Jo Stafford - As Time Goes By

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:56
Size: 100,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:51)  1. I Believe in You
(3:22)  2. As Time Goes By
(3:16)  3. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)
(3:01)  4. I'll Be Seeing You
(2:57)  5. September in the Rain
(3:16)  6. Somewhere My Love (Lara's Theme)
(3:23)  7. People
(3:54)  8. (I Don't Stand) A Ghost of a Chance (With You)
(3:40)  9. Stormy Weather
(3:01) 10. Try to Remember
(3:28) 11. What the World Needs Now Is Love
(3:49) 12. Silver Threads Among the Gold
(2:55) 13. The Party's Over

Really wonderful work from Jo Stafford  recorded much later than some of her more popular material with a hip 60s sound that's mighty nice! These tracks were recorded at the end of the 60s for the Readers Digest label a short-lived imprint that only issued a handful of original music, but who managed to make some real gems with Jo. And if you think the mixture of "Readers Digest" and "Jo Stafford" is middle America at its best, then think again because there's a depth to these recordings that far surpasses Jo's commercial material hardly ever heard by most, given that the recordings were only issued to subscribers of the magazine! 

There's still some of the warm, sentimental modes of years before but the overall style is a bit more mature, almost boozy at points thanks in part to orchestrations from Glenn Osser, Paul Weston, and Billy VerPlanck. Some tracks feature background vocals and titles include "I Believe In You", "A Ghost Of A Chance", "Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars", "September In The Rain", "People", and "What The World Needs Now Is Love".  https://www.dustygroove.com/item/735359

As Time Goes By

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Jo Stafford - Lucky Days

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2021
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:22
Size: 158,1 MB
Art: Front

(2:30) 1. Baby, It's Cold Outside
(2:53) 2. Sleigh Ride
(3:04) 3. O Holy Morning
(1:34) 4. Winter Weather
(2:05) 5. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
(2:08) 6. Silent Night
(3:33) 7. The Christmas Song
(2:28) 8. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
(2:20) 9. Winter Wonderland
(2:37) 10. By the Fireside
(2:20) 11. It Happened in Sun Valley
(3:03) 12. Toyland
(4:14) 13. 'T Was the Night Before Christmas
(2:23) 14. March of the Toys
(3:21) 15. June in January
(0:32) 16. Jingle Bells
(2:34) 17. I Wonder as I Wander
(3:21) 18. Whiffenpoof Song
(3:38) 19. Hanover Winter Song
(3:31) 20. Georgia on My Mind
(3:08) 21. Moonlight in Vermont
(3:11) 22. Nearer My God to Thee
(0:44) 23. Happy Holiday
(2:36) 24. These Will Be the Best Years of Our Lives
(1:55) 25. O Little Town of Bethlehelm
(2:27) 26. Make Believe

Jo Elizabeth Stafford, the third of four sisters, was born November 12, 1917 on a tract of land known as "Lease 35" in Coalinga,California. Her mother, Anna York Stafford,a distant cousin of World War I hero Alvin York was known as one of the finest five-string banjoists in Gainsboro, Tennessee. Her father, Grover Cleveland Stafford, had come West to work in the California oil fields.

Jo's professional debut was with the Stafford Sisters, a trio in which Jo, upon graduation from Long Beach Poly High, joined her sisters Christine and Pauline. They had their own weekly radio show on KHJ radio, were regular performers on David Broekman's California Melodies, the Crockett Family of Kentucky shows, and performed both solo and group vocal work for all the major motion picture studios.

After marriage broke up the Stafford Sisters trio , Jo joined a group called the Pied Pipers, and along with her seven other group members was hired by Tommy Dorsey for the Raleigh-Kool radio program in 1938. After ten weeks with Dorsey the group dissolved, but Jo was hired back with three others once again as the Pied Pipers who sang with Dorsey for three years, recorded "I'll Never Smile Again" with Frank Sinatra, and provided Jo with the opportunity of making her own solo recordings with the Dorsey band. Her first solo recording was "Little Man with a Candy Cigar."

When Johnny Mercer assembled the artists to form Capitol Records in 1943, Jo began a recording career that was to culminate in Columbia Records giving her a Diamond Award as the first recording artist to sell 25,000,000 Records.

After guesting on all the major radio shows, Jo started her own series with the Chesterfield Supper Club, to which was added the Jo Stafford Show for Revere Camera, followed by featured roles on the Carnation and Club 15 Shows.

In 1950, Jo began a series of broadcasts that brought her international recognition. In Hollywood she recorded a weekly fifteen minute Youth Program for the Voice of America to internationally promote the cause of democracy.

Soon she added another weekly half-hour musical show, also recorded in Hollywood, for broadcast over 200,000 watt Radio Luxembourg; Europe's most powerful station. During this period Frank Lee , then British director of Radio Luxembourg said: "In her own quiet way Stafford is selling America to Europe."

In 1952, coinciding with her marriage to arranger/conductor/composer Paul Weston, European demand (and a honeymoon) took them to London, where she headlined the bill at the Palladium and made appearances for the Voice of America in the British Isles and on the continent.

With the advent of television , Jo Stafford guested on all the major variety shows, and in 1954 hosted her own JO STAFFORD SHOW on CBS-TV. Thus when Hollywood decided to commemorate its stars with plaques in the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street Jo Stafford was one of the few stars to have three separate plaques, one for records, one for radio, and one for television.

In the late fifties she cut down her activities sharply in order to devote her time to her family, and aside from a few trips to New York to appear on the Garry Moore and Firestone Hour Variety Shows, she did only recordings and TV shows based in Hollywood.

In 1961 the family moved to London for the summer so that Jo could host her final JO STAFFORD SHOW, a syndicated series for the ATV British Network. These shows were seen in this country, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, as well as in the British Isles, and her guests included Bob Hope, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Peter Sellers.

While family commitments precluded her public appearances, Jo did continue to record for Capitol, Dot , and Reader's Digest Records, as well as making religious albums for Corinthian and the World Library of Sacred Music.

Her Hits include: "You Belong to Me", "Timtayshun" , "Whispering Hope" ( with Gordon MacRae ), "Shrimp Boats", "Make Love to Me", "Jambalaya", her album of "American Folk Songs", and the comedy albums made under the name of Darlene Edwards. One of these, "Jonathan and Darlene in Paris", won a Grammy Award in 1960 for Best Comedy Recording. Most of her best known recordings including "The Columbia Hits Collection", are currently in release on the Corinthian Records label.

