8 Classic Albums

"Eight Classic Albums" makes available Dinah's early albums in CD format. The sound is excellent. The music -- well, Dinah is amazing. In her career, she covered a lot of territory stylistically from the beginning jazz sound on "Dinah Jams," a live set from 1954 that literally smokes out of the speakers. The opener "Lover Come Back to Me" sets a frantic pace that is utterly thrilling. Dinah's delivery is unlike anyone else's; so on a standard like "Come Rain Or Come Shine," the familiar melody shines as Dinah talk-sings, "Days may be cloudy or sunny." "I've Got You Under My Skin," the great Cole Porter standard, smokes.The second album "For Those In Love" from 1955 is a studio jazz set. "I get A Kick Out of You" has a mellow jazz backing with Dinah's vocals riveting the listener. "This Can't Be Love" has a delicious extended instrumental section with Dinah's vocals aching and blue. "My Old Flame" shows Dinah's particular phrasing off well, "I've met so many who had fascinating ways, a fascinating gaze in their eyes; Some who took me up to the skies, but their attempts at love were only imitations of my old flame." Great stuff."in the Land of Hi Fi" from 1956 leads off the second disc. Strings make their appearance as Dinah cruises through some midtempo gems like "Let Me Love You." "There'll Be A Jubilee" picks up the swinging tempo as Dinah rolls with it. Dinah delivers a flirtatious take on "I've Got A Crush On You." "Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You" introduces a Latin flavor with a jazzy tango beat, "The oak leaf will fall when autumn's through, but nothing will ever change my love for you." Dinah leaves her imprint on the Tommy Dorsey standard "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "I used to walk in the shade with those blues on parade; I'm not afraid, This rover has crossed over." Great upbeat swing!"The Swinging Miss D" from 1956 lives up to its title. Dinah plays joyfully with "Makin' Whoopee." "But Not For Me" swings with the sad lyric juxtaposed to Dinah's upbeat delivery. The Arabian influence plays delightfully with a ripping sax on "Caravan." "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" is a sparkling romp. "Somebody Loves Me" was a slow mournful number that first came to my attention on an LP by Melanie; but Dinah's version is a big band up-tempo track that reflects hope and joy rather than loneliness and sorrow."What A Difference A Day Makes" from 1959 brings Dinah into a more lush setting with strings as on the opener "I Remember You." The standard "Cry Me A River" begins with strings adding tension and then washing into easy listening territory while Dinah's vocals dish out romantic retribution, "Told me love was too plebian, told me you were through with me and now you say you love me; Well just to prove you do..." The title track is a lovely tune whose background vocals date the arrangement but with Dinah's lead vocals sincere and unique, "My yesterday was blue, dear; Today I'm a part of you, dear; My lonely nights are through, dear, since you said you were mine." "Manhattan" is another delightful witty lyric married to a lovely melody. The set ends with the gloriously romantic "A Sunday Kind of Love."From 1960, "The Two of Us" teams Dinah with Brook Benton on tracks like the sentimental "Call Me." Their duet on the perky "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" induces a smile each time it spins. In a similar vein, "A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around & Fall In Love) cuts a midtempo groove that is shear rapture. The set concludes with the devotional "I Believe.""I Concentrate On You" from 1960 leads off the fourth CD. This set emphasizes lush strings in a sweet easy listening groove. The title track has a clip-clop percussion to give a cha-cha flavor to this lovely classic. The glorious "Lord, You Made Us Human" shines solely on Dinah's amazing vocals for me. Dinah covers the Billie Holiday classic "Good Morning Heartache" with a very different reading. "Daybreak" picks up the tempo a bit with some jiving guitar. The set concludes with a blues touch on "Misery."The 1960 LP "September In the Rain" concludes this package. This LP tends to be upbeat. The title track has a lovely melody with a great midtempo arrangement. "As Long As I'm In Your Arms" and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" are sweet up-tempo romantic winter numbers. "With A Song In My Heart" is joyfully romantic. The set concludes with the hopeful "Tell Love Hello.""Eight Classic Albums" is a wonderful reissue, making these early Dinah Washington albums available again. Enjoy!

