Instead of
Girl Singers
, a more apt title for this French collection would have been Girl Swingers, since it assembles some of the most rhythmic female vocalists of the
big-band
era. Sure, there's plenty of room for a sweet
ballad
such as
Helen Forrest
's vocal on
"Deep Purple"
or
Doris Day
's era-defining
"Sentimental Journey,"
but the emphasis here is on performances that swing -- lightly or strongly. Fortunately, there were plenty of female singers with swing, and yet more fortunate, the compilers are a talented bunch, unearthing many a song from the archive that will be new to everyone except the most fanatical of collectors. Many of the usual names appear --
Anita O'Day
on
"Murder, He Says,"
Ella Fitzgerald
"A Kiss Goodnight,"
Billie Holiday
"Any Old Time,"
June Christy
"Willow Weep for Me,"
Maxine Sullivan
"Gone with the Wind,"
Helen Ward
"Goody Goody,"
and even
Jo Stafford
"Snootie Little Cutie."
Also, there are quite a few of the middle rank of familiar singers, such as
Bea Wain
,
Ginnie Powell
Kitty Kallen
, and
Martha Tilton
. An even larger number of names, however, will be unfamiliar to most listeners -- despite their high quality -- including
Caroline Grey
(
"Tea for Two"
),
Judy Ellington
"Some Like It Hot"
), and
Lucy Ann Polk
"Back in Your Own Backyard"
). Overall, the disc is a wonderful treasure for fans of
traditional pop
or big bands, and aside from the previously mentioned
there's not a cliched compilation choice in sight. ~ John Bush