Vocalist Sue Raney is still making the rounds on the LA scene, and has bridged the gap between jazz and pop since her first recordings, which are found on this fresh 2 cd set. Her career began just as jazz and pop vocals were on the decline, and pop and a new thing called “rock and roll” was putting its blue suede shoe in the door. Here, you find her in a variety of settings, with her trying to find her footing in the pop culture that was changing by the minute.
A 1957 date with Nelson Riddle finds her in the best milieu, with a gorgeous take of “Till There Was You” and a harrowing read of “When Your Lover Has Gone.” She does the intro to “My Ideal” with simple guitar accompaniment before the rest of the orchestra comes in for dramatic effect, and even sound credible on “I Remember You.” Framed around pop tunes such as “Biology” (did Bill Holmon REALLY arrange this?!?) and “Ever” she teams up her Doris Day-like pure voice with Billy May’s orchestra for a seamlessly sly “September in the Rain” and cheerful “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams.” The mix of bona fide music with novelty pop makes for interesting listening, and when she’s on the mark (as is most of the time here) the engine hums perfectly.
Fresh Sound Records