She is a past-president of SHARE, one of Hollywood's best known charitable organizations, which concerns itself with aiding mentally handicapped children. One of her last public appearances was at SHARE's 25th Anniversary Show, along with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis,Jr., Johnny Carson and Milton Berle.

Her final public vocal performance was with the Hi Los as part of a Society Of Singers tribute to Frank Sinatra. Her Corinthian recordings continue to enjoy sales throughout the world.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/jo-stafford

Lucky Days

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Jo Stafford & Dick Haymes - That's Love

Styles: Vocal, Swing
Year: 2024
Time: 26:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 61,9 MB
Art: Front

(1:52) 1. Play A Simple Melody
(2:02) 2. Those Old Piano Roll Blues
(3:08) 3. That Old Black Magic
(2:16) 4. A Little Bit Independent
(2:56) 5. No Other Love (Alternative Version)
(2:10) 6. Driftin' Down The Dreamy Ol' Ohio
(2:18) 7. I've Got You Under My Skin
(1:20) 8. We'll Build A Bungalow
(2:11) 9. Mississippi
(2:20) 10. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
(3:56) 11. Begin The Beguine

Jo Elizabeth Stafford, the third of four sisters, was born November 12, 1917 on a tract of land known as "Lease 35" in Coalinga,California. Her mother, Anna York Stafford,a distant cousin of World War I hero Alvin York was known as one of the finest five-string banjoists in Gainsboro, Tennessee. Her father, Grover Cleveland Stafford, had come West to work in the California oil fields.

Jo's professional debut was with the Stafford Sisters, a trio in which Jo, upon graduation from Long Beach Poly High, joined her sisters Christine and Pauline. They had their own weekly radio show on KHJ radio, were regular performers on David Broekman's California Melodies, the Crockett Family of Kentucky shows, and performed both solo and group vocal work for all the major motion picture studios.

After marriage broke up the Stafford Sisters trio , Jo joined a group called the Pied Pipers, and along with her seven other group members was hired by Tommy Dorsey for the Raleigh-Kool radio program in 1938. After ten weeks with Dorsey the group dissolved, but Jo was hired back with three others once again as the Pied Pipers who sang with Dorsey for three years, recorded "I'll Never Smile Again" with Frank Sinatra, and provided Jo with the opportunity of making her own solo recordings with the Dorsey band. Her first solo recording was "Little Man with a Candy Cigar."

When Johnny Mercer assembled the artists to form Capitol Records in 1943, Jo began a recording career that was to culminate in Columbia Records giving her a Diamond Award as the first recording artist to sell 25,000,000 Records.

After guesting on all the major radio shows, Jo started her own series with the Chesterfield Supper Club, to which was added the Jo Stafford Show for Revere Camera, followed by featured roles on the Carnation and Club 15 Shows.

In 1950, Jo began a series of broadcasts that brought her international recognition. In Hollywood she recorded a weekly fifteen minute Youth Program for the Voice of America to internationally promote the cause of democracy.

Soon she added another weekly half-hour musical show, also recorded in Hollywood, for broadcast over 200,000 watt Radio Luxembourg; Europe's most powerful station. During this period Frank Lee , then British director of Radio Luxembourg said: "In her own quiet way Stafford is selling America to Europe."

In 1952, coinciding with her marriage to arranger/conductor/composer Paul Weston, European demand (and a honeymoon) took them to London, where she headlined the bill at the Palladium and made appearances for the Voice of America in the British Isles and on the continent.

With the advent of television , Jo Stafford guested on all the major variety shows, and in 1954 hosted her own JO STAFFORD SHOW on CBS-TV. Thus when Hollywood decided to commemorate its stars with plaques in the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street Jo Stafford was one of the few stars to have three separate plaques, one for records, one for radio, and one for television.

In the late fifties she cut down her activities sharply in order to devote her time to her family, and aside from a few trips to New York to appear on the Garry Moore and Firestone Hour Variety Shows, she did only recordings and TV shows based in Hollywood.

In 1961 the family moved to London for the summer so that Jo could host her final JO STAFFORD SHOW, a syndicated series for the ATV British Network. These shows were seen in this country, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, as well as in the British Isles, and her guests included Bob Hope, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Peter Sellers.

While family commitments precluded her public appearances, Jo did continue to record for Capitol, Dot , and Reader's Digest Records, as well as making religious albums for Corinthian and the World Library of Sacred Music.

Her Hits include: "You Belong to Me", "Timtayshun" , "Whispering Hope" ( with Gordon MacRae ), "Shrimp Boats", "Make Love to Me", "Jambalaya", her album of "American Folk Songs", and the comedy albums made under the name of Darlene Edwards. One of these, "Jonathan and Darlene in Paris", won a Grammy Award in 1960 for Best Comedy Recording. Most of her best known recordings including "The Columbia Hits Collection", are currently in release on the Corinthian Records label.

She is a past-president of SHARE, one of Hollywood's best known charitable organizations, which concerns itself with aiding mentally handicapped children. One of her last public appearances was at SHARE's 25th Anniversary Show, along with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis,Jr., Johnny Carson and Milton Berle.

Her final public vocal performance was with the Hi Los as part of a Society Of Singers tribute to Frank Sinatra. Her Corinthian recordings continue to enjoy sales throughout the world.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/jo-stafford/

That's Love

---

Various - Capitol Sings Johnny Mercer

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:03
Size: 162.7 MB
Styles: Vocal, Easy Listening
Year: 1991
Art: Front

[3:17] 1. Ella Mae Morse - Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive
[3:11] 2. Martha Tilton - And The Angels Sing
[2:49] 3. Gordon MacRae - Autumn Leaves
[3:12] 4. Jo Stafford - Blues In The Night
[1:53] 5. Blossom Dearie - Charade
[3:40] 6. Judy Garland - Come Rain Or Come Shine
[2:22] 7. Nat King Cole - Day In-Day Out
[3:16] 8. Matt Monro - Days Of Wine And Roses
[2:47] 9. The Pied Pipers - Dream
[2:32] 10. Benny Goodman - Goody Goody
[2:52] 11. Johnny Mercer - Glow Worm
[2:55] 12. The Four Freshmen - I Thought About You
[2:49] 13. Dinah Shore - I'm Old Fashioned
[2:57] 14. Dean Martin - In The Cool Cool Cool Of The Evening
[2:16] 15. Stan Kenton & His Orchestra - Jeepers Creepers
[2:22] 16. Vic Damone - Laura
[3:26] 17. Lena Horne - Moon River
[3:03] 18. Johnny Mercer - On The Atchison, Topeka & The Sante Fe
[4:13] 19. Harold Arlen - One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)
[2:58] 20. Kay Starr - P.S. I Love You
[2:21] 21. Nancy Wilson - Satin Doll
[4:00] 22. Hoagy Carmichael - Skylark
[2:54] 23. Keely Smith - That Old Black Magic
[2:47] 24. Andy Russell - Too Marvelous For Words

