Roberta Sherwood was an unusual artist in that, having performed in hotel lounges and restaurants for many years, she finally got a recording contract at the age of 43, and had an immediate chart success with her version of Hoagy Carmichael’s Lazy River. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on 1 July 1913, her father Robert Sherwood was the manager of a traveling minstrel show; she and her sister Anne were raised on the road after their mother died. She started performing in vaudeville at age 11, and the sisters soon became a vaudeville and nightclub act.
In 1932 they met Broadway actor Don Lanning, who mentored Roberta and ultimately married her in 1938. They both abandoned careers to settle in Miami, opening a small nightclub where she continued to perform. After the restaurant lost its lease, they got a concession to operate a hotel lounge. After an attempt to start another nightclub failed, Sherwood began to seriously pursue her career. Generally described as a torch singer, she was a distinctive interpreter of repertoire from the Great American Songbook in a style that was flashy, extrovert, unpretentious and unsubtle, but highly effective and individual.
This 52-track collection comprises a significant proportion of her A&B sides on Decca from this era. It also features selected titles from her studio albums from these years: Introducing Roberta Sherwood, Showstoppers, I Gotta Right To Sing, Country Songs For City People, Look For The Silver Lining, Clap Your Hands, Get Away From Those Swingin' Doors and My Golden Favourites.
It’s a substantial and, we hope, nicely representative selection of her work, which offers an entertaining and enlightening showcase for the talents of an artist who has not received the attention she merits.
TRACKS
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
I Got Lost In His Arms |
Roberta Sherwood |
2 |
In A Strange Pair of Arms |
Roberta Sherwood |
3 |
Lazy River |
Roberta Sherwood |
4 |
This Train |
Roberta Sherwood |
5 |
(A Prayer Is The Key To Heaven) Faith Unlocks The Door |
Roberta Sherwood |
6 |
My Heart Is A Chapel |
Roberta Sherwood |
7 |
Mary Lou |
Roberta Sherwood |
8 |
Should I Try Again |
Roberta Sherwood |
9 |
A Woman Ages Quicker Than A Man |
Roberta Sherwood |
10 |
Tears Don't Care Who Cries Them |
Roberta Sherwood |
11 |
What Does It Matter |
Roberta Sherwood |
12 |
The Sham Rock |
Roberta Sherwood |
13 |
Where's My Sweetie Hiding |
Roberta Sherwood |
14 |
Who's Gonna Be My Sunshine |
Roberta Sherwood |
15 |
There's A Ghost At Your Wedding |
Roberta Sherwood |
16 |
Blue Moon Of Kentucky |
Roberta Sherwood |
17 |
Dickie Dickie Bluebird |
Roberta Sherwood |
18 |
Love Is A-Breakin' Out |
Roberta Sherwood |
19 |
If I Can Help Somebody |
Roberta Sherwood |
20 |
Look For The Silver Lining |
Roberta Sherwood |
21 |
I'm Following You |
Roberta Sherwood |
22 |
I Say Hello |
Roberta Sherwood |
23 |
My Song |
Roberta Sherwood |
24 |
The Gang That Sang "Heart Of My Heart" |
Roberta Sherwood |
25 |
Ace In The Hole |
Roberta Sherwood |
26 |
Just A Girl That Men Forget |
Roberta Sherwood |
27 |
If I Had My Life To Live Over |
Roberta Sherwood |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Cry Me A River |
Roberta Sherwood |
2 |
I Cried For You |
Roberta Sherwood |
3 |
I Hadn't Anyone Till You |
Roberta Sherwood |
4 |
The Glory Of Love |
Roberta Sherwood |
5 |
You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry |
Roberta Sherwood |
6 |
You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You |
Roberta Sherwood |
7 |
Autumn Leaves |
Roberta Sherwood |
8 |
I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues |
Roberta Sherwood |
9 |
Georgia On My Mind |
Roberta Sherwood |
10 |
Just In Time |
Roberta Sherwood |
11 |
Baby Face |
Roberta Sherwood |
12 |
I Love You So Much It Hurts |
Roberta Sherwood |
13 |
Jealous Heart |
Roberta Sherwood |
14 |
Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep |
Roberta Sherwood |
15 |
I Believe |
Roberta Sherwood |
16 |
Over The Rainbow |
Roberta Sherwood |
17 |
Hallelujah |
Roberta Sherwood |
18 |
Sing You Sinners |
Roberta Sherwood |
19 |
Someday, Sweetheart |
Roberta Sherwood |
20 |
Till We Meet Again |
Roberta Sherwood |
21 |
My Melancholy Baby |
Roberta Sherwood |
22 |
How Deep Is The Ocean (How High Is The Sky) |
Roberta Sherwood |
23 |
My Baby Just Cares For Me |
Roberta Sherwood |
24 |
These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) |
Roberta Sherwood |
25 |
Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All The Time) |
Roberta Sherwood |