Search - Dinah Shore :: Proper Introduction to Dinah Shore: Sentimental

A fabulous collection from a promising new label

Paul Tognetti | Cranston, RI USA | 02/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"She was arguably America's top female vocalist of the 1940's. She would become a fixture on American prime time television in the 1950's and early 1960's and "Dinah's Place" emerged as one of daytime television's top talk shows in the 1970's. No doubt about it--Dinah Shore was one of this country's most beloved entertainers for more than four decades. For years, I have been searching for a collection of her music. There have been some fairly decent options before but I have found a collection that blows all of those others away.

Proper Records is a brand new label from England. Their catalogue includes collections by people like Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee and Tennessee Ernie Ford to name but a few. This 2004 release, aptly titled "A Proper Introduction To Dinah Shore" offers the listener a generous 24 tracks. You will find most of Dinah's biggest records from her earliest days at Bluebird records to her heyday at Columbia in the late 1940's. In fact, there are no fewer than 17 Top Ten hits on this disc. Enjoy once again great tunes like "I'll Walk Alone" and "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" from the early 1940's. Sing along with memorable songs like "Shoo-Fly Pie amd Apple Pan Dowdy" and one of her biggest hits "Doin' What Comes Naturally" from the summer of 1946. And no Dinah Shore anthology would be complete without two of her #1 hits "Anniversary Song" and "Buttons and Bows". All tracks have been digitally remastered which really enhances your enjoyment of these songs, particularly her work from the Columbia years.

"A Proper Introduction To Dinah Shore" comes in an extremely attractive twice folded cardboard case. The colorful 8 page illustrated booklet contains rate photos, session details and biographical notes. Frankly, I found nothing not to like and I intend to investigate other releases from Proper Records. And oh, by the way, the price is right as well. This collection is a real winner and one that I would enthusiastically recommend!"