Singer/songwriter Johnny Mercer was one of the founders of Capitol Records in the early '40s, so it's appropriate that he rates his own volume in the label's various-artists songbook compilation series of the 1990s (one that has already had discs devoted to Cole Porter and George Gershwin). As a lyricist working over a long career, Mercer provides a varied range of material for inclusion. This is a man who was setting words to 1930s swing hits like "And the Angels Sing," "Goody Goody," and "Satin Doll," and was still going strong in the 1960s, when he was writing movie themes like "Moon River" and "The Days of Wine and Roses" with Henry Mancini. In between, there were standards of the ‘40s such as "Blues in the Night" and "That Old Black Magic," and ‘50s favorites like "Autumn Leaves" and "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening." Capitol was devoted to singers, which allowed it to take advantage of the post-swing era of the late ‘40s and ‘50s when singers ruled. Tops among them was Frank Sinatra, a Capitol artist, who apparently didn't allow his recordings to be compiled on this sort of collection. But many other important singers are included, among them Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Dinah Shore, and Dean Martin. And Mercer himself pops in several times, as do a couple of his composer collaborators, Harold Arlen and Hoagy Carmichael. Although Mercer has an identifiable writing style, full of a self-invented Southern slang ("swingeroonie!," "my huckleberry friend"), his teaming with different sorts of composers allows for many different musical styles on this disc, making it one of the rangier volumes in the series. ~William Ruhlmann

Capitol Sings Johnny Mercer

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Various - Capitol Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:07
Size: 135.4 MB
Styles: Vocal, Easy Listening
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[2:52] 1. Bobby Darin - Hello, Young Lovers
[3:11] 2. Jo Stafford - Some Enchanted Evening
[3:07] 3. Ray Anthony - The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
[3:12] 4. Peggy Lee - Something Wonderful
[2:57] 5. Jeff Alexander Singers - Medley Happy Talk-Honey Bun
[2:56] 6. Helen O'connell - No Other Love
[2:44] 7. Al Martino - If I Loved You
[1:56] 8. Nancy Wilson - People Will Say We're In Love
[3:09] 9. The Andrews Sisters - Younger Than Springtime
[1:59] 10. Bobby Darin - Love Look Away
[2:49] 11. Jo Stafford - The Gentleman Is A Dope
[2:45] 12. The Starlighters - I Whistle A Happy Tune
[2:11] 13. Peggy Lee - I Enjoy Being A Girl
[1:58] 14. Tennessee Ernie Ford - My Favorite Things
[2:46] 15. Margaret Whiting - A Wonderful Guy
[3:06] 16. Dick Haymes - It Might As Well Be Spring
[2:32] 17. Nancy Wilson - Getting To Know You
[3:30] 18. Vic Damone - The Sound Of Music
[4:06] 19. Judy Garland - You'll Never Walk Alone
[5:12] 20. Sinfonia Of London - The Carousel Waltz

For nostalgia buffs and fans of the American popular song hit parade, here's a blast directly out of "this was your life": 20 tracks from the good old days of pop-cum-jazz via the Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein songbook bring you such talented -- but ultimately soft-soap -- singers as Peggy Lee, Al Martino, Vic Damone, and Judy Garland, vocal groups the Andrews Sisters and the Starlighters, a jazzier young Nancy Wilson, and the much hipper Bobby Darin. The funniest number is Jo Stafford's "The Gentleman Is a Dope," the weirdest is Tennessee Ernie Ford doing "My Favorite Things," and the most out-of-context cut is the finale by the Sinfonia of London? Quaintness and reverence for the old days does have an appeal, albeit limited in modern times, so if you wax poetic for this type of show tunes and don't have these artists in your home, this could fill the bill. ~Michael G. Nastos

Capitol Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein

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Various - Capitol Sings Cole Porter: Anything Goes

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 64:44

Size: 148.2 MB

Styles: Standards, Easy Listening

Year: 1991

Art: Front

[2:16] 1. Annie Ross - All Of You

[2:03] 2. Peggy Lee - Always True To You In My Fashion

[2:21] 3. Count Basie - Anything Goes

[3:26] 4. Gordon Macrae - Begin The Beguine

[2:44] 5. Martha Tilton - Blow, Gabriel, Blow

[3:47] 6. Stan Kenton - Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

[1:50] 7. Peggy Lee - From Now On

[2:41] 8. Stan Kenton - I Get A Kick Out Of You

[2:53] 9. Judy Garland - I Happen To Like New York

[2:15] 10. Helen O'connell - In The Still Of The Night

[2:38] 11. Dinah Shore - It's All Right With Me

[2:35] 12. Louis Prima - I've Got You Under My Skin

[2:13] 13. Nat King Cole - Just One Of Those Things

[2:37] 14. Liza Minnelli - Looking At You

[2:08] 15. Frances Faye - Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Lunch Today)

[2:25] 16. John Raitt - So In Love

[2:30] 17. Dean Martin - True Love

[1:51] 18. Keely Smith - What Is This Thing Called Love

[3:16] 19. Margaret Whiting - Why Shouldn't I

[2:48] 20. Jo Stafford - Wunderbar

[2:35] 21. Nancy Wilson - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To

[2:35] 22. Jean Turner - You're The Top

[2:11] 23. Trudy Richards - Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)

[3:03] 24. Jeri Southern - Get Out Of Town

[2:50] 25. The Andrews Sisters - You Do Something To Me

As far as all-star Cole Porter compilations go, Capitol Sings Cole Porter: Anything Goes is recommended as an entertaining sampler of 25 titles performed by some of the label's biggest stars. These include, on the hip end of the spectrum, Nat King Cole, Nancy Wilson, Frances Faye, Jo Stafford, and Annie Ross, a disarming vocalist who collaborates warmly with baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan. Peggy Lee is heard with George Shearing, Keely Smith with Louis Prima, Dinah Shore with Red Norvo, Tony Bennett with Count Basie and Chris Connor, and June Christy with Stan Kenton. Pop singers heard on this collection include Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Margaret Whiting, Dean Martin, Gordon MacRae, and the Andrews Sisters. This mini-survey of great moments in mid-20th century pop culture is suitable for casual listening (and optional singalong) while cleaning house, preparing food, shampooing the cat, or operating heavy machinery during rush hour. ~arwulf arwulf

