O'Day,Anita Selected Clef, Norgran & Verve Recordings 1952-56 CD

Anita O'Day has long been admired as one of the very best jazz singers of the post-war era, with a rhythmic and dynamic style that she could readily deploy in big band, small group and sophisticated orchestral environments. Acrobat has already showcased her work during the early 1940s with the orchestras of Gene Krupa and Stan Kenton ("Anita O'Day - The Early Years 1941-45" ADDCD3098), and in this collection we focus on a similar period of years during the 1950s when she firmly carved for herself a significant place in the jazz pantheon. During the decade from 1952-62, she recorded for the labels established by jazz impresario Norman Granz - Clef, Norgran and, most famously, Verve - and her recordings during that time are recognised as the most significant of her career. This excellent-value 46-track 2-CD set comprises the complete content of her albums during the first five years of that era - "Anita O'Day Collates", "Songs By Anita O'Day", "An Evening With Anita O'Day", "Anita" and "Pick Yourself Up", (some titles appear on more than one LP) plus tracks from singles. On those albums she is accompanied variously by the orchestras of Ralph Burns, Roy Kral, Larry Russell and Buddy Bregman, with musicians on the sessions including Barney Kessel, Roy Eldridge, Stan Getz, Shelly Manne, Budd Johnson, Andy Secrest, Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Smith and many more. It's a snapshot of a key era in her career, and a fine showcase for her unique talent working across a range of musical environments.

1. Rock 'N Roll Blues 2. Love For Sale 3. Lover Come Back To Me 4. Lullaby Of The Leaves 5. No Soap, No Hope Blues 6. The Lady Is A Tramp 7. Speak Low 8. Strawberry Moon 9. Pagan love song 10. Ain't this a wonderful day 11. Gypsy In My Soul 12. Just One Of Those Things 13. The Man I Love 14. Frankie And Johnny 15. Anita's Blues 16. I Cover The Waterfront 17. I Didn't Know What Time It Was 18. Let's Fall In Love 19. You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me 20. From This Moment On 21. You Don't Know What Love Is 22. Medley: There'll Never Be Another You, Just Friends 23. Fine And Dandy 24. Beautiful Love 25. Who Cares? 26. As Long As I Live 27. I Fall In Love Too Easily 28. I Can't Get Started 29. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square 30. Time After Time 31. You're The Top 32. Honeysuckle Rose 33. No Moon At All 34. I'll See You In My Dreams 35. Don't Be That Way 36. Let's Face The Music And Dance 37. I Used To Be Color Blind 38. Pick Yourself Up 39. I Never Had A Chance 40. Stompin' At The Savoy 41. Let's Begin 42. Sweet Georgia Brown 43. I Won't Dance 44. Man With A Horn 45. There's A Lull In My Life 46. Stars Fell On Alabama