Search - Kitty Kallen :: Little Things Mean a Lot

A lot happened before little things meant anything

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 06/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On both sides of the Atlantic, Kitty is best remembered (if at all) for Little things mean a lot. That song was a British and American number one hit. In Britain, where it was her only hit, it gives her the dubious distinction of being the first artist to have a number one hit without so much as grazing the lower reaches of the chart with a different record. While her British chart history is a poor reflection of the quality of her music, she at least had that one big hit. On closer inspection, Kitty had a long and distinguised career that would have been longer but for various vocal problems that ultimately forced her premature retirement. This compilation covers Kitty's career from 1940 to 1954. Kitty sang with various bands before launching her solo career, but here you get the best of her band music as well as the best of her solo music. Jasmine don't always present their compilations in chronological running order but with this set, it was the only sensible way to do things. They made just one deviation, moving Kitty's biggest and most famous hit to the end so that it closes the set, which seems entirely appropriate.



Kitty joined the Jack Teagarden Orchestra in 1939 and recorded four tracks with them that year, but none of them are included here. Four tracks recorded in 1940, together with three radio transcription tracks from 1941 and 1942, represent Kitty's music with the Jack Teagarden Orchestra. After leaving Jack, Kitty did some studio work that included the vocals on one track for the Bobby Sherwood Orchestra on Moonlight becomes you (track 8 on CD 1). Kitty later replaced the equally brilliant Helen O'Connell in the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. This was an extremely successful move in commercial terms although Kitty wasn't happy working for Jimmy and left at the earliest opportunity, one year after she joined. This period is represented by five tracks including four American top five hits, two of which (Star eyes, Besame mucho) featured Kitty duetting with Bob Eberly while the other two (They're either too young or too old, When they ask about you) featured Kitty as sole vocalist. Besamo Much, a number one hit, gave Kitty her first chart-topper of any kind.



With such success, Kitty must have had very good reasons to quit, but after another short spell doing studio work, she landed another top job, this time with the Harry James Orchestra, this time replacing the outstanding balladeer Helen Forrest. Kitty spent a year and half working for Harry James, after which they parted amicably when Harry advised Kitty to go solo. Kitty's work with Harry James is well represented here, with eight radio broadcast tracks followed by six of their eight American hits together. The six hits include two number ones (I'm beginning to see the light, It's been a long long time), a number two hit (I'll buy that dream) and three other top ten hits (I don't care who knows it, 11:60 p.m., Waitin' for the train to come in). Their only other hits together (Guess I'll hang my tears out to dry, Yah-ta-ta yah-ta-ta) didn't make the top ten. Chart completists might wish that these tracks had been included, but all the selected tracks are of a high quality and if Jasmine decided that the selected tracks were better than those omitted, I trust them. All those tracks occupy the remainder of the first CD and the first three tracks of the second.



Kitty's solo career started mainly with TV and live performances, though she recorded a one-off track with Artie Shaw (My heart belongs to Daddy, track 4 of CD 2 here). When Kitty finally recorded some solo music for Mercury, she had four American hits. Aba daba honeymoon (a duet with Richard Hayes), Kiss me sweet and Juke box Annie are included, though Our lady of Fatima (a top ten hit) is excluded, its place being takemn by two non-hit duets with Richard Hayes (Honestly I love you, Good luck good health God bless you). Kitty later recorded four tracks in a reunion session with Harry James, all included here though they yielded no hits.



Kitty then signed for Decca and her early recordings for that label occupy the final eleven tracks of the second CD here. Among those tracks are Kitty's first four American hits for Decca (Are you looking for a sweetheart?, Little things mean a lot, In the chapel in the moonlight, I want you all to myself). Apparently, Kitty's big hit was originally released as the B-side of another track here (I don't think you love me anymore) but the single was flipped over and the rest, as they say, is history. The follow-up single (In the chapel in the moonlight) was a top five hit in America that failed to chart in Britain, though British charts in those days didn't contain many records.



This compilation shows that Kitty was a brilliant and versatile singer who could have had a career to compare with Peggy Lee, if things had gone well for her. They didn't but we can still enjoy the music that Kitty was able to record. When it comes to her early music, this is the best compilation yet released. Another compilation The Kitty Kallen Story covers her whole career but Kitty didn't have many hits after 1954, so as that compilation misses out a lot of her early hits that you'll find here, maybe this is the best Kitty Kallen compilation out there."

Kitty could sell these songs without even trying--she was TH

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 12/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Little Things Mean A Lot is an excellent two CD set of songs and ballads by the incomparable Kitty Kallen. I was unaware that Kitty's career spanned such a long period of time; but here were have great tracks from 1939 to 1954. Kitty could take a song after hearing it no more than just twice and she would deliver it with panache and energy. This two CD set really shouldn't be out of print; I agree with the reviewer who writes that this may very well be Kitty's best compilation available at this time.



The first CD starts out with "Love For Sale" which a very young Kitty Kallen recorded in early 1940 with Jack Teagarden & His Orchestra. Kitty sounds great even though the quality of the sound is somewhat average. "The Moon And The Willow Tree" shines equally bright when Kitty sings this once more with Jack Teagarden & His Orchestra. Kitty never sings a superfluous note and that's grand. "Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam)" is a playful tune that I think you're sure to love. Listen also for "Moonlight Becomes You" that Kitty recorded with Bobby Sherwood & His Orchestra. "Moonlight Becomes You" is a very romantic number and the brass works very well in the musical arrangement. Then there's one of my personal favorites, "They're Either Too Young Or Too Old;" Kitty sings this with style and she is accompanied very ably by Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra.



"It Could Happen To You" features Kitty front and center--right where she belongs! The strings enhance the arrangement and Kitty sings this sweetly and as clear as a bell. Harry James & His Orchestra do a fine job helping Kitty out with this charmer. "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" is another tune I think you're love if you like this type of music.



The second CD continues the hits. "It's Been A Long Long Time" and "Waitin' For The Train To Come In" showcase Kitty's great vocal prowess as she sings two huge hits from the end of the World War II era. Listen also for Kitty to do wonderfully on "My Heart Belongs To Daddy;" Artie Shaw & His Orchestra sound great and with Kitty on board they make "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" is real gem. Kitty also does her own rendition of "The Aba Daba Honeymoon;" she sings this without ever missing a note and Richard Hayes sings very well, too. What a playful tune!



"Lonely" gets the royal treatment from Kitty Kallen as she is accompanied by the great Jack Pleis & His Orchestra. Kitty really outdoes even herself on this one! "I Don't Think You Love Me Anymore" again sees Kitty paired up with Jack Pleis & His Orchestra; this elegant torch song strikes me with its beauty and it's truly a classic ballad. "I'm A Lonely Little Petunia" has another great arrangement and the second CD ends with what is probably Kitty's best hit ever, "Little Things Mean A Lot." "Little Things Mean A Lot" is a ballad that will never be outdated; and this song belongs to the great Kitty Kallen. Kitty's excellent diction helps to make "Little Things Mean A Lot" a huge, blockbuster hit.



The CD comes with liner notes, we even get song credits! Geoff Milne writes an informative essay about Kitty's career, too.



Kitty Kallen is clearly one of the best female vocalists the world has ever seen. Once in a very long while, all the stars in all the heavens align just so--and a star is born to give us unforgettable performances. Such a star was the great Kitty Kallen; and her fans are sure to want this two CD set.



Bring this back into print!

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