Capitol Sings Cole Porter: Anything Goes

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Jo Stafford - Once Over Lightly

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:46
Size: 82,4 MB
Art: Front

(2:50)  1. Almost Like Being in Love
(3:06)  2. A Foggy Day
(2:49)  3. The Lady Is a Tramp
(3:25)  4. These Foolish Things
(2:30)  5. Mine
(3:27)  6. The Gypsy in My Soul
(3:03)  7. Autumn Leaves
(2:18)  8. You're Mine, You
(1:52)  9. Nice Work If You Can Get It
(3:19) 10. My Old Flame
(3:14) 11. But Not for Me
(3:49) 12. One for My Baby

During the immediate postwar years, singer Jo Stafford rose to fame as both a member of Tommy Dorsey's band and as a solo act. Part of a loose sorority of pop-jazz vocalists that also included Kay Starr, June Christy, and Julie London, Stafford excelled at both swingers and ballads using her patented smooth pipes. On this mid-'50s outing, she's joined by accordionist Art Van Damme and His Quintet. Covering a ballad and mid-tempo mix of standards, Stafford especially excels on "Almost Like Being in Love," "One for My Baby," and "But Not for Me." While not in the same league of contemporary work by Christy and London, Once Over Lightly still fits in well with the many cocktail vocal offerings from the '50s. ~ Stephen Cook http://www.allmusic.com/album/once-over-lightly-mw0000849362

Once Over Lightly

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Jo Stafford - Autumn In New York And Other Classics

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:37
Size: 153,6 MB
Art: Front

(2:42)  1. Autumn In New York
(2:47)  2. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
(2:57)  3. If I Loved You
(2:58)  4. Almost Like Being In Love
(2:27)  5. Make Believe
(2:39)  6. Through The Years
(3:10)  7. Sometimes I'm Happy
(2:48)  8. In The Still Of The Night
(3:12)  9. Some Enchanted Evening
(2:25) 10. The Best Things In Life Are Free
(2:42) 11. Just One Of Those Things
(2:46) 12. Haunted Heart
(2:54) 13. Alice Blue Gown
(2:33) 14. Tell Me Why
(2:40) 15. Let The Rest Of The World Go By
(2:44) 16. Gee, It's Good To Hold You
(2:35) 17. The Wish That I Wish Tonight
(2:51) 18. As Long As I Know You're Somewhere
(3:03) 19. Rockin' Chair
(3:02) 20. Georgia On My Mind
(2:49) 21. Dream - Edit
(3:13) 22. Jamboree Jones
(3:29) 23. Temptation (Tim-Tayshun) - 1949 Version

An early LP for Jo Stafford (and the LP format itself), 1950's Autumn in New York assembled a dozen standards set at ballad tempo and arranged with crying strings by Stafford's primary arranger (and husband), Paul Weston. Most of them were show tunes, some dating back to the '20s, and all seemed tailor-made for Stafford's sweet, pure tone and way with a lovelorn lyric. The title song and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" earned pride of place, but there simply wasn't a deficient tune in the bunch "Sometimes I'm Happy," "Some Enchanted Evening," "Just One of Those Things" and Stafford treated them all with the reverence and devotion they deserve. The LP was released in several formats, including a collection of 78-rpm EPs, while a 2009 reissue by DRG boasted 11 bonus tracks, including a few previously unreleased songs as well as a pair of big hits: "Jamboree Jones" (featuring Johnny Mercer) and "Tim-Tayshun (Temptation)" (Stafford's cornpone sendup of the Bing Crosby standard). ~ John Bush https://www.allmusic.com/album/autumn-in-new-york-mw0000814176

Autumn In New York And Other Classics

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Jo Stafford - Jo + Jazz

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:58
Size: 96.1 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1961/2007
Art: Front

[2:59] 1. Just Squeeze Me
[2:57] 2. For You
[4:39] 3. Midnight Sun
[3:24] 4. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[3:35] 5. The Folks Who Live On The Hill
[3:33] 6. I Didn't Know About You
[3:07] 7. What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry
[2:49] 8. Dream Of You
[3:51] 9. Imagination
[2:51] 10. S'posin'
[4:30] 11. Day Dream
[3:37] 12. I've Got The World On A String

The closest Stafford ever came to being a jazz singer. This early '60s release had instrumental touches and a jazz tone, and Stafford sang with more energy and less gimmickry. ~Ron Wynn

Jo + Jazz mc
Jo + Jazz zippy

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Jo Stafford - It Had To Be You: Lost Radio Recordings

Size: 137,7 MB
Time: 57:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. It Had To Be You (2:45)
02. Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You) (2:49)
03. Ain't Misbehavin' (2:34)
04. I'll Get By (2:29)
05. Little Girl Blue (3:27)
06. It's A Lovely Day Today (2:25)
07. You Love Me Just As I Love You (2:20)
08. Rain (2:23)
09. Can't We Talk It Over (1:49)
10. Teardrops From My Eyes (2:36)
11. I Love The Guy (2:50)
12. Orange Colored Sky (2:04)
13. Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes (2:32)
14. It's A Marshmallow World (2:10)
15. When My Sugar Walks Down The Street (1:47)
16. Row, Row, Row (2:13)
17. Where, Oh Where (2:33)
18. In The Still Of The Night (2:06)
19. Use Your Imagination (2:26)
20. The Old Man Of The Mountain (2:06)
21. I've Got The World On A String (1:59)
22. Dixieland Band (2:08)
23. Dream A Little Dream Of Me (2:36)
24. They Can't Take That Away From Me (2:25)

Possessing a tone as clear as a bell, perfect diction and phrasing, and no shortage of personality, Jo Stafford was one of the greatest and best-selling female singers of the pre-rock and roll era and beyond; whether it’s her early sides with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and The Pied Pipers or her classic solo recordings for the Capitol and Columbia labels with arranger/conductor husband Paul Weston, there is no mistaking the sound of that magnificent voice. Now, we at Real Gone Music have a very special treat for fans of this superb, yet to some degree overlooked, vocalist: a treasure trove of 24 radio performances taken from the Carnation Contented Hour, which Jo co-hosted on the Columbia Broadcasting System. These previously unreleased 1950-1951 recordings come to us from the Tony Martin estate courtesy of Michael Feinstein and with the blessing of Jo’s son Tim Weston, and are taken from original master tapes, not transcription discs; remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision, these are studio quality sessions and thus a major, major find in the Jo Stafford discography. It is such a treat to hear Jo interpret songs like “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “I’ve Got the World on a String” that became big hits for other artists; Joe Marchese’s notes put it all in context along with rare photographs from that golden era.

