Vocalists
Singers we love -- from vintage torch to vocalese, scat, jazz poetry, standards, and more!
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Possible matches: 1
1
Atco, 1968. Very Good Gatefold ... $9.99
Great stuff – one of the amazing early albums from the team of Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger – kind of a next-generation to the Brit beat group sound of the mid 60s – one that moves beyond simple R&B modes, to bring in more sophisticated soul and jazz touches! Driscoll's vocals are amazing – some of the boldest belted out in the British scene at the time – and Auger's Hammond work really cooks throughout – at a level that easily makes him one of the best UK organists to hit the scene, amidst some very heady company in the 60s. There's a few bluesy moments, but our favorites are the funky ones – especially the group's reading of "Season Of The Witch", which is tremendous. Other cuts include "In & Out", "Black Cat", "Goodbye Jungle Telegraph", and "Break It Up". LP, Vinyl record album
(Purple and tan label stereo pressing with CT suffix. Cover has light ringwear and some edge wear.)
Partial matches: 30
2
Lorez Alexandria —
Tangerine – Lorez Alexandria Sings The Songs Of Johnny Mercer Vol III ... LP Discovery, 1985. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
The 3rd in Lorez's excellent series of albums dedicated to the songs of Johnny Mercer – and like previous volumes, recorded with some very soulful backing from the Gildo Mahones quartet! Gildo brings a gentle swing to the tracks that lets Lorez sing in a free and open range – one that she often didn't reach in earlier, more restricted albums. The set doesn't have any of the standout funk numbers of some of Lorez's other Mahones sets – but it is a really tasty one overall, with tracks that include I'm Building Up To An Awful Let Down", "Day In Day Out", "That Old Black Magic", "Bittersweet", "Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home", and "Midnight Sun". LP, Vinyl record album
3
Terry Callier —
Speak Your Peace (green vinyl pressing) (2023 Black Friday Release) ... LP Mr Bongo (UK), 2002. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
The best work we've heard in years from Terry Callier – the legendary soul singer from Chicago who's finally getting his due! This album avoids many of the mistakes of Terry's recent comeback efforts – and has him working with the best of the London scene – extremely fitting, as London's always given Terry some of his biggest support, and were crucial in bringing him back from obscurity! Most of the tunes on the set are produced by Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick, of Incognito – and they go for a spacious sound that's a strong extension of Terry's classic work for Cadet – rough vocals and acoustic guitar mixed with warmer keyboards, tight rhythms, and touches of strings. The album also features guest appearances by Paul Weller, Marc Mac of 4 Hero, and a number of other important London forces – and tracks include "Brother To Brother", "Imagine A Nation", "Monuments Of Mars", "Darker Than A Shadow", "Running Around", and "Speak Your Piece". LP features 6 tracks from the CD. (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album
5
Reprise, 1963. Near Mint- ... $7.99
The Sammy Davis Jr sound, heard in full effect – cast out through a host of wonderful material on this early Reprise record – with dynamic Morty Stevens arrangements that really bring the most out of Sammy D! The tunes are varied, but Sammy makes most of them his own – working both through emotive moments and swinging lyrics – all without ever losing his cool, and all with vocals that easily blow away most of his contemporaries. Tracks include "In A Persian Market", "That Old Black Magic", "Stand Up & Fight", "It's All Right With Me", "Hey There", and "Birth Of The Blues". LP, Vinyl record album
(Tri-color stereo pressing with deep groove. Cover has light wear, some aging, gloss wrinkles in front, and a round sticker in back.)
