Search - Anita O'Day :: Indestructible (Dig)

Time for Anita to call it a day...

Paul A. Tassone | Glenwood, NSW , Australia | 08/29/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Anita O'Day is one of my favourite singers of all time. She remains a truly unique artist and human being, someone who did things her own way even though at times this was not in her best interests both career-wise and personally. She has a marvellous legacy of recordings that date from the big band era through her legendary years with Verve Records and even on into the 1970's and 1980's when she recorded independently. If nothing else, Anita has always been an innovator and a survivor.



At 85 she recorded the album presently under consideration. However, the results do not do this legend justice and it would have been better had she left well enough alone. The voice lacks any strength, power or focus and the pitch problems that plagued her even at the height of her powers are now more evident than ever. Most sad of all is hearing the great imagination of this woman dimmed. That was always one of Anita's greatest gifts. Sadly, time has corroded the unique gifts of a remarkable artist.



This is not surprising as age ravages everyone and is especially the blight of the singer. My personal favourite, Ella Fitzgerald, continued recording well past her prime and although I applaud the spirit the results were not always worth the effort. I find the same true in Anita's case. I've given a 2 star rating for this as a tribute to Anita's will power in being able at this late date to achieve what she does on the album. However, I firmly believe the album should not have been released or recorded as it does not do this great artist justice.



My advice: for the Anita completists pick up a copy but be warned that no 85 year old can recapture the glory days. For jazz lovers in general or those who want to know what Anita O'Day is all about avoid this recording. Head straight to the Verve albums and you will hear this great singer at her very, very best. And believe me, she was one of the greatest ever!"

Sadly, Not the Way She Was

Chad Williams | Daly City, CA | 07/15/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The very title "Indestructible" is a misnomer. A voice is very destructible, and if proof was needed, this is it.



It is a credit to beloved Anita O'Day, who is on virtually every list of great jazz singers, that she has survived her myriad problems and lived to a ripe old age. But like all mortals, even Miss O'Day cannot flout the laws of nature; an 86-year-old human being is not meant to sing. It's the vocal cords, you see. One of the more delicate parts of our anatomy to begin

with, these tiny silk-like strands wither, become dry and brittle, then give out altogether. It is the last phase that is evident on "Indestructible" and along with the sad lack of voice, there is also a lack of rhythm and timing that leads me to conclude that Anita was, as any senior is entitled to be, confused as to where she was, what she was doing, and why. I remember long ago, as a young child, I attended a wake and behind a curtain was my teacher in a box. The widow asked if I would like to see him, and I had to politely decline. She was very understanding, "I know you'd like to remember him the way he was." And so, while I hope our Anita enjoys life and good health for as many more years to come as possible, I suggest we all remember Anita's unique voice and style "the way she was." There is a great body of O'Day work for us to enjoy without this grim reminder that nothing- nothing that comes to my mind, anyway- is indestructible."

A Bit Past Her Prime...

Gertrude | New York USA | 04/24/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This hurts to write. I LOVE Anita. She's got it all, or had it all. Though she's still got style her voice is pretty far gone. Its too bad there are no sound samples here because if you are familiar with Anita's vast body of excellent work, you might want to listen a bit before buying. (Visit http://www.anitaoday.com/homepage.html if you want to hear some sound samples from "Indestructible" and while you're there check out some of her amazing legacy as one of the greatest performers jazz has even known. )"