It Had To Be You

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Various - Capitol Sings Coast To Coast

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:46
Size: 118.5 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Vocal
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[2:45] 1. Margaret Whiting - Moonlight In Vermont
[2:24] 2. Susan Barrett - Old Cape Cod
[2:48] 3. Dakota Staton - Broadway
[2:39] 4. Jo Stafford - Autumn In New York
[2:48] 5. Dean Martin - When It's Sleepy Time Down South
[3:03] 6. Judy Garland - Carolina In The Morning
[2:39] 7. The Four Knights - Georgia On My Mind
[3:02] 8. Peggy Lee - Basin Street Blues
[2:05] 9. Dinah Shore - Mississippi Mud
[2:36] 10. Ray Anthony & His Orchestra - Chattanooga Choo Choo
[2:13] 11. Kay Starr - Indiana (Back Home Again In Indiana)
[3:38] 12. Nat King Cole - (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
[2:00] 13. Sandler & Young - Chicago
[2:17] 14. June Christy - You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
[2:13] 15. Gordon Macrae - When It's Springtime In The Rockies
[2:50] 16. Peggy Lee - I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City
[2:54] 17. Johnny Mercer - San Fernando Valley
[2:21] 18. Nancy Wilson - I Left My Heart In San Francisco
[2:15] 19. Ella Fitzgerald - Hawaiian War Chant (Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai)
[2:07] 20. The Pied Pipers - Avalon

In the 1950's, Capitol Records had some of the best talent in the music industry, including Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, both of whom were at the apex of their respective forms. At least Dean is present in this collection of songs, all of which are tied to the theme of places within the United States (continental and otherwise). Even though Frank is not represented, some of my favorite voices of the era are here, including Jo Stafford, Margaret Whiting, Nat "King" Cole, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett and the incomparable Johnny Mercer. Unfortunately, the songs don't always match up to the talent. There are some stand-outs, such as "Moonlight in Vermont," "Old Cape Cod," "Autumn in New York" and "Georgia on My Mind." ~Sarah Bellum

Capitol Sings Coast To Coast

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Various - Capitol Records From The Vaults: Vine Street Divas

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:06
Size: 172.0 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[2:53] 1. Jo Stafford - Long Ago (And Far Away)
[3:15] 2. Ella Mae Morse - Shoo-Shoo Baby
[2:49] 3. Benny Carter - Hurry, Hurry
[3:09] 4. Betty Hutton - It Had To Be You
[3:15] 5. Martha Tilton - I'll Walk Alone
[3:06] 6. Stan Kenton - And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine
[3:10] 7. Margaret Whiting - Moonlight In Vermont
[2:57] 8. Martha Tilton - I Should Care
[3:10] 9. Paul Weston And His Orchestra - It Might As Well Be Spring
[3:07] 10. Martha Tilton - A Stranger In Town
[2:42] 11. June Christy - It's Been A Long, Long Time
[3:02] 12. Betty Hutton - Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief
[3:19] 13. Peggy Lee - I Don't Know Enough About You
[2:57] 14. Jo Stafford - Day By Day
[2:50] 15. Peggy Lee - It's A Good Day
[2:24] 16. Nellie Lutcher - Hurry On Down
[3:11] 17. Benny Goodman - I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You)
[2:58] 18. Peggy Lee - Golden Earrings
[2:54] 19. Jo Stafford - Serenade Of The Bells
[3:04] 20. Margaret Whiting - But Beautiful
[3:12] 21. Peggy Lee - Everybody Loves Somebody
[3:05] 22. Kay Starr - You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling In Love)
[2:12] 23. Blue Lu Barker - A Little Bird Told Me
[3:05] 24. Helen O'Connell - Teardrops From My Eyes
[3:11] 25. Jo Stafford - Some Enchanted Evening

This volume of From the Vault highlights early Capitol Records hits by the ladies of the tower, so to speak. Individual talents such as Jo Stafford, Anita O'Day, and Peggy Lee began to emerge from many top orchestras and soon became Vine Street divas in their own right. The timing for this incipient wave of girl power couldn't have been better -- since WW II was preoccupying many of the country's top male vocalists. The extensive selection of musical genres on the label didn't hurt either. Among the most popular of these were show tunes. Jo Stafford led her fellow female artists scoring Top Ten hits with songs from both stage and screen. Vine Street Divas includes two Stafford classics -- "Long Ago (And Far Away)" from the film Cover Girl, as well as "Some Enchanted Evening" from the stage adaptation of South Pacific. Among the other soundtrack or cast recordings featured on this compilation are Ella Mae Morse's "Shoo-Shoo Baby" from the motion picture Three Cheers for the Boys," and Betty Hutton's classic "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" as featured in The Stork Club. This volume has cleverly gathered rare and hard to find early recordings by ladies who quickly gained international acclaim -- such as Anita O'Day ("And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine,") June Christy ("It's Been a Long, Long Time"), and Margaret Whiting -- who is featured with no less than three different orchestras on this collection. Vine Street Divas is accompanied by a ten-page liner notes booklet containing vintage memorabilia, photos, and other previously unpublished eye candy. Plus, to fill in the details is an essay by musician and music historian, Billy Vera. Initial pressings -- limited to 10,000 -- are cleverly packaged in a digipack designed to replicate the 78 rpm records and sleeves of the era. ~LindsayPlaner

Capitol Records From The Vaults: Vine Street Divas

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Various - Capitol Records From The Vaults: Capitol Goes To The Movies

