Search - Cleo Laine :: Nixa Jazz Recordings

Young songbird who sound very stylish and classy!

08/19/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although young Dame Cleo didn't posses that famous multi-octave voice (that comes later), on this early recordings she sounds wonderfully warm and stylish.This album actually makes neccesariy listening for any Cleo Laine fan, since represents her early work from 50-ies (other albums are "The British sessions" and "The very best of" which shows her growth through decades). Unfortunatelly this recordings are not really the earliest ("Mister and Missisipi" from 1952. well that is something to hear!) but anyway young Cleo was charmingly full of enthusiasm and decidedly kept her british accent all the way.Songs are very well-known and very wisely chosen as the matter of the fact (maybe not commercial-wise, but they definitely stand the test of time) and particulary in the last song "Sugar"- sung by Cleo's idol Peggy Lee in original - young Cleo sing like a dream.Very beautiful!"

CHILLINGLY COOL EARLY CLEO

Edward J. Miller | Miami, Florida USA | 02/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm thrilled to see this collection on CD; I've owned it on vinyl since the mid-70s. I bought it as a cut-out at a discount record shop on lower 5th Avenue in Manhattan. I was already a Cleo fan; this superb record gave me a new insight into the lady. She's incredibly young here, but exhibits an uncanny intuitive style, making each song her own forever. She's backed by Johnny Dankworth, and I don't know if they were even an item at this point in their lives, but what chemistry between two consummate musicians! I love the evocative mid-cenury feel of the arrangements. Each of these songs is a three act play in her hands, and the voice is like crushed velvet. Whether you're a novice or a fan, you MUST have this collection BUY IT!"

Wonderful, but the best is yet to come

Charles - Music Lover | Phoenix, AZ, USA | 01/03/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have the LP, not the CD, release. I'm reviewing the LP entry, which contains the first twelve songs listed in the program. It's unbelievable to me that most of these tracks were recorded fifty years ago!! They sound great, especially the opener, "Something's Got To Give." Cleo Laine is an incredibly gifted interpreter and vocalist. These tracks are from early sessions. Her range is more limited than on later recordings. But she delivers, everytime."