Search - Lee Wiley :: West of the Moon

As Time Goes By Lee Wiley got even better

Ellie | North Shore of Boston, USA | 08/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Each of the women singers from the thirties and forties whose jazz, blues, and swing music I am collecting through these wonderful albums from Anazon, such as Mildred Bailey, Bea Wain, mostly forgotten now, the sophisticated voice and styling of Lee Wiley is what I return to most.



She had a slight vibrato in her deep, smooth voice. Her timing was superb. Her backup musicians didn't detract from her singing - not so with Bea Wain and some other big band singers. These numbers were very carefully selected and arranged.



Grab a drink, settle into the armchair, and listen to selection number eleven (try to keep from putting it on repeat for the next hour or so!) then listen to the rest of the selections.



"Who Can I Turn To Now?" was her pick in this album. Torch singing don't get no better than this. Highly recommended."

The absolute difinitive jazz vocal album of the 50's

Prince of St. Albans | 04/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The 1950's saw many great jazz vocal lp's by everyone from newcomers like June Christy and Chris Connor to old time jazz singers from the 30's like Billie Holiday and Lee Wiley. Lee Wiley was the quintessential 30's songstress along with Connee Boswell & Mildred Bailey. Like Bailey and Boswell, Wiley was msotly forgotten by the 50's, so this lp must have been a delightful surprise for all those who followed her and the Eddie Condon clan. However Wiley recorded this album in prime voice, though she had a deeper throatier sound by the late 50's, & she had a more sensious vibrato. Her timing was immaculate and the arrangements fit her like a glove! Ralph Burns really knew how to showcase Wiley's sensious vibrato with silky 30's style arrangements, that sound modern for the 50's and old fashioned at the same time. This is the difinitive jazz vocal or pop vocal album of all the 1950's, it is perfect in every way!!! The original album cover is a classic, it has Wilay decked out in the latest 50's fashion leaning seductively against a moonrock, of course on teh moon!"

SINATRA would appreciate this set of standards!

D.FRANCIS | Badger state | 06/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had never heard of Lee Wiley until I heard her sing WEST OF THE MOON on the cable music channel;WOW, what a treat! This truly is a rare find,perhaps the first woman to sing solo with a band behind her...wish I would have discovered her years ago!"