6
Lost Recordings (France), 1961. New Copy ... $14.99 18.99
A great live set from Ella Fitzgerald – one that's never been issued before, but which stands nicely next to some of her Verve releases of this nature, especially her previous Ella In Berlin record! The group here is a quartet – with great piano from Lou Levy, who's a wonderfully sensitive accompanist in all the right spots – plus guitar from Herb Ellis, bass from Wilfred Middlebrooks, and drums from Gus Johnson – an easily-grooving group who really let Fitzgerald open up with a soulfully swinging sound! Titles include a great take on "Mack The Knife", a seven minute reading of "St Louis Blues", and the titles "I've Got A Crush On You", "Lorelei", "Won't You Please Let Me In", "Too Close For Comfort", "That Old Black Magic", and "Lover Come Back To Me". CD
7
Time/
One of the rare few albums cut by vocalist Dodo Greene – best known for her obscure Blue Note session – and even that one's pretty darn rare! Dodo's a hell of a singer, and one that never fully got her due (although we can testify to seeing her years ago in a wonderful small club set on the Buffalo scene!) She's quite soulful, and has a unique phrasing that's partly some of the personally-tinged energy of the Billy Holiday generation, and partly the fuller mode of the sorts of late 40s singers who had to work in front of larger, more romping groups – a balance that she strikes well here, on the album's nice balance of jazz instrumentation and larger arrangements. Backings are by Slide Hampton – so you can bet that they're pretty darn hip – and titles include "Manhattan", "Ain't What You Do", "Don't Cry Baby", "Black Coffee", "The Breeze", and "It's A Pity To Say Goodnight". CD also features material from a bonus rare single – "Tell Me" and "Hold On". CD
(2004 Japanese pressing. Includes obi!)
8
Dodo Greene —
Ain't What You Do (with bonus tracks) ... CD Time/
One of the rare few albums cut by vocalist Dodo Greene – best known for her obscure Blue Note session – and even that one's pretty darn rare! Dodo's a hell of a singer, and one that never fully got her due (although we can testify to seeing her years ago in a wonderful small club set on the Buffalo scene!) She's quite soulful, and has a unique phrasing that's partly some of the personally-tinged energy of the Billy Holiday generation, and partly the fuller mode of the sorts of late 40s singers who had to work in front of larger, more romping groups – a balance that she strikes well here, on the album's nice balance of jazz instrumentation and larger arrangements. Backings are by Slide Hampton – so you can bet that they're pretty darn hip – and titles include "Manhattan", "Ain't What You Do", "Don't Cry Baby", "Black Coffee", "The Breeze", and "It's A Pity To Say Goodnight". CD also features material from a bonus rare single – "Tell Me" and "Hold On". CD
Also available Ain't What You Do ... CD 21.99(2017 Japanese pressing – includes obi.)
9
Jackie & Roy —
Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most (aka Jackie & Roy) ... CD Black Lion/
One of the first albums ever from the team of Jackie Caine and Roy Kral – and one of the best, too! The album's got a relaxed, open-ended approach to jazz vocals that already carries all the hallmarks of the Jackie & Roy style – wordless scatting on some tunes, playful lyrical interplay on others, and a focus on Jackie's ballad talents on some of the gentler numbers – all wrapped up in small combo backing that's sensitive, creative, and modern – yet never in a way that overwhelms the vocals. It's hard to match the poise, class, and cleverness of this one – and the album easily set a new standard for vocal jazz in the 50s! Titles include a few great early tunes by Tommy Wolf – the songwriter who would become so important for the pair – and backing is by Roy on piano, Barney Kessel on guitar, Red Mitchell on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums. Titles include "Let's Take A Walk Around The Block", "You Smell So Good", "Listen Little Girl", "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most", "Bill's Bit", "Dahuud", "I Wish I Were In Love Again", and "Lover". CD
(Out of print.)
10
Katie Lee —
Life Is Just A Bed Of Neuroses ... LP RCA, 1960. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
A great little follow-up to Katie Lee's indie hit of the late 50s, Songs Of Couch & Consultation – and like that set, a batch of playful little tunes with psychoanalytic themes at the core! The scoring here, by Ray Martin, is quite similar to some of the other RCA female vocal sides of the late 50s – not entirely jazz, and done with full orchestrations – yet never in a way that's ever too sentimental at all – and in fact, in Martin's hands, surprisingly playful at most points – almost as if Raymond Scott were scoring the tunes! Lee's charm really does a great job of bringing the inner psyche out – and titles include "The Insecure Tango", "Life Is Just A Bed Of Neuroses", "The Ballad Of Group Therapy", and "We Must Adjust". LP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing with deep groove. Cover has light wear and aging, some price sticker remnants, half split top seam, small split in the bottom seam, and is bent a bit at the corners on the right.)
