By Far The Best Remastering Sound
Kevin J. Roberts | 12/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This recording is a masterpiece. Peggy Lee creates a concept album unlike any other in commercial recordings up to that time, and perhaps for another 30 plus years into the future (this is from 1955). It is really a folk music album, with all songs accompanied by a harp (mostly), or harpsichord. It may be listened to as an entire suite, or selecting individual songs. Many of the individual songs are astounding - fragile, gentle vocals that overwhelm you. If Peggy had pursued more folk recordings, she would have been the preeminent folk singer in the folk boom that came 6-10 years after this recording.
THIS VERSION HAS SOUND THAT COMPLETELY BLOWS AWAY THAT ON THE UK CD ON THE MCA LABEL (the two-on-1 CD). The Japanese mastering is so far superior that it is a crime that the UK CD is even on the market."
Masterpiece
Sasha | at sea...sailing somewhere | 04/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Just a decade earlier,Peggy Lee was Benny Goodman 's girl singer in a band,one of those famous "canaries" who graced stage and than left boys to play instrumentals. But in 1956. she was on the top of the world as solo act and had such successful resume that "Capitol records" let her to do whatever she wanted,since lady obviously had a golden touch and could do no wrong.
So she recorded album of chinese poetry.
Strange and eccentric choice as this might sound at first,it shows that Lee was a great artist who followed her inspiration and had heart in the right place.It took me forever to take Peggy Lee seriously because I knew her only from her brassy hits and "Fever" but once I tried to find what else is there,this stunning and VERY uncommercial LP glowed like the most beautiful diamond in her discography.
She is backed only by harp and harpsichord,lyrics of these songs taken from ancient chinese poetry - decades before "new age" came along - and the way she gently caressed the words is stunning,it is one of the most beautiful and calming music I had ever heard. It truly has to be heard to believe what I'm talking about here,that's how wonderful this forgotten album is.
"Capitol records" probably fainted in horror when they heard this but never mind - even her jazz fans dislike this album because there's no Gershwin or Cole Porter here,no hits or swing or sensual ballads she was famous for,in fact there is even a instrumental or two thrown in,like chinese-like take on "Greensleves" that has nothing to do with chinese poetry but fits here perfectly because the whole atmosphere is dreamy,poetic and delicate to the point that I listen this album only in a very special moments when feeling very relaxed and when I can truly appreciate this stardust.
Just imagine that at the very same time Rosemary Clooney was singing "Come on in my house" and Patty Page was saddled with "How much is that doggie in the window" and Peggy Lee had such high status that she got along with recording a collection of poetry,something for herself.
Beautiful,beautiful album."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1