Known as "The Queen Of The Blues", she was the most popular black female recording artist in the 1950's.Dinah had 19 albums released by 1961, here are eight of those albums.Being one of the all-time great jazz and blues singers, the first two disc are very jazzy,the last two are more the blues ~ ballads & a little rock n roll.Disc One ~1. "Dinah Jams" ~ 1954, (5th album), jazzy, recorded live, much clapping, and/or whistling at the beginning and end of each song.There's some 'marathon' length tracks here, 7 over 5 min., - 1 over 11 min. which are unusually long for 'oldies' music.2. "For Those In Love" ~ 1955, (6th album), jazzy.Total ~ 16 tracks, - 1 hour 19 min.Disc Two ~3. "In The Land Of Hi Fi" ~ 1956, (8th album). big band, classic jazz/blues.4. The Swingin' Miss D" ~ 1956, (9th album). big band classic jazz/blues.Total ~ 23 tracks, 1 hour - 3 min.Disc Three ~5. "What A Difference A Day Makes" ~ 1959, (14th album), no jazz here, just the blues!6. "The Two Of Us" duets with Brook Benton ~ 1960. (16th album).Total ~ 24 tracks, 1 hour - 5 min.Disc Four ~7. "I Concentrate On you" ~ 1960, (17th album). blues tracks.8. "September In The Rain" ~ 1960, (19th album). blues tracks.Total ~ 24 tracks, 1 hour, 6 min.These remastered disc sound excellent.As seems to be with all the compilations from this label, there aren't any liner notes, only the track listing and album dates.Dinah Washington was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1986, and the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Beautiful Lady, beautiful -classic jazz genre music and Dinah's voice to carry me/you away to the world of 1954 with the likes of Quincey Jones. Whence from: She blows away the Lovers amongst us, again with Quincey & Co. Dianah then takes us along to the land of Hi Fi in 1956 with Cannonball Adderley. Later in 1956 she becomes known as Swinging Miss D. with the leading exponents of modern Jazz. In 1959 she reminds us of "What A Difference A Day Makes", accompanied by Charles Davis on baritone sax. Jerome Richardson on flute. Kenny Burrell on guitar. David "PANAMA" Francis on drums. Milt Hinton on double bass. Joe Zawinul on piano. Beiford Hendricks arranges and conducts this ensemble. In 1960 she pairs up with the incomparable Brook Benton (vocals) to bring us "THE TWO OF US"!!! In 1960 she delivers with "I CONCENTRATE ON YOU" with Joe Zawinul on piano & Beiford Hendricks arranging. "SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN" came also in 1960. Gain - she is in fine company - Go get yours!!!

I've been listening to the brassy, beautiful, vibrato of Dinah Washington for hours now and just can't get enough. What a tremendous value! Eight whole albums on four CDs. It's hard to get the actual albums rather than another compilation where you are bound to duplicate songs you already have. I've already ordered Sinatra, if you order the CDs from Britain you can get them more cheaply and airmail is remarkably fast. These albums are jam packed with standards and favorites. There are eight of her nineteen albums published in the fifties. A second collection of another seven albums is available but there already seems to be every song I can think of here. This is her more commercial material, more jazz than R+B but don't let that stop you, it is still great material. Her version of if I Were a Bell fron Guys and Dolls is brilliant with it's fast pace and precise phrasing. Another favorite is the Rogers and Hart classic This Can't be Love, so different from Garland's signature rendition in her Carnegie Hall concert, but just as good.

SOMETIMES ARTISTRY JUST CANNOT BE BEATEN

Great voice, great albums, great value

Great thanks

A GOOD VALUE CD

Absolutely stunning. Many refer to Washington as a torch singer but she was not a torch singer, she was a vocalist who could cover standards, jazz, blues, pop and country and she did it with such grace and style. Her intonation was beyond perfect and what a voice! Sure she was no Celine Dion or Streisand but her vocal delivery was pitch perfect and she had such a beautiful way of singing and you can tell in her singing that she really feels the emotions and expressions behind each lyric. Listen to her sing about the joy of Manhattan or the sorrow of This Bitter Earth and you will see how she brought life to each song she sang. She was a divine singer and died way way too young.