11
Les McCann —
Les McCann Sings ... LP Pacific Jazz, 1961. Sealed ... $13.99
An early vocal set from Les McCann – quite unusual, and pretty darn soulful as well! The album's done in a mode that foreshadows Les' move to soul during the 70s, and features him singing to some hip arrangements by Gerald Wilson – in a soulful, jazzy style that was common for LA of the mid 60s – somewhere in a space between Lou Rawls and Arthur Prysock – with all the hip, adult aspects you'd expect from those references! Tunes include a fair bit of standards, but swung in really fresh ways by Wilson – and McCann's got this restrained style of singing that's really great – almost as if he's hiding a broken heart beneath his groove. Tracks include "It's Way Past Suppertime", "Next Spring", "Bye Bye Black Bird", "Deed I Do", "I Cried for You", and "Wonder Why". (Jazz, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album
(2020 EU reissue on Honey Pie – still sealed.)
12
Atlantic, 1955. Very Good+ ... $9.99
A classic album of Cole Porter tunes – sung by Mabel Mercer with just a bit of tinkling piano in the background! The overall sound's a bit older than you might guess from the date of the record – a mode that takes most of the Porter tunes relatively straight, served up in Mercer's trilling style of vocals – which have more of a 20s approach to the material than other 50s singers who were making Porter swing a bit more. Backing is by Cy Walter or Stan Freeman on piano, plus a bit of bass by Frank Carroll – and titles include "Ours", "Where Oh Where", "After You", "So In Love", "Looking At You", "Ace In The Hole", and "It's Delovely". LP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing with deep groove. Cover has some surface wear and aging, white tape holding the top seam and spine, partially removed at the bottom 3 inches, and some gloss peel at the opening.)
13
Helen Merrill —
Imagination ... CD Lob (Japan), 1982. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of the most obscure sessions in the long career of jazz singer Helen Merrill – a vocalist who's got a reputation for cutting plenty of obscure sessions around the globe! This date features a mature Merrill sounding wonderful – recording in a nicely understated setting for a Japanese label, with backing from a trio that features Kosei Uchida on piano, Hideo Kawahara on bass, and Tim Horner on drums. As on some of Merrill's other magical records, the songs here are less important than the interpretation – as she works a very personal sort of spell on tunes that include "Imagination", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "While We're Young", "Falling In Love With Love", and "All Blues/
(1983 Japanese pressing.)
14
High Note, 1990. Used ... $7.99
A nice live set by vocalese maestro Mark Murphy – a tribute to Miles Davis captured live in Vienna, in 1990! Mark's finely honed, compelling vocal improvisations are given a wonderful backdrop by Miles' compositions – laid down by a group that includes Allan Praskin on sax, Peter Mihelich on piano, Achim Tang on bass and Vito Lesczak on drums. Tracks include "All Blues", "Summertime", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Parker's Mood", "Milestones", "Farmer's Market", "My Ship" and more! CD
15
Gregory Porter —
Water ... CD Motema, 2010. Used ... Out Of Stock
Gregory Porter is a really hip singer – the type that only comes around once in a blue moon! Like Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy, or Kurt Elling – all perfect references for Porter's style – Greg has a wonderful way of coming up with his own lyrics for a tune – making him way more than just a singer of standards, and instead a richly expressive voice that has every bit to offer as you might get from a jazz instrumentalist! The arrangements are great, too – handled by Porter with help from pianist Chip Crawford and producer Kamau Kenyatta – bold, soulful, and soaring on the best tracks – all in beautiful declaration of Gregory's rich power and presence. Titles include a great version of Wayne Shorter's "Black Nile", and the original tracks "1960 What", "Lonely One", "Water", "Pretty", "Illusion", and "Magic Cup". CD
16
Philips (Japan), 1955/
Excellent cool jazz vocals from The Netherlands! In the immediate post-war years, the Dutch jazz scene was one of the first to emerge with a sophisticated understanding of the American jazz form. Rita Reys was one of the country's leading talents in this respect, and she had a wonderfully cool vocal style that was similar to American singers like June Christy or Chris Connor. This great Japanese reissue of an album from 1956 has her fronting 2 different groups – one the legendary Wessel Ilcken Combo, the other an early version of The Jazz Messengers, featuring Horace Silver and Hank Mobley. The Jazz Messengers sides were apparently recorded in New York, and the Ilcken sides are of Dutch origin. Both are great – and titles include "I Should Care", "It's Alright With Me", "Old Black Magic", "Taking A Chance On Love", and "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year". CD
(1997 Japanese pressing – includes obi!)