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:07
Size: 167.4 MB
Styles: Vocal, Stage & Screen, Standards
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[3:02] 1. Johnny Mercer - On The Atchison, Topeka & The Sante Fe
[3:10] 2. Jo Stafford - It Could Happen To You
[2:54] 3. Johnny Mercer - San Fernando Valle
[2:57] 4. Margaret Whiting - In Love In Vain
[2:38] 5. Paul Weston And His Orchestra - Ole Buttermilk Sky
[2:51] 6. Johnny Mercer - Baby, It's Cold Outside
[2:55] 7. The Dinning Sisters - Buttons And Bows
[3:15] 8. Jo Stafford - Blues In The Night
[2:58] 9. The Pied Pipers - The Trolley Song
[3:03] 10. Johnny Mercer - If I Had A Talking Picture Of You
[2:59] 11. Gordon Macrae - It's Magic
[2:55] 12. Mel Blanc - I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat
[3:08] 13. Mel Tormé - Again
[2:48] 14. Bob Hope - Home Cookin'
[2:30] 15. Sammy Davis Jr. - Laura
[3:03] 16. Peggy Lee - Where Are You
[3:17] 17. Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa
[2:52] 18. Les Baxter - Ruby
[2:43] 19. Tex Ritter - High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)
[2:59] 20. Jane Froman - I'll Walk Alone
[2:39] 21. Bob Hope - Wing-Ding Tonight
[2:51] 22. Hoagy Carmichael - When Love Goes Wrong
[2:31] 23. Tennessee Ernie Ford - River Of No Return
[3:14] 24. June Hutton - Never In A Million Years
[2:43] 25. Les Baxter - The High And The Mighty

It's a no-brainer that the Capitol From the Vaults series would dedicate a volume to their affluent association with the cinematic side of Hollywood. This is especially true since label co-founder Buddy de Sylva was previously the head of production for Paramount Pictures. As pop music artist and scholar Billy Vera points out in his liner notes essay, the label's first hit -- "Cow Cow Boogie" by Ella Mae Morse -- was featured in the all-star propaganda film Reveille With Beverly (1943). The tradition served Capitol well throughout their first decade and there are over two dozen examples -- which Vera also notes as being nowhere near complete -- on this single CD compilation. Many of these sides not only scored big at the box office, but held their own on the national pop and country & western charts as well. Included are a bevy of Top Ten hits such as "The High and the Mighty" (Les Baxter), "It Could Happen to You" (Jo Stafford), "Buttons and Bows" (Dinning Sisters), and even the animated antics of "I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat" (Mel Blanc). This collection also features a couple of chart-toppers -- "On the Atchison, Topeka & the Santa Fe" (Johnny Mercer) as well as "Mona Lisa," the latter of which was also given an Oscar as "Best Song" in 1950 for its use in Captain Carey U.S.A. As an obvious labor of love, the audio in the Capitol From the Vaults series is unsurpassed -- rising to the occasion of such memorable pop music. ~Lindsay Planer

Capitol Records From The Vaults: Capitol Goes To The Movies

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Various - Capitol Records From The Vaults: Love Letters

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:15
Size: 170.0 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Vocal
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[2:51] 1. Nat King Cole - (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
[2:58] 2. Margaret Whiting - Come Rain Or Come Shine
[3:06] 3. Andy Russell - Besame Mucho
[3:12] 4. Johnny Mercer - Candy
[2:32] 5. The Dinning Sisters - Love Letters
[3:01] 6. Nat King Cole - ou Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)
[2:55] 7. Johnnie Johnston - Laura
[3:10] 8. Margaret Whiting - Guilty
[3:01] 9. Jo Stafford - The Things We Did Last Summer
[2:52] 10. Andy Russell - Amor
[3:02] 11. The Pied Pipers - Mam'selle
[3:01] 12. Nat King Cole - I Miss You So
[2:57] 13. Martha Tilton - That's My Desire
[3:12] 14. Judy Garland - Old Devil Moon
[3:01] 15. Nat King Cole - What'll I Do
[3:08] 16. June Christy - Soothe Me
[2:57] 17. Andy Russell - Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside)
[2:38] 18. Margaret Whiting - A Tree In The Meadow
[3:04] 19. Mel Tormé - You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me
[3:11] 20. Al Martino - Here In My Heart
[3:00] 21. Dean Martin - You Belong To Me
[3:04] 22. Bob Manning - The Nearness Of You
[2:45] 23. Helen O'Connell - Be Anything (But Be Mine)
[2:33] 24. Bob Eberly - You Are Too Beautiful
[2:52] 25. Nat King Cole - Somewhere Along The Way

This fourth installment of Capitol Records' label retrospective, Capitol From the Vaults, is hopelessly and head-over-heels devoted to love. The label presents a cornucopia of primarily post-WW II pop tunes that have become standards over time. This collection, subtitled "Love Letters," offers up 25 tracks about love: lost, found, forgotten -- and every other applicable emotion. With amour as a backdrop, this compilation contains hits from practically every pop music genre from the mid-'40 and early '50s. Among those strongly represented on this volume are soundtrack tunes from the stage and screen. These include Mel Tormé's "Your Getting to Be a Habit With Me" which was featured in two Warner Bros. films inspired by the Big Apple -- Lullaby of Broadway and 42nd Street. Another cinematic tribute to the five boroughs is also included with "What'll I Do" by Nat "King" Cole's Trio. This Irving Berlin composition was a Top 40 hit featured in the film The Big City. As with every Capitol From the Vaults installment, the focus of the package is on the songs which made the Hit Parade. 23 of the 25 tracks on Love Letters are in fact chart hits. "Candy" featuring Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford, Margaret Whiting's "A Tree in a Meadow," and the leadoff track, "I Love You (For Sentimental Reasons)" featuring the Nat "King" Cole Trio are all certified Number One hits by Billboard magazine. The sound quality continues to deliver infinitely better quality recordings than what has previously been available -- that is if consumers could find them at all. Producer Billy Vera has once again inked some wonderfully insightful liner notes. This is a cleverly compiled addition to the Capitol From the Vaults series. ~Lindsay Planer

Capitol Records From The Vaults: Love Letters

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Various Artists - Capitol Records From The Vaults: Roots Of Rock 'n' Roll

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:09
Size: 153.7 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Pop
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[2:26] 1. Nat King Cole Trio - Straighten Up And Fly Right
[2:58] 2. Martha Tilton - (Ah Yes) There's Good Blues Tonight
[2:51] 3. Freddie Slack - The House Of Blue Lights
[2:55] 4. Alvino Rey - Guitar Boogie
[2:42] 5. Geechie Smith & His Orchestra - Let The Good Times Roll
[2:37] 6. T-Bone Walker - Bobby Sox Blues
[2:53] 7. The Pied Pipers - Open The Door, Richard
[2:49] 8. Jo Stafford - A Sunday Kind Of Love
[2:50] 9. Jesse Price - Blue Book Boogie
[2:51] 10. Tex Williams - Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)
[2:59] 11. Nellie Lutcher - He's A Real Gone Guy
[2:27] 12. Ella Mae Morse - Down The Road A Piece
[2:42] 13. Crown Prince Waterford - Coal Black Baby
[2:13] 14. Cliffie Stone - He's A Real Gone Oakie
[3:01] 15. Marvin Johnson - Hey Lawdy Mama
[3:26] 16. Benny Goodman - The Huckle-Buck
[2:55] 17. Big Sis Andrews And Her Huckle-Busters - The Huckle-Buck
[2:12] 18. The Selah Singers - I'll Be Satisfied
[2:52] 19. The Selah Singers - He's My Rock, Sword And Shield
[2:56] 20. Lee Young - Seeing Double
[1:53] 21. Dean Martin - I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine
[2:34] 22. Tennessee Ernie Ford - Shot-Gun Boogie
[2:34] 23. Jimmie Dolan - Hot Rod Race
[2:04] 24. Les Paul - How High The Moon
[2:18] 25. Merrill Moore - The House Of Blue Lights

