Ivie Scores!
Lucy in the Sky | Florida | 04/17/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are some singers you just can't go wrong with; Ivie Anderson is one of them. She could turn a melody into a work of art, and when she swings, she swings hard!
Raisin' the Rent is one of the best albums I've heard in a long time. Some of the best tracks include "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Get Yourself a New Broom," "Isn't Love the Strangest Thing?" and "It Was a Sad Night in Harlem," but they're ALL classic. As another reviewer has mentioned, there are some songs on this collection which smack of major political incorrectness in this day and age, but even despite their less-than-desirable lyrics, "Ebony Rhapsody" and "Delta Bound" have fun, toe-tapping rhythm and "Cotton" is a gorgeous melody.
This is a CD for fans of music! Highly recommended to all!"
COOL !!
Michael R. Lachance | Maine, USA | 09/03/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ivie really *WAS* Duke's best vocalist. This is a great compilation of some of her best recordings with the Ellington Band. If you love that 1930's heavy sounding jazz with hot vocals this will be a very welcome CD. And of course the band is superb as ever, with some very important recordings throughout. There never was another "Ivie" for Ellington and the band."