17
Rita Reys with Wessel Ilken & Jazz Messengers —
Cool Voice Of Rita Reys (SHMCD pressing) ... CD Philips (Japan), 1955/
Excellent cool jazz vocals from The Netherlands! In the immediate post-war years, the Dutch jazz scene was one of the first to emerge with a sophisticated understanding of the American jazz form. Rita Reys was one of the country's leading talents in this respect, and she had a wonderfully cool vocal style that was similar to American singers like June Christy or Chris Connor. This great Japanese reissue of an album from 1956 has her fronting 2 different groups – one the legendary Wessel Ilcken Combo, the other an early version of The Jazz Messengers, featuring Horace Silver and Hank Mobley. The Jazz Messengers sides were apparently recorded in New York, and the Ilcken sides are of Dutch origin. Both are great – and titles include "I Should Care", "It's Alright With Me", "Old Black Magic", "Taking A Chance On Love", and "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year". CD
Also available Cool Voice Of Rita Reys (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD 19.9918
Roswell Rudd & Heather Masse —
August Love Song ... CD Red House, 2016. Used ... Out Of Stock
A set that starts out sounding like one of the most old school, straight ahead records we've ever heard from trombonist Roswell Rudd – but which soon opens up to all the creative, compelling modes we've always loved in Rudd's music! The record's the result of recent work with vocalist Heather Masse – a hell of a singer who takes Roswell back to older eras of jazz in style, but in ways that are still touched with all the creative tones we've always loved in his work on trombone! The mix is a bit like some of Roswell's 70s album with Sheila Jordan – in the way the songs are familiar, the structure is mostly standard, but the whole thing's open to these amazing inflections that really keep things interesting. Masse really surprises us, too – as while she can sing straight some times, she can also open up with these modes that are both modern and inventive, but never in a way that ignores older jazz roots. The pair have a way of embracing decades of jazz history at once – a bit in the way that Jaki Byard was always able to do – and they work here alongside Rolf Sturn on guitar and Mark Helias on bass – on titles that include "Social Call", "I'm Goin Sane", "Winter Blues", "Con Alma", "Tova & Kyla Rain", and "Blackstrap Molasses/
(Sleeve has some edgewear and a penmark through barcode.)
19
Gil Scott-Heron —
Free Will ... LP Flying Dutchman, 1972. Near Mint- Gatefold ... $24.99
A really tremendous album from the legendary Gil Scott-Heron – and a set that stands as one of his greatest statements from the 70s! The record is a wonderful example of Gil's work in two different styles – sweet mellow jazzy soul, and harder heavier protest poetry – the latter from his roots as a writer in touch with the streets, and the former part of a brilliant new direction that he was taking on the Flying Dutchman label. Side one features classic jazzy tracks recorded with Brian Jackson – like "Free Will", "The Middle Of Your Days", "Speed Kills", and "Did You Hear What They Said?". Side two moves over to a much sparer sound – and has Gil reciting some of his poetry with very heavy percussion, and a very righteous approach. The wisdom and knowledge of those pieces is a perfect example of the kinds of issues that were haunting black America in the early 70s – especially on the tracks "No Knock", "The King Alfred Plan", and "Sex Education: Ghetto Style". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album
(Scorpio reissue.)
