Search - Peggy Lee :: Black Coffee: Best of the Decca Years

Peggy Lee Was America's Quintessential Female Vocalist

Jay R. Adler | Massapequa,NY | 03/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"March 22, 2008



First of all, and having been born during the Truman Administration, I have either seen or heard them all so to speak. If I had to address the question of who were among the best recently performing female vocalists I would come up with Barbara Streisand, Sarah McGlocklin or Natalie Cole. The CD under focus here, Black Coffee: Best of the Decca Years, a compilation of Miss. Peggy Lee songs of that time contraint will show Peggy Lee to be the best female vocalist ever, in my opinion. Peggy Lee was one of several female vocalists that started their careers in the WW ll era, the other ladies being Jo Stafford(the troops called her lovingly GI Jo), Doris Day, and of course the inimitable Rosemary Clooney. The tracks on this CD, Johnny Guitar, Black Coffee, Swing Low and produced later,apart from this CD an unbelievable work of art that you will need to search for, the classic and weepy Is That All There Is all point to the sheer and unapproachable excellence of Peggy Lee. Unlike the wannabees on the game-music shows kids look up to today, Peggy Lee had unimaginable clarity and technical adroitness in her vocal renditions. Her physical presence from the moment she was discovered singing in a Chicago nightspot by the Benny Goodman people in 1941 shows a statuesque, gorgeous band singer who beats everyone before and after her based on her ability to throw people across the room with her physical and musical aura. Peggy Lee was a genetically ingrained talent. Please consider that Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Rosemary Clooney and Doris Day were outrageously popular before there were Ipods, Cd's, MP3 players and DVDs which give today's artists a huge leg up in attaining perceived popularity among fans. These were just fantastic and much loved true female vocalists, the likes of which we may never see again. Most people today might not remember Ms. Peggy Lee but are now hearing her old records on Sirius, the Sinatra station of classics. If you are even curious, take my advice and purchase Black Coffee:Best of the Decca Years to experience the works of a formidable talent, Miss. Peggy Lee.





Jay Adler, Music Critic"

THE BEST of PEGGY, "Part 3"

Gregory E. Foster | Portland, ME, USA | 08/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With this, the Best of the Decca Years, coupled with the Singles Collection, and Miss Peggy Lee (box set) one has, effectively, the Best of Peggy Lee, complete. In truth, all three sets are "required listening", and any self-respecting "Peggy Fan" would not be without any of them, along with a few select individual albums.



Peggy's years with Decca were productive, adventurous, ones for her. She made the wonderful "Pete Kelly's Blues" film, and explored new and different arrangement styles, etc. These recordings do, indeed, show us a different Peggy Lee, and they belong in your collection!



If you are unfamiliar with this short span of Peggy Lee's recordings, click on a couple "samples" above, and you'll be "hooked", I'm sure! When it's Peggy Lee singing, how could it be otherwise!!! By all means, take my advice (along with the many other people's in their reviews of this set) and add this fabulous collection of Peggy's Decca Anthology to your collection...you'll be very glad you did! Many happy memories listening to this set of recordings, folks! Do Enjoy! ~operabruin"