Staton 2-Fer
Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 10/20/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Two LPs recorded in 1960 are here together on one CD. Benny Carter arranged and conducted on both, and they are quite different endeavors. SOFTLY consists of all slow, lush ballads, not really the best material or arrangement for Dakota's strength as a singer, which tends more toward blues-inflected tunes and varied tempos. I CAN'T GET STARTED and CLOSE YOUR EYES are typical.
ROUND MIDNIGHT, the second LP included, is better. Ballad tempos still predominate, but we get variety, too. One tune, ALONG ABOUT MIDNIGHT, is dripping with a blues feeling and is one of the best tracks Staton has ever recorded. WILL YOU STILL BE MINE is another highlight.
Thus we have a so-so album paired with a very good one. The excellent things on the ROUND MIDNIGHT album outweigh the disappointments on the SOFTLY one, so this CD is still a plus in my book."