The Best Voices Time Forgot
Collectible Albums by Top Female Vocalists
· Collector's Edition
· 2 Original LPs on 1 CD
· Original Cover Art, Liner Notes
· Complete Personnel Details
· Newly Remastered in 24-Bit
Sings and Swings
Jean Hoffman (Portland, 1930) is well-known as an unostentatious, small-voiced singer, and a pleasantly prodding, rhythmic pianist. She made a name for herself in the San Francisco club circuit during the ‘50s, often supported by bass and drums. In 1957, Billboard hailed the release of her first album, Jean Hoffman Sings and Swings, with some words of praise: “An exciting new voice, a rarity indeed in today’s market, has at long last blossomed via chirp Jean Hoffman, who combines the best elements of jazz styling without negating her pop commercial lure. While it’s a little voice, it’s strong, resonant and powerful in expression. Her rendition of Bluebird of Happiness is one of the freshest and most imaginative arrangements of this tune to come along in many a moon, and coupled with the other standards in this package, it makes for palpitating listening. An artistic success, deserving of heavy exposure and air-play.”
The Carless Torch
Husky voiced Dorothy Carless (1916-2012), was one of England’s top warblers of the 40s and 50s. She studied classical music intensively and was an accomplished pianist in her teens. However, at 17 she became passionate about jazz. In 1937 she auditioned for bandleader Ray Noble, who asked her to sing instead of playing piano. Later she moved on to other bands such as Ambrose and Geraldo. Within a few years, working as a pianist and singer for the BBC during World War II, she became a national celebrity. In 1953 she moved to California, where she appeared in top night-clubs and many radio and TV shows. Dorothy’s voice and style were etched indelibly in her 1956 album “The Carless Torch,” in which good, suitable, unobtrusive backing by the Barney Kessel Trio serves as the backdrop for a number of time-tested torchers sung with intimate phrasing and feeling.
Tracklist
Total time: 76:06 min.
01. Dancing on the Ceiling (Rodgers-Hart) 3:33
02. I’ve Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good (Ellington-Webster) 3:33
03. Makin’ Whoopee (Donaldson-Kahn) 3:45
04. What Is There to Say? (Duke-Harburg) 2:22
05. Sometimes I’m Happy (Youmans-Caesar) 3:51
06. The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise (Seitz-Lockhart) 2:59
07. Bluebird of Happiness (Sandor Harmati) 3:03
08. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Rodgers-Hart) 3:06
09. Time Was (Prado-Luna-Russell) 3:16
10. Yes Sir, That’s My Baby (Donaldson-Kahn) 3:08
11. Street of Dreams (Young-Lewis) 3:52
12. My Buddy (Donaldson-Kahn) 3:54
13. Baby, Baby, You’re the One (Murray-Carless) 2:52
14. Here Lies Love (Rainger-Robin) 2:34
15. It’s Easy to Remember (Rodgers-Hart) 3:06
16. Love Letters in the Sand (Coots-Kenny-Kenny) 2:41
17. Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye (Cole Porter) 3:02
18. Bidin’ My Time (G. & I. Gershwin) 2:30
19. Hello, My Lover, Goodbye (Green-Heyman) 3:42
20. Too Late Now (Lerner-Lane) 3:21
21. My Old Flame (Coslow-Johnston) 3:09
22. I Don’t Want to Cry Anymore (Billie Holiday) 3:31
23. I’ll Never Be the Same (Billie Holiday) 3:10
24. For Every Man There’s a Woman (Arlen-Robin) 2:12
Album details
Sources:
Tracks #1-12, from “ Jean Hoffman —Sings and Swings” (Fantasy 3260)
Tracks #13-24, from "Dorothy Carless —The Carless Torch” (Hifi Records R-403)
Personnel on "Sings and Swings":
Jean Hoffman, vocals & piano (electric piano on #1,3,9), accompanied by
Jack Weeks (bass), Bill Young (drums). Dean Reilly, replaces Weeks on #1.
Recorded in San Francisco, November 10 & 11, 1957
Personnel on "The Carless Torch":
Dorothy Carless, vocals, with Barney Kessel (guitar), Joe Mondragon (bass),
Milt Holland (vibes, glockenspiel, drums & bongos).
Tracks #13,14,18,19,21,22,23: guitar, vibes, bass.
Tracks #16,17,20: guitar, glockenspiel, bass
Track #15: guitar, bass, drums
Track #24: guitar, bass, bongos
Recorded in Los Angeles, 1956
Liner notes: Jordi Pujol, Ralph J. Gleason
Original recordings produced by Max Weiss (#1-12) and Richard Vaughn (#13-24)
This compilation produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
Hi Fi / Mono · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
Blue Moon Producciones Discograficas S.L.
Press reviews
"One of the real pleasures in today’s technology is the fact that guys like Spain’s Jordi Pujols is able to find obscure jazz albums and help us rediscover true artists that were overlooked during a time of singer overload. This latest set is simple irresistible. The liner notes answer the questions as to why these ladies never got much traction, but for one of them, she’s still in the jazz scene, although in a different role.
The first album pairs Jean Hoffman with Dorothy Carless, both ladies from the mid 50s, and both in a small and spartan musical format. Hoffman comes of casual and influenced by June Christy, accompanying herself on the slinky “Dancing On The Ceiling” and sly on “Makin’ Whoopee” with Jack Weeks-Dean Reilly/b and Bill Young/dr. A mix of mature confidence and earthy swing are felt on “Street of Dreams” and she carries a torch on “What Is There To Say”. Any more of this lady?
Dorothy Carless is supported by Barney Kessel/g, Joe Mondragon/b and Milt Holland/vb-glock-d-bong as she mixes moods ranging from sassy Sarah Vaughanish swoons on “Baby, Baby, You’re The One” to dreamy atmospheres on “Ev’ry time We Say Goodby” and “I’ll Never Be The Same”. She carries a glowing torch with Kessel as she oozes out “My Old Flame” and “Here Lies Love”. Classy lassie."
George W. Harris (November 23, 2020)
https://www.jazzweekly.com
