Think the entire Peggy Lee songbook consisted of “Fever” and “Manana”? Get a load of this 2 album compilation by Fresh Sound records. Miss Lee is backed here in 1959-60 by a pair of fun and almost tongue in cheek orchestras, as “The Great El Norte Songbook” is given a pinch of salsa. The bands include top notch session guys like Wilbur Schwartz, Harry Klee and Eddie Cano along with some scintillating percussion on Latinized reads of “On the Street Where You Live” and “The Surry with the Fringe on Top.” She plays it straight and clear while the backing vocalists chant “Corazon” on as she coos on “(You Gotta Have) Heart.” Even Ellington gets a pencil thin mustache as “Just Squeeze Me” gets the timbale treatment.
A handful of tunes from 1947 have Miss Lee in “Brazilian” setting with David Barbour’s nifty band, and songs like “Caramba It’s the Samba” are just wonderfully tacky. Gotta love this one to spice up a party!
Fresh Sound Records