20
Flying Dutchman/
A really tremendous album from the legendary Gil Scott-Heron – and a set that stands as one of his greatest statements from the 70s! The record is a wonderful example of Gil's work in two different styles – sweet mellow jazzy soul, and harder heavier protest poetry – the latter from his roots as a writer in touch with the streets, and the former part of a brilliant new direction that he was taking on the Flying Dutchman label. Side one features classic jazzy tracks recorded with Brian Jackson – like "Free Will", "The Middle Of Your Days", "Speed Kills", and "Did You Hear What They Said?". Side two moves over to a much sparer sound – and has Gil reciting some of his poetry with very heavy percussion, and a very righteous approach. The wisdom and knowledge of those pieces is a perfect example of the kinds of issues that were haunting black America in the early 70s – especially on the tracks "No Knock", "The King Alfred Plan", and "Sex Education: Ghetto Style". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album
(Very top-shelf pressing – nicer than the original!)
21
Gil Scott-Heron —
Free Will (Remastered & Expanded) ... CD Bluebird, Early 70s. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A really tremendous album from the legendary Gil Scott-Heron – and a set that stands as one of his greatest statements from the 70s! The record is a wonderful example of Gil's work in two different styles – sweet mellow jazzy soul, and harder heavier protest poetry – the latter from his roots as a writer in touch with the streets, and the former part of a brilliant new direction that he was taking on the Flying Dutchman label. Side one features classic jazzy tracks recorded with Brian Jackson – like "Free Will", "The Middle Of Your Days", "Speed Kills", and "Did You Hear What They Said?". Side two moves over to a much sparer sound – and has Gil reciting some of his poetry with very heavy percussion, and a very righteous approach. The wisdom and knowledge of those pieces is a perfect example of the kinds of issues that were haunting black America in the early 70s – especially on the tracks "No Knock", "The King Alfred Plan", and "Sex Education: Ghetto Style". CD version features 8 bonus tracks – alternate versions of some of the heavier-duty tunes on the album, some of which are quite different than the originals! Also includes new notes and photos! (Soul, Vocalists) CD
Also available Free Will ... LP 24.99(Out of print First Editions pressing, digipak has some wear and a hype sticker inside.)
22
Gil Scott-Heron —
Free Will (with bonus tracks) ... CD Flying Dutchman/
A really tremendous album from the legendary Gil Scott-Heron – and a set that stands as one of his greatest statements from the 70s! The record is a wonderful example of Gil's work in two different styles – sweet mellow jazzy soul, and harder heavier protest poetry – the latter from his roots as a writer in touch with the streets, and the former part of a brilliant new direction that he was taking on the Flying Dutchman label. Side one features classic jazzy tracks recorded with Brian Jackson – like "Free Will", "The Middle Of Your Days", "Speed Kills", and "Did You Hear What They Said?". Side two moves over to a much sparer sound – and has Gil reciting some of his poetry with very heavy percussion, and a very righteous approach. The wisdom and knowledge of those pieces is a perfect example of the kinds of issues that were haunting black America in the early 70s – especially on the tracks "No Knock", "The King Alfred Plan", and "Sex Education: Ghetto Style". CD features 11 stunning bonus tracks – alternates of songs on the album, and some very cool "breakdown" tracks as well! (Soul, Vocalists) CD
Also available Free Will (AAA remastered vinyl edition) ... LP 28.9923
Colpix, 1959. Near Mint- ... $39.99
An important early live show for Nina Simone – a move from the world of small nightclubs (as mentioned in the title of her first record), to the classy Town Hall venue – working in front of an audience filled with left-leaning listeners who were the perfect crowd to get the unique bag she was working on at the time! The performance is a great one – mellow, moody, and a bit folksy – with Nina singing and playing piano with power that really rings out in the larger space – really egged on by the enthusiastic response of the audience. Titles include her classic reading of "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair", plus "The Other Woman", "Under The Lowest", "Summertime", "You Can Have Him", "Wild Is The Wind", "Return Home", and "Cotton Eyed Joe". LP, Vinyl record album
(Gold label stereo pressing with red serif text logo and deep groove. Cover has some ringwear and yellowing from age.)
