Search - Jo Stafford :: Coming Back Like a Song - 25 Hits 1941-47

Out of this world

Alastair Macaulay | London, UK | 03/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unlike any other current CD of Jo Stafford's singing that I have been able to find, this one contains the most beautiful single track I've ever heard her sing: the Arlen/Mercer "Out of this world". This is one of those tracks you find yourself needing to listen to six times in quick succession: the beauty of the melodic line is perfect for the glowing long phrases that Jo Stafford does with such apparent effortlessness. The whole CD is the best sample of Stafford's singing I know, and this track outstanding."

First ASV compilation of Jo's music

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 10/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a single CD representing Jo's music of the forties, this is not as strong overall as Capitol Collectors series, but in 2004, ASV released a double CD (You belong to me) containing more of Jo's music of the forties together with some of her music from the early fifties. Taken together, these two collections present a fairly strong selection of Jo's music up to 1952. However, fans wanting a comprehensive collection have another alternative strategy - the boxed set (Yes indeed) covering Jo's music on Capitol plus the best compilation of Jo's fifties music (Columbia hits collection), which is a total of five CD's for around the same price as the three CD's that make up the two ASV collections.



Of course, nothing is that simple because there are some of Jo's hits that only appear on the ASV collections. Out of this world, Ivy and White Christmas are available on this single CD while Say something sweet to your sweetheart, Sometime and Goodnight Irene are available on the double CD (You belong to me). These tracks are omitted from Yes indeed, but as that box contains four CD's and is devoted entirely to her Capitol recordings, there are many more tracks on that set that aren't on the two ASV releases.



So my advice is this. If you want to hear Jo sing Out of this world, Ivy or White Christmas, buy this. If you only want a single CD of Jo's forties music and you're not bothered about those tracks, go for the Capitol Collectors series. If you want to build a collection of Jo's music, there are different ways to go but dedicated Jo Stafford fans may wish to buy all the compilations I've mentioned, together with the rarities collection (Jo Stafford on Capitol) just to have everything available - there are tracks on each that aren't available elsewhere - but it would involve a lot of duplication. Between these five compilations, every solo hit that Jo had during her time with Capitol is included at least once. Some of her duet hits with Gordon MacRae are missing and there are still some of her later Columbia hits not available on CD.



Jo Stafford was one of the finest and most popular singers of her generation. It's great to see that all her important recordings are available on CD but it's a shame that collecting them all involves a lot of duplication."