Summer is dunzo, ya'll, and I'm glad of it. Bring on the cool breezes, 'cause I've had it with shvitzing! And Felicia Sanders? No matter the season, she's just too cool (and very-very too-too-very).
"It's not the brains you reach for, it's the heart," she said when asked to explain her singing style. Lucky for us, she delivers on that as few singers do, especially in 1955's "Live At the Blue Angel," a Cheerfully Fabulous Felicia Exclusive! just for you.
Did'ya know? This was Felicia's first LP after years (and years) of singing in nightclubs in Hollywood, where she was considered an "underground success" and dubbed "America's Edith Piaf."
Later, at NYC's tiny, but influential, Blue Angel Club, she wowed everyone in town, the result being this terrific album, a generous mix of standards which she wholly revitalizes with her deeply felt vocals. As one reviewer rightly noted, "She's a mature woman who sings adult songs with devastating poignancy."
Recorded in 1959, "The Exciting Connie Francis" has to be the most Connie album ever, and I mean that in the best possible way. Not only is Connie is fine form, but the Ray Ellis Orchestra is brassy and swingin' like no one's business, especially in the first half of uptempo songs, which, in this concept LP, are followed by an equal number of ballads. It was only her second album and it's fantastic.
Now let's take a step in the other direction with an artist who took a step in another direction.
In 1970, quite a bit of ink was spilled when the divine jazz chanteuse Gloria Lynne decided to supposedly "step out of her comfort zone" to record a soul LP. Yet just writing that sentence makes me smirk, because Gloria's soulful delivery has always been one of many reasons why her jazz performances were - and are - so compelling.
Beyond that, this a must-have for Gloria fans because it allows her to vocally erase, as she always does, the lines between jazz, blues, funk and soul, but this time in a new instrumental context. Oh, a note about the LP cover and track list. This was originally released as "Happy And In Love," then a year later, as simply "Gloria Lynne." This is the "Gloria Lynne" track list, but with the "Happy And In Love" LP cover (because the 70's fashion is just too groovy for words) (obvi).
Who was Cathy Hayes? She's another of those female jazz singers who's a riddle wrapped in a sphinx wrapped in a whoza-whatzit. In fact, I couldn't find a single solitary picture of her on the Internet, save her LP cover. I guess, like Garbo, she just wanted to be alone.
And beyond a few generic mentions of her as a West Coast back-up singer and her lone LP, I couldn't find anything written about her personal life, either. So all we have to go on is her voice, and in "It's All Right With Me" - a Hooray For Hayes Cheerful Exclusive! - she's a smoother-than-smooth treat. Her version of "If I Were A Bell" is delivered with such unfettered joy that I almost shudder each time I hear it.
Meanwhile, The Secret Song File is late-to-the-shuffle, as the kids used to say, when it comes to a certain R&B songstress - who's also labeled as alternative and trip-hop, depending on what review you read about her. "Say what?" you say with a hair-whip. Trust me, it works, and her debut album is not only mesmerizing, but bloody terrific (*cough*hint*). I especially adore her dreamy redo of this song. Trust me, you want.
I hope you've all had a nice end of summer respite - and I see that you've been pretty busy, too. Why? Because while I've been away, there've been countless requests for re-ups. I promise I'll get to them to them, but given the sheer volume, it'll take a bit of time, so be patient, would ya'? Please?
Patience is bitter, but the fruit is oh-so sweet.
Giggle in the later-summer comments section, if you like!
