With its saucy title and come-hither cover photo,
Squeeze Me
promises an abundance of sex-kitten thrills, but what separates
Sallie Blair
from dozens of other postwar bombshells is her bluesy, earthy voice -- sultriness notwithstanding, the girl can sing. This
Bethlehem
debut pairs
Blair
with arranger
Richard Wess
and a small-combo support unit headlined by bassist
Milt Hinton
, guitarist
Sal Salvador
, and pianist
Sanford Gold
. The record's candlelit ambience emphasizes
's prowess on romantic ballads, but a few uptempo, Latin-inspired cuts underscore the breadth of her vocal range. ~ Jason Ankeny