Much of the earliest mass-market rock 'n' roll sounded like a mix of country and rhythm and blues. Consequently, most rock journalists/historians assume that rock must have evolved from both of these forms. In fact, Billy Vera, in the liner notes to this CD, asserts that rock 'n' roll "had many sources," and we are offered 25 selections, consisting primarily of hillbilly-boogie sides and the tamest possible rhythm and blues, that allegedly prove as much. They don't even come close. With the exception of one or two tracks, nothing here sounds much like rock 'n' roll or the roots of same. None of the country tracks (all pre-Elvis) sound anything like rockabilly, and none of the r&b sides rock in the manner of Johnny Otis, Paul Williams, Hal Singer, or any number of other black artists of the period covered. Have the compilers deliberately misrepresented the black popular music of this period in an attempt to play it down, historically? Probably. Why, is anybody's guess. At any rate, the listener's willingness to accept this CD as a credible rock-roots document will depend on how easily he or she can accept people like Dean Martin, Tex Williams ("Smoke! Smoke! Smoke!"), ex-Tommy-Dorsey vocalist Jo Stafford, and Mary Ford as rock pioneers. The music itself is great, and the sound restoration is superb. But the folks behind this curiosity seem to have overestimated their audience's credulity. ~ Lee Hartsfeld

Capitol Records From The Vaults: Roots Of Rock 'n' Roll

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Jo Stafford & Gordon MacRae - Golden Voices! Golden Memories!

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:26
Size: 160,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:09)  1. Whispering Hope
(3:02)  2. No Other Love
(3:15)  3. Bluebird of Happiness
(2:26)  4. 'A' You're Adorable
(2:32)  5. Steppin' Out with My Baby
(2:14)  6. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo
(2:11)  7. Where Are You Gonna Be When the Moon Shines
(3:16)  8. Our Very Own
(2:30)  9. Dearie
(3:11) 10. To Think You've Chosen Me
(2:28) 11. A Rosewood Spinet
(2:13) 12. Say Something Sweet to Your Sweetheart
(2:44) 13. Need You
(2:39) 14. Always True to You in My Fashion
(3:10) 15. I'll String Along with You
(2:29) 16. Down the Lane
(2:51) 17. The Little Old Church Near Leicester Square
(2:15) 18. Tea for Two
(2:58) 19. Neapolitan Nights
(2:58) 20. Why Can't You Behave
(3:16) 21. Girls Were Made to Take Care of Boys
(3:02) 22. Love's Old Sweet Song
(2:55) 23. Evelyn
(2:48) 24. Wunderbar
(2:43) 25. The Pagan Love Song

One of the most technically gifted and popular vocalists of the immediate postwar period, Jo Stafford effortlessly walked the line between breezy pop and the more serious art of post-big-band jazz singing. With the help of her husband, top-flight arranger and Capitol A&R director Paul Weston, Stafford recorded throughout the '40s and '50s for Capitol and Columbia. She also contributed (with Weston) to one of the best pop novelty acts of the period, a hilariously inept and off-key satire that saw the couple billed as Jonathan & Darlene Edwards.

Born near Fresno, CA, Stafford sang from an early age and was classically trained, though she later joined her sisters in a country-tinged act (associated for a time with Joe "Country" Washburne). At the age of just 17, she became the first female voice in the seven-man vocal act known as the Pied Pipers. Soon after the group joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 1939, however, it was pruned to a quartet (which also included Stafford's first husband, co-founder John Huddleston). The group appeared on several of the Dorsey band's hits of the early '40s, a few of which paired them with Frank Sinatra. Stafford gained her first solo spots on a pair of Dorsey band hits, "Yes, Indeed!" and "Manhattan Serenade." She finally left the Pied Pipers for a solo contract in 1944 (she was replaced by June Hutton), though the group provided backup for many of her initial solo hits.

Not only signed to Capitol but able to preview hit songs as the co-host of label founder Johnny Mercer's radio program, Stafford hit the charts with the mid-'40s songs "Long Ago (And Far Away)," "I Love You," and "Candy." The latter, a duet with Mercer and the Pied Pipers, became her first number one. In 1948, her duet with Gordon MacRae on "My Darling, My Darling" became her second. She later moved to Columbia and recorded the two biggest hits of her career, 1952's "You Belong to Me" and 1954's "Make Love to Me." Stafford gained her own television program during the mid-'50s, and also recorded the first LP by Jonathan & Darlene Edwards, American Popular Songs. (It wasn't the first time Stafford had used a pseudonym, however; in 1947, she billed herself as Cinderella G. Stump to record a cover of the cornpone single "Temptation [Tim-Tay-Shun].") Though she slipped from the charts in the late '50s and retired from performance, Stafford continued to record for many years and issued the LP Getting Sentimental Over Tommy Dorsey on Reprise in 1963. She also founded Corinthian Records, with Weston, to reissue the couple's various recordings. ~ John Bush  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jo-stafford-mn0000112017/biography

With his handsome boy-next-door looks, deep baritone, and glorious smile, Gordon MacRae found success as a recording artist, film actor, and television and radio personality. He recorded for Capitol Records for more than two decades, and starred in two of the most popular musicals of the 1950s, the movie versions of Richard Rodgers' and Oscar Hammerstein's Oklahoma! and Carousel, both of which had appeared previously on Broadway. Beginning in 1947, MacRae's releases for Capitol were quite successful. Through 1954 he scored numerous hits, among them "Rambling Rose," "So in Love," "It's Magic," "I Still Get Jealous," "Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue," and "At the Candlelight Café." Following an absence of four years from the charts, "The Secret" brought about his return.

