of the music industry food chain – and her stock-in-trade was performing 60s pop tunes with a shrill fuddy-duddy style that was instantly recognizable, and forever annoying! This record is less of a ... LP, Vinyl record album

Chris Connor

Chris Craft
Atlantic, 1958. Very Good
Chris' Craft is a great one here – beautifully simple and straightforward jazz vocals, served up at a level that few other singers can match! The album's one of our favorites from Connor's classic years with Atlantic – as it's got a mellow, moody approach that's filled with the darker ... LP, Vinyl record album

Chris Connor

This Is Chris
Bethlehem, Mid 50s. Very Good+
Beautifully icy vocals from the amazing Chris Connor – the kind of record that set a new standard for vocal jazz back in the 50s! The session's a small group one – with Chris singing intimately alongside backing from Herbie Mann on flute and tenor, Kai Winding and JJ Johnson on ... LP, Vinyl record album
Flying Dutchman, 1969. Very Good+ Gatefold
Wonderful work from Leon Thomas – easily one of his greatest albums ever, and a set that was recorded at the same time he was working with Pharoah Sanders! Thomas really rose to fame on Sanders' classic "The Creator Has A Master Plan" – and this set really takes off from that ... LP, Vinyl record album

Grady Tate

Feeling Life
Skye, 1969. Very Good+
Early LP of moody mellow vocals recorded by Grady Tate for the Skye label with an orchestra led by Jerome Richardson. Tracks include sublime readings of "Nature Boy", "Meditation", "The End of a Love Affair", and "I Fall In Love Too Easily". Deep stuff, and ... LP, Vinyl record album
Discovery, 1984. Near Mint-
Another soulful set of jazz standards that pairs the great Lorez with a group led by Gildo Mahones. Gildo's always been one of the best piano players we've heard accompaning a vocalist, and his work with Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross is the stuff of legends. This group has the added benefit of ... LP, Vinyl record album
Philips, Late 60s. Near Mint-
A fantastic bit of vocal jazz, sung by the legendary Swingle Singers in a style that shaped easy listening and soundtrack music for years to come! The French group had roots in vocalese jazz traditions – from groups like Lambert Hendricks & Ross or Les Double Six – but for this ... LP, Vinyl record album

Julie London

Make Love to Me
Liberty, 1957. Very Good-
Hard to imagine that Julie London would ever have to ask anyone to make love to her – at least not when she looks as sexy as this on the cover! The album's a key early classic for Liberty – still very fragile, personal, and up-close enough to make you think you might just be able to ... LP, Vinyl record album

Eddie Jefferson

Body & Soul
Prestige, 1968. Very Good+
Seminal work from one of the hippest jazz singers ever – a session that showed the world that Eddie Jefferson was firmly back in business during the 60s! The set's got a really rollicking feel, and a bit more influence from soul than the bop of Eddie's roots – with elements of gospel ... LP, Vinyl record album

King Pleasure/Annie Ross

King Pleasure Sings/Annie Ross Sings
Prestige, Early 50s. Near Mint-
A record that revolutionized the concept of jazz vocals in the 50s – thanks to famous performances by Annie Ross and King Pleasure! The tracks on the LP include Ross' early interpretations of Wardell Gray's classics "Twisted" and "Farmer's Market", and the King Pleasure ... LP, Vinyl record album

Shirley Horn

Embers & Ashes
Stereocraft, 1960. Very Good+
An early album by Shirley, and a haunting batch of lonely songs of lost love that has Shirley singing with her trio of Joe Benjamin and Herb Lovelle. The material's very much in keeping with the "classic" sound that's been so popular during her recent revival, and the record stands as ... LP, Vinyl record album
Roulette, Early 60s. Very Good
An overlooked gem from jazz singer Etta Jones – an effort cut around the same time as her better-known records for Prestige, but one that's maybe done with an even hipper sound overall! Etta's nicely laidback, and hits that soulful, singing mood that makes her so great right from the start ... LP, Vinyl record album

