The greatest jazz singer on earth...
roarin20sGuy | 09/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anita O'Day who started out singing with Gene Krupa's outfit in the early 40's, was highly influenced by trumpeter Roy Eldridge and singer Billie Holiday. Miss O'Day's unique jazz phrasing is completely black, making her possibly the most balck sounding white jazz singer ever(with the possible acception of Teddy Grace). O'Day only improved over time, this mid 50's LP )(riginally recorded for Norman Granz' Verve label) "Waiter Make Mine Blues" is re-issued onto CD with original liner notes, and wonderful original cover art, which has a sad and reflective looking O'Day on the cover(it looks like a female version of Sinatra's cover LP to "No One Care"). O'Day covers many reflective moods, mostly of lost love and lonliness. A classic torch album, or as Sinatra would say "saloon songs." This CD belongs in evryone's music collection, and until Verve(now Universal) decides to release it domesticly in th year 3000, we have to buy this expensive Japanese import from Verve Japan, it's worth every penny. HIGHLY RECOMENDED"
DIVA SERENADES IN BLUE
Giovanni | Chicago, IL | 01/21/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being a relatively new Anita O'Day fan, I was impressed by the track list (and the personnel on the recordings) that this should be a great album of torch songs from the underappreciated Anita O'Day and I was not disappointed. The songs float and permeate, like the smoke from a cigarette drifting over a bar full of lovers and losers. (great album cover!) Russell Garcia orchestrated and conducted these great songs for Anita; and had assembled some of the West Coast's greatest musicians to do so. (You will immediately recognize Bud Shank's sax work throughout the album) From the opener, the classic "THAT OLD FEELING", the mood is set: somewhat sad, somewhat swingin'. Even the ballads, such as the wistful title track and one of the albums best tracks WHATEVER HAPPENED TO YOU have a great jazz feel to it, and evokes emotions without making one too melancholy. The evergreen THE THRILL IS GONE, long a celebrated jazz vehicle, is sparked to a new height by Anita, ushered along by a scorching Russ Garcia chart. YESTERDAYS, another great old chestnut, gets the slow and the swing treatment all in one and turns into a mini-masterpiece among all the other great tracks. This is another great import from Japan that belongs in your collection if you appreciate great singing and music!"
Anita O'Day at her blithe, blusesy best
Freeman Gunter | New York City | 05/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of the great jazz singer's finest albums, a sophisticated assortment of fine standards given stimulating readings by Miss O'Day. Russ Garcia's witty, swinging arrangements are the perfect backdrop, partner even, for Anita's definitive stylings. For thirty-five years this has been one of my all-time favorite albums. I dare you to resist the title tune, "What Ever Happened to You," "Mad About the Boy," or "The Thrill is Gone." Jazz singing at it's most original and imaginative. Freeman Gunter"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