MacRae's chart success was not limited to solo efforts. He also collaborated with Jo Stafford, who previously sang for Tommy Dorsey's outfit. MacRae and Stafford hit the top of U.S. charts with "My Darling, My Darling." The duo also released the singles "A  You're Adorable," "Say Something Sweet to Your Sweetheart," "Whispering Hope," "Bluebird of Happiness," "Dearie," and "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo." MacRae also put out an album in collaboration with his first wife, Sheila MacRae, an actress and singer. The performer's full name at birth was Albert Gordon MacRae. Born in New Jersey, he grew up in Syracuse, NY. During his high school years he was a member of the drama club. In addition to singing, he also could hold his own on the saxophone, clarinet, and piano. During his late teens, a contest win took him to New York, where he performed for several weeks during the World's Fair. The engagement gave him the opportunity to sing with professionals such as Les Brown and Harry James. The following year, Horace Heidt hired MacRae as a vocalist for his band. The singer stayed with Heidt's outfit for a couple of years before enlisting in the armed forces, where he received training in navigation.

After his war service, MacRae debuted on Broadway, taking over for Tommy Arbuckle in Junior Miss. In 1946 he moved on to Three to Make Ready, Ray Bolger's Broadway revue. The production brought him to the attention of Capitol and led to his contract with the company. During the late '40s MacRae landed a starring role in the music-based program The Railroad Hour, where he remained through 1954 despite a change of networks. During this period Warner Brothers snapped him up for its motion pictures, giving MacRae a seven-year deal and launching him in The Big Punch. A number of movie roles followed, casting him opposite such actresses as Doris Day, June Haver, Shirley Jones, Jane Powell, and Kathryn Grayson. MacRae bowed out of the movies in the mid-'50s and concentrated on television work and live concerts. He hosted his own program, The Gordon MacRae Show, and frequently turned up on such popular television shows as The Colgate Comedy Hour. He began struggling with alcoholism by the end of the 1950s, but by the 1970s he claimed to have wrested control over the addiction. In 1982 MacRae was struck down by a stroke, but he endured until 1986, when he died of pneumonia. He also suffered from cancer. MacRae and his first wife divorced in 1967. The marriage produced four children, among them actresses Meredith MacRae and Heather MacRae. He wed Liz Schrafft in 1967, and the couple raised one child. ~ Linda Seida  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gordon-macrae-mn0000018796/biography

Golden Voices! Golden Memories!

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Various - Puttin' On The Ritz: Capitol Sings Irving Berlin

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:03
Size: 158.1 MB
Styles: Vocal, Traditional pop, Easy Listening
Year: 1992/2007
Art: Front

[1:11] 1. Mary Martin, John Raitt - There's No Business Like Show Business
[1:47] 2. Judy Garland - Puttin' On The Ritz
[1:59] 3. Vic Damone - Marie
[3:19] 4. Dinah Shore - The Song Is Ended
[2:31] 5. Crew Chiefs - Heat Wave
[2:32] 6. Dick Haymes - Isn't This A Lovely Day
[2:31] 7. The Starlighters - Play A Simple Melody
[3:01] 8. Nat King Cole - What'll I Do
[3:07] 9. Bobby Darin - All By Myself
[4:39] 10. Nancy Wilson - You Can Have Him
[2:27] 11. Gordon MacRae - Steppin' Out With My Baby
[3:23] 12. Kay Starr - You're Just In Love
[3:08] 13. Andy Russell - Easter Parade
[2:30] 14. Johnny Mercer - Alexander's Ragtime Band
[2:44] 15. Peggy Lee - Cheek To Cheek
[2:37] 16. The Four Freshmen - Be Careful, It's My Heart
[2:50] 17. Betty Hutton - Blue Skies
[3:23] 18. Ian Bernard - How Deep Is The Ocean
[2:23] 19. Nat King Cole - Let's Face The Music And Dance
[3:27] 20. Sue Raney - How About Me
[2:25] 21. Vic Damone - Change Partners
[2:41] 22. Dean Martin - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
[3:00] 23. Jo Stafford - White Christmas
[2:33] 24. Gordon MacRae - Always
[2:43] 25. Margaret Whiting - God Bless America

The songs of Irving Berlin are I-beams in the towering edifice of 20th century popular music. This sampler of predominately pop recordings from the Capitol catalog may serve as both a grab bag of enjoyable entertainments and a useful introduction to some of this composer's nicest tunes. Each of the 25 tracks perfectly illustrates the essence of a given song, and would be especially useful for anyone seeking to learn the rudimentary contours. Jazz is only marginally represented here, in spite of the fact that jazz grew up on Irving Berlin's often jazz-inspired melodies, many of which survive today primarily as jazz standards. Certainly jazz is manifested in Nat King Cole (with both trio and big band), Nancy Wilson, Johnny Mercer and bandleaders Red Norvo and Billy May. Several ex-big-band singers are in the mix, including Peggy Lee and Kay Starr. Jo Stafford sings like an angel, Dinah Shore's gentle rendering of "The Song Is Ended" comes across as a marvel of sensitivity, and Betty Hutton's handling of "Blue Skies" is among her prettiest performances on record. The timeline represented here (1944-1963) almost exactly traces the golden age of the post-WWII, pre-Beatles star pop vocalists. The core sample contains measurable amounts of Judy Garland, Mary Martin, Margaret Whiting, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, Gordon MacRae, Dick Haymes and Vic Damone, as well as pearly white group vocals by the Starlighters, the Crew Chiefs, the Pied Pipers and the Four Freshmen. ~arwulf arwulf

Puttin' On The Ritz: Capitol Sings Irving Berlin

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Jo Stafford - Starring Jo Stafford

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 33:57
Size: 77.8 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1953/2011
Art: Front

[2:53] 1. Serenade Of The Bells
[2:54] 2. On The Alamo
[2:57] 3. No Other Love
[2:43] 4. Red River Valley
[2:51] 5. Ivy
[3:04] 6. Fools Rush In
[2:49] 7. A Sunday Kind Of Love
[2:42] 8. The Gentleman Is A Dope
[2:26] 9. Symphony
[2:48] 10. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
[2:47] 11. You Keep Coming Back Like A Song
[2:57] 12. Day By Day

Starring Jo Stafford is a 1953 album by Jo Stafford,with Paul Weston and His Orchestra accompaniment by The Starlighters and The Pied Pipers. Jo Stafford was an American singer of traditional pop music and jazz standards whose career ran from the late 1930s to the early 1960s. Stafford was greatly admired for the purity of her voice and was considered one of the most versatile vocalists of the era.

Starring Jo Stafford

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