Fran Warren was one of the coterie of female big band singers of the 1940s whose voices matched their striking good looks and who went on to enjoy solo careers as chart performers in the 1950s before turning to acting and the album market.

Born Frances Wolff, she worked briefly with Art Mooney’s band and Billy Eckstine, who coined the name of Fran Warren, after which she recorded with Charlie Barnet’s orchestra and most notably with the innovative band of Claude Thornhill before she embarked on a solo career in 1949.

This 48-track set comprises recordings with the Charlie Barnet Orchestra and Claude Thornhill Orchestra from the 1940s, plus selected A- and B-sides from her singles on the RCA-Victor, MGM and Unique labels during this era, including duets with Tony Martin, Lisa Kirk and Woody Herman. It features all her career hits, both solo and with Tony Martin, including her No.4 hit with him I Said My Pajamas (And Put On My Prayers), and her Top 20 hits A Wonderful Guy and Envy, along with a chart entry with Claude Thornhill A Sunday Kind Of Love.

It’s a varied and entertaining showcase for a talented and versatile song stylist whose work deserves wider appreciation.

REVIEWS

The Acrobat label continues to issue collections of great interest and musical merit and this double disc collection of Fran Warren is no exception. I enjoyed this collection immensely and it has many highlights which mark her out as one of the most tasteful and talented singers to have emerged from the post war big band scene. The usual scholarly liner notes and comprehensive discographical details, which goes without saying, but is always worth repeating as adding great value to an already very worthwhile release. - Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 348)