Joe Lee Wilson & Bond Street

Shout For Trane
Why Not/Trio (Japan), 1976. Near Mint-
Maybe the best Joe Lee Wilson album you can ever get! Joe Lee Wilson's got a spiritual jazz vocal style that's in the vein of Leon Thomas, but which often falls short of Thomas' greatness on other recordings – yet here, though, he's totally great – hitting a beautifully soulful vein ... LP, Vinyl record album

Dinah Washington

Dinah Jams
EmArcy, 1955. Very Good-
One of the best jazz-based sessions recorded by Dinah Washington in the 50s – appropriately titled Dinah Jams, which is a pretty good reference to the feeling of the set! The sessions were recorded in a relatively relaxed, intimate feel – not necessarily as unbridled as a true jam ... LP, Vinyl record album
Decca, Late 50s. Near Mint-
A rare Decca album lead by the smoky vocals of Beverly Kenney – a really unique late 50s/early 60s jazz girl who once worked for the Dorsey brothers, the Count Basie Orchestra and others, and only ever cut a handful of albums under her own name! Sings for Playboys is an intimate, sultry ... LP, Vinyl record album

Gloria Lynne

Lonely & Sentimental
Everest, Early 60s. Very Good+
A classic set from singer Gloria Lynne – mature vocals that bridge the worlds of soul and jazz – all set to some beautiful modern arrangements by Melba Liston! The set's got a depth that goes a bit past some of Gloria's other records from the time – less of the pop-styled ... LP, Vinyl record album
Discovery, 1981. Near Mint-
While not as funky as some of her other records for Discovery, this tasty session of vocal tracks still has Lorez singing in a beautifully soulful style, of the type that she's finally getting recognition for these days! The lady has always been one of our favorite vocalists, and she's got some ... LP, Vinyl record album
Columbia, Late 50s. Very Good+
Jimmy Rushing reprises a nice batch of blues classics from the 20s, all of which were sung by early recording artists like Bessie or Clara Smith. The group that backs him is a nice one, and features Buck Clayton on trumpet, Buster Bailey on clarinet, and Coleman Hawkins on tenor. As with many of ... LP, Vinyl record album

Mary Ann McCall

Melancholy Baby
Coral, 1959. Very Good
An oft-overlooked jazz vocal session by Mary Ann McCall, with superb arrangements by Johnny Richards, and a nice batch of tracks that have a surprisingly dark quality to them. Titles inlcude "Blue (and Broken Hearted)", "Lover Is Blue", "Melancholy Nights", "Am I ... LP, Vinyl record album

Dakota Staton

I've Been There
Capitol, Late 60s. Near Mint-
A cool album of tracks that has Dakota singing with a bit tighter arrangement than usual, in sort of a pop soul jazz bag, like some of the other Capitol singers at the time who were working with HB Barnum and David Axelrod. The album includes Dakota's groovy track "Young Generation" ... LP, Vinyl record album
Verve, Mid 50s. Near Mint-
Anita O'Day pays tribute to Downbeat poll winners by singing vocal versions of their big hits in this lively set of jazz tracks from the 50s! Arrangements are by Marty Paich and Russ Garcia, both swinging as nicely as they ever did – and the setting of the album keeps Anita nicely in line, ... LP, Vinyl record album

Nancy Sinatra

How Does That Grab You?
Reprise, Mid 60s. Very Good+
Another classic in the Lee Hazelwood/Billy Strange mode, featuring some lusty dusky production that gets a lot better work from Nancy than she could ever do on her own! Lots of Hazelwood originals, including "How Does that Grab You, Darlin?", "My Baby Cried All Night Long", ... LP, Vinyl record album

Nina Simone

Amazing Nina Simone
Colpix, 1959. Very Good+
Amazing is right – as Nina Simone is really taking off here – showing the world that she's way more than just another jazz singer – able to hit some righteous currents that would only explode even more in years to come! Nina's emotion is subtle, but extremely powerful – ... LP, Vinyl record album
Project 3, 1968. Very Good+ Gatefold
The fab second album by the Free Design – one that has them moving confidently into the realm of groovy pop – magically touching songs with their unique innocent harmony approach, and completely transforming them in the process! The set includes wonderful versions of groovy 60s pop ... LP, Vinyl record album

