Helen Forrest: The Helen Forrest Hits Collection 1938-46

One of the definitive voices of the Swing Era was  provided by Helen Forrest, who, with Helen Ward, Jo Stafford, June Christy and Helen O’Connell  became the “canaries” of white big bands for the likes of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey and Stan Kenton. Forrest had a warmth and twinkle in her eye as she sang, with rich expression , working with uptempo tunes or more sensuous melodies.

Her loyalties were divided between four popular  big band. Her stint with Artie Shaw produced the classic “Deep Purple” as well has her passionate “Comes Love”. She jumped ship to Benny Goodman and sang on the immensely popular “Perfidia” and the evocative “How  Hi The Moon”. Her years with trumpeter Harry James created the mix of romance and nostalgia on “I Had The Craziest Dream” and the spry “I’ve Heard That Song Before” with her final years of the Swing Era fronting Dick Haymes with a glorious “Come Rain Or Come Shine” and “Long Ago (And Far Away)”. Unlike many of the female singers of the era, she was able to add personal style to her lyrics, bringing rich dynamics and emotion that was sometimes lacking in the other, m ore sterile songstresses of the time. This two disc set is more than mere nostalgia of the War Years, it is a reminder of when art can also be popular.