24
Philips/
A landmark album from Nina Simone – a set that really pushes her far past just the standard realm of jazz vocals, and which also helped really establish her role as one of the most righteous singers of the 60s! The set's maybe extremely noteworthy for Nina's original tune "Four Women" – a righteous portrait of four different women and their struggles – unique for its time, and a key part of the early Women's Liberation movement! The rest of the album has a similar political undercurrent – sometimes subtle, but there nonetheless – as Nina works magic on tunes that include "Break Down & Let It All Out", "Either Way I Lose", "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair", and "That's All I Ask". CD
(Includes obi.)
25
Frank Sinatra —
Pal Joey ... LP Capitol, 1957. Very Good ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A soundtrack as important to the sound of Sinatra on Capitol Records as High Society – maybe even more so, as it features seminal readings of Rogers & Hart standards "Bewitched", "I Could Write A Book", "The Lady Is A Tramp", and "There's A Small Hotel". Arrangements by Nelson Riddle, too! LP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing. Cover has some surface wear, aging, price sticker remnants, small split in the top seam, and a center split in the bottom seam held with yellowed clear tape. Label on Side 2 has a peeled spot from sticker removal.)
26
Heads Up, 2012. Used ... $5.99
Maybe the greatest record so far from the lovely Esperanza Spalding – a set that has her moving farther from jazz, into a wonderfully warm style of soul music overall! The mix of modes is exquisite – a blend of Spalding's jazz-trained vocals with some beautiful arrangements that sparkle and glisten with this righteous vibe we'd put right up there with the best 70s recordings by Minnie Riperton or Linda Lewis – a really rare breed that goes way beyond the wonderful promise Esperanza's always had right from the start! The album is an instant treasure – the sort that's sure to please everyone who's already followed Spalding on her journey, yet also win her a huge new audience as well. Q-Tip helped a bit on production, but most of the work is by Spalding herself – and titles include "Radio Song", "Cinnamon Tree", "Crowned & Kissed", "Land Of The Free", "Black Gold", "Let Her", "Endangered Species", "Smile Like That", and "I Can't Help It". Comes with bonus download cart for 11 short films! (Neo Soul, Vocalists) CD
Also available Radio Music Society (deluxe edition) ... CD 6.99(Mark through barcode.)
27
Telarc, 2012. Used CD & DVD ... $6.99
Maybe the greatest record so far from the lovely Esperanza Spalding – a set that has her moving farther from jazz, into a wonderfully warm style of soul music overall! The mix of modes is exquisite – a blend of Spalding's jazz-trained vocals with some beautiful arrangements that sparkle and glisten with this righteous vibe we'd put right up there with the best 70s recordings by Minnie Riperton or Linda Lewis – a really rare breed that goes way beyond the wonderful promise Esperanza's always had right from the start! The album is an instant treasure – the sort that's sure to please everyone who's already followed Spalding on her journey, yet also win her a huge new audience as well. Q-Tip helped a bit on production, but most of the work is by Spalding herself – and titles include "Radio Song", "Cinnamon Tree", "Crowned & Kissed", "Land Of The Free", "Black Gold", "Let Her", "Endangered Species", "Smile Like That", and "I Can't Help It". Deluxe edition comes with bonus DVD that includes 11 short films and lots of bonus footage! (Neo Soul, Vocalists) CD
Also available Radio Music Society ... CD 5.99(Deluxe Edition – cover image has a dark background.)