Lambert, Hendricks & Ross

Sing A Song Of Basie (ABC pressing)
ABC, 1958. Very Good+
One of the first albums ever by this legendary jazz vocal group! LHR do the incredible – and create a set of vocal renditions of standards by the Basie band, putting jazzy lyrics in to replace the instrumental solos, but keeping the same vibe as the original tracks. The sound and approach ... LP, Vinyl record album
Verve, 1959. Near Mint-
Very cool work from Anita O'Day – a session cut with Jimmy Giuffre arrangements, in a style that's a bit different than some of her other 50s work for Verve! Jimmy brings a nice touch of modernism to the record – casting the horns in ways that show his own love of creative colors and ... LP, Vinyl record album

Etta Jones

From The Heart
Prestige, 1962. Very Good
A beautiful album of heartfelt vocal tracks by a young Etta Jones – featuring arrangements by Oliver Nelson that rank among the best sort that he was penning for vocalists of this sort during the 60s. Etta's got a nice mix of material here, and although some of the tracks are a bit well-known ... LP, Vinyl record album

Anita O'Day & Cal Tjader

Time For Two
Verve, 1962. Very Good+
A great little meeting of two of the better talents on Verve Records in the early 60s – one that pairs the warm vocals of Anita O'Day with the cool vibes of Cal Tjader – in a sweet little session that's actually one of O'Day's best from the time! The feel here is lively, and slightly ... LP, Vinyl record album
Columbia, Early 60s. Very Good+
A great batch of jazz and pop vocal tracks, and possibly the finest record that singer Teri Thornton ever cut in the 60s! The title track has Teri singing the theme to the show Route 66, and there's lots of other nice numbers like "This Is All I Ask", "The Day I Stop Loving You" ... LP, Vinyl record album
Capitol, 1970. Very Good+
A really great album from Nancy Wilson – a set that still has her working with the jazzy undercurrents of her best 60s work for Capitol Records – yet also moving into some hipper, more sophisticated soul styles too! There's a really strong adult vibe to the record – not that ... LP, Vinyl record album
Reprise, 1967. Very Good+
A beautiful little album that shows a whole new side of Sinatra! Frank's a bit late on the bossa game – but the record's a wonderfully gentle batch of bossa nova tunes, performed with musical and occasional vocal accompaniment by Jobim, and larger orchestral backings by Claus Ogerman. Far ... LP, Vinyl record album

Joe Lee Wilson

Secrets From The Sun
Inner City, 1978. Sealed
One of the hippest albums ever from singer Joe Lee Wilson – a righteous vocalist with a style we'd rank right up there with Leon Thomas or Andy Bey in the 70s! The album's got an easygoing vibe that's a nice change from some of Joe's other records – a quality that's never too forced, ... LP, Vinyl record album

Nancy Wilson

I Know I Love Him
Capitol, 1973. Near Mint-
An excellent lost album from Nancy – and one of her most original! The record takes the sophisticated soul vocals of her late 60s albums on Capitol, and twists them with a hip LA jazzy style arranged by Don Sebesky, and performed by The Crusaders and Arthur Adams. Great stuff, and with the ... LP, Vinyl record album

Della Reese

Della Reese Live
ABC, 1966. Very Good+
One of Della Reese's greatest records – and a unique little session cut "live in the studio" before a very appreciative crowd! Bobby Bryant wrote out some very hip charts for the session, and they're made even better by organ work by Bill Doggett and piano lines by Gerald Wiggins ... LP, Vinyl record album
Verve, Late 50s. Near Mint-
An excellent album of vocals by the great Joe Williams! Joe's always been a fine singer, but with Basie, he really gets the backing he needs to do his work the best. And although this album isn't as authenico as it might be, it still comes from a time when Verve really knew how to handle singers ... LP, Vinyl record album
Decca, Mid 50s. Very Good+
Pretty darn cool stuff from one of the greatest jazz singers around! This one was Mark's first album, cut a long time ago when he was a wee lad – as you'll see by the photo on the cover. The arrangements are by Ralph Burns, and they're pretty darn hip – and although the style is more ... LP, Vinyl record album

