May 26th 2020 marks the centenary of the birth of the great jazz and pop singer Peggy Lee, and Acrobat is celebrating the occasion with two special releases, this singles collection and an anthology of selected titles from twenty-five of the albums “The Centenary Albums Collection 1948-62” (ACQCD7147).
Peggy Lee was one of the finest interpreters of popular songs, whether performing in the big band idiom, in small group jazz environments or with solo piano accompaniment, or in the sophisticated pop style which brought her many chart hits. Her repertoire ranged effortlessly from Great American Songbook classics to the latest pop songs, and included many of her own fine compositions. This great-value101-track 4-CD set comprises selected A and B sides from her single releases on the Capitol and Decca labels from the early years of her solo career through to 1962 (her recordings with the Benny Goodman Orchestra can be found on the Acrobat release “Peggy Lee With The Benny Goodman Orchestra 1941-47” (ADDCD3216).
It features more than 40 US & UK chart hits, including the No. 1 “Manana” and the Top 10 classics “Fever”, “Mr. Wonderful”, “Golden Earrings”, “Waitin' for the Train to Come In”, “Riders In The Sky”, “I Don't Know Enough About You”, “It's All Over Now” and “Chi-Baba Chi-Baba”. It’s a substantial and hugely entertaining tribute to one of the most illustrious singers of her era and a marvellous showcase for her unique style and versatility.
REVIEWS
“While there is plenty of justified criticism for the lack of any real attempt across the Atlantic to celebrate the centenary of her birth with a suitably prestigious commemorative issue at least the occasion has been very worthily marked in the UK by Acrobat in the form of these two excellent sets, which provide a total of more than 200 recordings of Peggy Lee, spread over eight CDs. This collection serves as a reminder of just how many fine LPs she recorded and if her career had halted after the cut off of 1962 it would still have been an impressive catalogue. Difficult to argue with the choices made here, a great many of which are automatic so there are not so many unfamiliar items in this set as in the singles. The quality is top notch throughout of course - I can't think of a single track she recorded that showed her at less than her best and this is the creme de la creme from her LP output during this period. Hats off to Acrobat and long may they flourish.” – Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 341)
CD1
1 What More Can A Woman Do?
2 Waitin' For The Train To Come In
3 I'm Glad I Waited For You
4 I Don't Know Enough About You
5 Linger In My Arms A Little Longer, Baby
6 It's All Over Now
7 Aren't You Kinda Glad We Did?
8 It's A Good Day
9 A Nightingale Can Sing The Blues
10 Everything's Movin' Too Fast
11 Speaking Of Angels
12 Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba
13 Just An Old Love Of Mine
14 Why Don't You Do Right?
15 Them There Eyes
16 Stormy Weather
17 Don't Smoke In Bed
18 Golden Earrings
19 I'll Dance At Your Wedding
20 Manana
21 All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart
22 Laroo Laroo Lili Bolero
23 Talking To Myself About You
24 Baby, Don’t Be Mad At Me
CD2
1 Caramba! It’s The Samba
2 Bubble-Loo Bubble-Loo
3 Just A Shade On The Blue Side
4 So Dear To My Heart
5 Hold Me
6 Someone Like You
7 Blum Blum (I Wonder Who I Am)
8 Similau
9 While We're Young
10 Bali Hai
11 (Ghost) Riders In The Sky
12 At The Cafe Rendezvous
13 Through A Long And Sleepless Night
14 A Man Wrote A Song
15 The Old Master Painter
16 My Small Señor
17 Save Your Sorrow For Tomorrow
18 Goodbye John
19 Crazy, He Calls Me
20 Once Around The Moon
21 Show Me The Way To Get Out Of This World
22 Lover, Come Back To Me
23 Life Is So Peculiar
24 Where Are You?
25 The Mill On The Floss
CD3
1 Rock Me To Sleep
2 He's Only Wonderful
3 Boulevard Cafe
4 (When I Dance With You) I Get Ideas
5 My Magic Heart
6 Don't Fan The Flame
7 I Love You But I Don't Like You
8 Would You Dance With A Stranger?
9 Goin' On A Hayride
10 Be Anything (But Be Mine)
11 Lover
12 Watermelon Weather
13 Just One Of Those Things
14 River River
15 Merry Go Runaround
16 Moonflowers
17 I Hear The Music Now
18 Who's Gonna Pay The Check
19 I've Got You Under My Skin
20 The Night Holds No Fear
21 Baubles, Bangles And Beads
22 Where Can I Go Without You
23 Johnny Guitar
24 That's What A Woman Is For
25 Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me
CD4
1 Straight Ahead
2 Let Me Go Lover
3 He's A Tramp
4 I Belong To You
5 Bella Notte
6 Ooh, That Kiss
7 He Needs Me
8 Sugar
9 Mr. Wonderful
10 You've Got To See Mama Every Night
11 Joey, Joey, Joey
12 We Laughed At Love
13 Listen To The Rockin' Bird
14 Fever
15 Light Of Love
16 Sweetheart
17 Alright, Okay, You Win
18 My Man
19 Hallelujah, I Love Him So
20 You Deserve
21 My Gentle Young Johnny
22 Bucket Of Tears
23 Til There Was You
24 The Folks Who Live On The Hill
25 Hey Look Me Over
26 The Sweetest Sounds
27 I'm A Woman