28
Sonorama (Germany), Early 70s. New Copy 2CD ... $12.99 21.99
A rare jazz treasure from the European scene of the early 70s – killer material from a wealth of American artists and local talents – all done as special sessions for Dutch radio, and never issued to the public on record! Despite the radio origins of the music, the sound here is tremendous – easily on a par with the best MPS sessions of the time – which is no surprise, given that many of the artists here worked in similar circles! The first half of the set features the trio of pianist Louis Van Dyke augmented with guests who include Mark Murphy, Helen Merrill, Eddie Jefferson, Toots Thielemans, Herb Geller, and Dave Pike – all stepping out into the spotlight while Van Dyke's combo backs them up with lively grooves that are often heavy on bossa influences! The second half features larger orchestrations from The Metropole Orchestra – a soaring big band who groove wonderfully, often in support of vocals from Murphy or Greetje Kauffeld, but also featuring instrumental solos from European players Ack Van Rooyen, Piet Nordijk, Ferdinand Povel, and others. The whole set is worth it alone for the vocals of Murphy – because the record easily stands as some of his best work ever from this decade – and given how great Mark was at the time, that's really saying a lot! Small group titles include "Children Of The Sun", "So What", "Love Sick", "Sao Paulo", "Con Alma", "Seventh Day", and "Falling In Love With Love" – and bigger group numbers include "Out Of This World", "My Shining Hour", "Let's Fall In Love", "Get Happy", "I'll Wind", "This Time The Dream's On Me", "Paper Moon", "One For My Baby", "Come Rain Or Come Shine", and "That Old Black Magic". 37 tracks in all! (Jazz, Vocalists) CD
(And don't miss the Mark Murphy Happy Samba 7" – which features different material from the same sessions!)
29
Cassandra Wilson —
Blue Light 'Til Dawn ... CD Blue Note, 1993. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A beautiful early album from Cassandra Wilson – a singer who already had a really deep sound, right at the start – and definitely hit her stride with music like this! The album mixes jazzy currents with rootsier elements – some of them from a more global perspective – and the production is nicely understated, so that Wilson's strongly in the lead throughout. Titles include "Sankofa", "Black Crow", "I Can't Stand The Rain", "Children In The Night", "Hellhound On My Tail", "Come On In My Kitchen", and "Tell Me You'll Wait For Me". CD
30
Nancy Wilson —
Today, Tomorrow, Forever/Capitol (UK), 1964/
A very groovy set of standards and 60s pop tunes – all done by Nancy in her great soulful swinging style! Today Tomorrow Forever offers way more than you'd guess from the track list, as Nancy's at the height of her early career here – and she's getting backing from a very sympathetic west coast group that includes Jack Wilson on piano and organ, Lou Blackburn on trombone, Bill Perkins on tenor, and Milt Holland on percussion. Titles include "Our Day Will Come", "Call Me Irresponsible", "Go Away, Little Boy", "Tonight May Have To Last Me All My Life", "Unchain My Heart", and "One Note Samba". Touch Of Today features swinging arrangements by Oliver Nelson, and some more mellow backings by Sid Feller. The set's not Nancy's most original album – but it's also one of the things she does best: taking songs made famous by others, and giving them a tight swinging style that's infused with a good dose of soul. Titles include "Goin Out Of My Head", "Call Me", "Before The Rain", "You've Got Your Troubles", and "Uptight". 24 tracks in all. CD
(Out of print.)
31
Righteous (UK), Late 50s/
A really great take on the sort of territory that's usually covered in Cramps-related compilations like this – a set of tracks that still trawls through the weird and wooly world of the 7" single in the late 50s and early 60s, but one that does so here with a special ear towards British 45s from the time – stacked up with a whole host of cool, offbeat tracks we never would have heard otherwise! The set mixes instrumentals, rockers, vocal numbers, and other modes together – with a total of 28 weird tracks that really work wonders together – and make you feel like you've found some very old jukebox in the back room of some east end pub that has been standing in the same place for decades. Titles include "Cool Gool" by Sharkey Todd & The Monsters, "Demon Lover" by Lynn Cornell, "The Mole In The Hole" by The Southlanders, "My Baby's Crazy Bout Elvis" by Billy Boyle, "Diabolical Twist" by Max Bygraves, "Taboo" by Sounds Inc, "Death Valley" by Charles Blackwell, "Fried Onions" by Ted Taylor Four, "African Waltz" by Johnny Dankworth, "Payroll" by Reg Owen, "Juvenile Delinquent" by Suzy Cope, and "Just Couldn't Resist Her With Her Pocket Transistor" by Alma Cogan. (Rock, Vocalists) CD
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