Mel Torme

That's All
Columbia, 1966. Near Mint-
One of the greatest, straightest sets from Mel Torme – an all-classic batch of tracks that's quite different than his other album for Columbia! Torme checks in as a totally committed, totally serious jazz vocalist here – with an impeccable approach to the music that puts this album ... LP, Vinyl record album
Columbia, 1962. Very Good+
Includes the tracks "I'm Just Wild About Harry", "Doodle Dee Doo", "On the Sunny Side of the Street", and "Tom Dooley". LP, Vinyl record album

Jimmy Rushing with Buck Clayton

Jazz Odyssey Of James Rushing Esq.
Columbia, Late 50s. Sealed
A classic from Jimmy Rushing – recorded at a time when he was really finding a new audience for his vocals! In a style that Columbia was using on a number of sides in the late 50s and early 60s, Jimmy and Buck do a bit of educatin' – and trace a progression of jazz styles from New ... LP, Vinyl record album
Direction, 1968. Near Mint- Gatefold
An incredible late album from Bobby Darin – and a real treasure! The record was cut after Darin's mid 60s fascination with the work of Tim Hardin, most of which he re-recorded for Atlantic during that time – but it's got a similar style to the Hardin years, yet features some stunning ... LP, Vinyl record album
Colpix, 1963. Near Mint-
A hip set of live tracks from Nina Simone – very dark and moody, with backing by only a small combo that includes two guitars, bass, and drums by Montego Joe! Nina handles all the arrangements herself – with a quality that really shows her stepping forward from straight jazz, and ... LP, Vinyl record album

Bobby Darin

Love Swings
Atco, 1961. Very Good-
One of the greatest Bobby Darin albums ever! Gone are all the gimmicks of some of his teen records, and in their place is a solid, serious approach to jazz vocals that has Darin standing tall with the likes of Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. Honest, this is one of our favorite vocal ... LP, Vinyl record album

Nina Simone

Here Comes The Sun
RCA, 1971. Very Good+
Classic RCA work from the great Nina Simone – and an album that definitely shows Nina hitting more of the soul spectrum than some of her folk and jazz work of the 60s! The set's got these wonderful arrangements from Harold Wheeler – a bit electric, and done in a way that takes familiar ... LP, Vinyl record album

Frank Sinatra

Swing Along With Me
Reprise, 1961. Very Good
This was Sinatra's first swing record for Reprise and his third collaboration with Billy May who arranged and conducted this 1961 recording. It features some standards from the likes of Rodgers & Hart ("Have You Met Miss Jones?") and George & Ira Gershwin ("Love Walked ... LP, Vinyl record album

Eartha Kitt

Thursday's Child
RCA, 1956. Very Good+
Henri Rene and his orchestra accompany Eartha on this record named after her 1956 autobiography. There is an tiny excerpt from her book on the back cover but the songs don't seem to necessarily reflect her life story. It's a nice collection of some relatively tame tunes in that throaty Earth Kitt ... LP, Vinyl record album

Billy Eckstine

Don't Worry 'Bout Me
Mercury, 1962. Very Good+
Fantastic – and a record that will send chills down your spine! The recording quality of this one is superb – and Billy's rich voice has a bottomless quality that echoes out over the depths of moody arrangements by Billy Byers and Torrie Zito that are some of the best we've ever heard ... LP, Vinyl record album

Teri Thornton

Devil May Care
Riverside, 1961. Near Mint-
LP...$6.99 16.99
One of the best albums from singer Teri Thornton – a jazz vocalist who was really starting to come into her own at the beginning of the 60s, and shines here in a way that's different from some of her bigger label sets! Backings are by Norman Simmons – a pianist we love on his own, and ... LP, Vinyl record album
 
Updated March 19, 2024


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