Blossom Dearie is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated jazz vocalists of all time. Dearie's phrasing and piano playing within the small group arrangements on this album of standards are very, very reminiscent of Mose Allison (who just so happens to be another of my all-time favorites). On this track in particular, she delivers a very charming performance, combining the innocent ingenue with the blase urbanite.
from Once Upon a Summertime, available on CD (Verve)
25 Apr 01 ·delicado: I love Blossom's stuff as well. Haven't yet heard a bad record by her. She did an unusual record in 1970 called 'that's just the way I want to be' on Fontana. It's available (coupled with 'give him the ooh la la) on a japanese CD, 'whisper for you'. 18 Jun 01 ·tempted: Oh, and "London in the Rain". What a fabulous singer! 07 Jul 01 ·egbdf: I have been hearing about a Japan CD which would be a reissue of Blossom Dearie's 1976 American double LP entitled 'My New Celebrity Is You'. No one however can locate it. If you can help please E me. Best Regards, egbdf. 29 Jan 03 ·klatu: Definitely a favorite! I also love to 70 album "that's just the way i want to be" and think the version of "both sides now" blows away the Judy Collins. Also a huge fan of the schoolhouse rocks stuff "unpack your adjectives" and especially "figure eight". 23 Apr 03 ·singjohn: A Doodlin' Song (not to be confused with "Doodlin'") apparently had an effect in it's time. Peggy Lee recorded it. It was even featured in an episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show where Mary Tyler Moore and Dick did a little dance number to it in their living room for their party guests! This song is perfect for the Blossom Touch! Cute simple lyrics and melody make the tune perfect for Blossom's child-like voice and bouncy delivery. She was the voice of several of the old Schoolhouse Rock shorts that used to play in Saturday mornings in the '70's. She is also an accomplished pianist and played on many of her own recordings. Another fave Blossom tune: "Rhode Island Is Famous For You" 24 Jun 03 ·tinks: jesus, any version of "both sides now" that isn't by judy collins blows away the judy collins version. give me dick hyman any day! 05 Jan 04 ·norfy: check out-'both sides now'by the veteran golfer tony jacklyn-from his excrutiating late 60's album-swings into...'-a superb psych-crooning version up [or down there]with william shatner and tony bennett's 'eleanor rigby' and richard harris!!
judy collins entire existence is a crime.
31 Mar 04 ·mpanzera: Thank you, Tinks! I *love* Blossom Dearie, but hadn't heard that track yet. I recently bought the eponymous CD (with a great picture of her in glasses at the microphone...), and must have played "Tout Doucement" about a thousand times. 09 Dec 05 ·splurben: can anyone identify the male voice singing behind blossom on this track? 07 Nov 06 ·andy: I believe the male voice is Cy Coleman, the song's composer. I have only another website comment's word for that, but it does sound like him.
this is a cover of a song which i have been told is a song by hendricks, lambert and ross. the original title is "i want you to be my baby" but the translation of the chinese title is "i want your love". this version of the song is sung in both english and chinese. this song was recently used in the tsai ming-liang film "the hole" as well. the song has an infectious rhythm and great lyrics that can even make me sing along. though some passages in both chinese and english are sung way too fast for me to properly sing along. i usually hate to sing, so any song that can make me want to sing along is quite an accomplishment.
from the age of shanghainese pops 1930-1970, available on CD
16 May 01 ·tinks: you're right, jon hendricks wrote this, but i don't believe he ever recorded it with lambert, hendricks and ross. it was originally recorded by louis jordan in 1952, and lillian briggs had a modest-sized hit with it in 1955. nonetheless, it's a terrific song, and this version sounds very, very interesting. 04 Aug 01 ·Aquatown: Great to hear I'm not the only one who loves this song. Now that I know the proper English title I searched my record collection for other versions and found one by Ellie Greenwich - but Grace's version is definately the keeper. 17 Apr 02 ·king8egg: this song has also been recently used in a mcdonald's commercial here in taiwan. now if they'd start re-issuing her stuff again i'd be very happy indeed. 15 Oct 02 ·tea rose: Love the song too but unfortunately there is limited information about it provided online. Do you know where I can obtain both the Chinese and English lyrics for it? And also an English website on Grace Chang? I am turning into a fan of her songs! 04 Mar 05 ·jeeter: Tsai ming-liang uses another Grace Chang (Ge Lan) song in his latest film, "Goodbye, Dragon Inn," now out on DVD. I believe the song is called "Chong Feng." It's beautiful, in a quaint, old-fashioned way. Not an up-tempo pop number like wo yao ni de ai--more of a ballroom-y ballad. Anybody know whether this song is available on CD? 28 Apr 06 ·KiMono-Stereo: The book mentioned above is unfortunatly not available outside china. But I just got two 10" and one CD of Grace Chang. Unfortunately all is written in chinese that I can not read, so I don`t know, what song you are talking about. But there is one funny song, where she sneezes and then sings: "Gesundheit" in German. Very funny stuff :-). Actually I'm a great fan of japanese singer Eri Chiemi, that is a bit similiar stuff...
This wild track from Les Baxter's superb 'Jungle Jazz' album wouldn't be out of place in a David Lynch movie. In fact, it sounds very like some of the work Angelo Badalamenti did for the 1992 movie 'Fire (walk with me)'. It's really wickedly over the top, with a walking bass, wailing horns, and some incredible tenor saxophone work from legendary session player Plas Johnson. The overall effect is cinematic and disturbing.
from Jungle Jazz (Capitol) available on CD - The Exotic Moods of Les Baxter (Capitol)
A stunning late 50s R&B ballad that would not sound out of place in a David Lynch film. Greene's backing group, the Phantoms, live up to their name by providing some of the most haunting background vocals ever committed to vinyl. Lay on Vernon's tortured lead, and you have something quite extraordinary indeed.
A very ethereal song that is perfect for the lilting girlish voice of Blossom Dearie. She is also an accomplished pianist and plays on every song she sings. She is backed by a standard jazz trio on this track and they play in a wonderfully subdued manor that allows her voice and the words to be the focal point of this song. Originally written by a french songwriter, Blossom Dearie heard the song while living and performing in France in the mid-1950's. Upon her return to the United States, she asked her friend, songwriter Johnny Mercer, to write english lyrics to the wonderful melody. The words he wrote tell a beautiful story of love lost, but fondly remembered thru a familiar smell or sound. A standout track from the marvelous LP of the same name. Give it a listen the next time you go to your local music store.
