LaLa Land is currently going through a heatwave! Have I told you that I've had it with summer? Things get all sorts of weird in LaLa in this kind of heat. But rejoice, because Teri Thornton - striking a pose like no one business - is here to take us away.
In 1961, Teri burst onto the scene with her debut LP "Devil May Care" - a Terrific Teri Cheerful Exclusive! - and demonstrated wowza, show-stopping vocal prowess. The reviews were through the roof and so was the public reception, but just as suddenly - poof - she vanished after a few more LPs to raise a family and was all but forgotten.
Until, that is, she resurfaced in NYC jazz clubs in the mid-1980s. The acclaim was instantaneous once again, as if no time had passed. Tragically, cancer whisked her away shortly thereafter at age 66, but give a listen to this LP - and crank it! Trust me, you'll understand what all the fuss was about.
Speaking of forgotten, and unjustly maligned, let's move on to the delightfully named Dodo Greene.
I saw unjustly maligned, because if I didn't know any better, and read only AllMusic's summary and review, I might have skipped over Dodo, whose voice and arrangements are at once jazzy and bluesy rock 'n' roll. She almost defies categorization, what with her husky, rhythmic, and always emotive, vocal delivery, which brings just about everything she sings to vivid life. In other words, she's an astonishing original. And if that's not worth celebrating, then I don't know what is.
In 1959, after her first LP "Ain't What You Do" - a Darn Good Dodo Cheerful Exclusive! - she followed up with 1963's "My Hour Of Need." They're both fantastic, so again, ignore the dismissive AllMusic review which writes her off as "a true obscurity," and recommends "My Hour Of Need" only because of Ike Quebec, the LP's saxophonist. Such tacky shade for a site that promotes itself as erudite.
She didn't record any more LPs after these two poor-selling efforts, but trooper that she was, kept performing at gigs for loyal fans - including Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald, thankyouverymuch - for the rest of her life. She may well be obscure, but in songs like "Don't Cry Baby" and "Little Things Mean A Lot," you'll hear a master at work. Yes, she really is that good. I promise.
And now for a chameleon, at least pictorially. Behold Bobbe Norris, first in her come-hither beauty shot:
And next on her LP cover in her best lesbian-gym-teacher-dressed-for-cocktails lewk. But looks be damned, because it's all about the voice for Bobbe, as it should be. A veteran jazz vocalist who's still active in nightclubs and jazz festivals, she first released "The Beginning" in 1966, a Naturally Norris Cheerful Exclusive!
If you haven't heard of her, it's probably because she hails from San Francisco's jazz scene, which, coastal bias being what it is, doesn't get as much ink as the East Coast's. Her stirring, low-toned vocals - she digs deep into her lower register on many songs here - can seep beneath your skin if you let them. And when she stretches out her notes like she does on "You're My Thrill," it's spine-tingling.
Question of the day: Is it possible to be in complete control of your pussy (cat)? Ba-dum-tss! So jokes The Secret Song File, while also giving you a very obvious hint about the identity of this violet-tinged, deceased Minnesota luminary. Oh, and here's a picture hint:
Confused? Don't be, though do be astonished that some people paid $6,000.00 for this selection of kicky songs on cassette. Yes, cassette, because it was extremely rare and available no other way.
Confused again? You poor dear. See, back in the day, this violet singer was asked to put together an exclusive playlist - which included several new songs and super-special remixes for others - for a fashion show by none other than Nomi Malone's favorite designer. But few things ever remain exclusive. And now you can listen to this sizzlin' playlist for yourself in this spanking new release. The Secret Song File says, "You're welcome, bitches."
Is it a must? Naw. Is it a blast? FFS, as the kids say, yes, it is.
TTFN (and we said that when I was young) (er).
ROTFL AFAIC in the comments, if you like, but hey, no NSFW nonsense. This site is clean (ish)!
