It completely amazes me how many fantastic singers were around a half century ago, and how so many of them have become overlooked. Take my advice; before you plop down some money for today’s singers who all sound like everyone else, give a listen to these ladies who sound fresher, swing harder and have more style and sass than any dozen around today. Check these out.
Fresh Sound’s latest of The Best Voices Time Forgot features two ladies from 1959. The first is a husky voiced Janet Blair backed by an orchestra arranged and conducted by Lou Busch, featuring allstars like Jimmy Rowles/p, Paul Horn/fl-as, Bud Shank/fl-as, Tommy Tedesco/g and Shelly Manne/dr. Blair floates through the flutes on noir classics “Get Out Of Town” and a sultry “Glad To Be Unhappy” while she swaggers through “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me” and is sleek as she tiptoes around Manne on “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” Intimate and late-voiced Claudia Thompson joins with Barney Kessel/g, Benny Carter/as, Ted Nash/as, Paul Smith/p, Red Mitchell/b and Alvin Stoller/dr for a seductive “Fan Me,” velvety “The Morning After” and too close for comfort “Body And Soul.” Who let her off her leash?
In 1956, clear toned Corky Shayne teams with bassist Johnnie Pate’s combo that includes a swinging Wilbur Wynnne on guitar for a relaxed “Two Sleepy People” and an cozy “Just Squeeze Me.” She has an affinity for using the obscure intros to the show tunes, giving a clever “If I Only Had A Brain” and luminous “Autumn In New York.” R&B voiced Georgia Carr sounds like she took her Dakota Staton pills on this 1958 session as she gives a peppy “Cheek To Cheek” and strides with pianist John T. Williams on “Baby Won’t You Please Come Home.” She plunges with trumpeter Don Fagerquist on a ribald “Sugar Blues” and gets earthy on “Gotta Walk, Can’t Sleep.” Bold and beautiful.
Rita Moss (1918-2015) boasted a four octave vocal ranged and could also play piano, organ and drums. She had a successful jazz career in the 50s, with a handful of sessions included on this 23 song single disc. A 1951 session has her in a pop mode on “ I’ll Be Waiting For You” while a big band conducted and arranged by Neal Hefti and including Buck Clayton/tp, Kai Winding/b and George Barnes/g has her sweet on “Darlin’”. She shows here opera chops not dissimilar to Betty Roche’ on a ’52 session with strings that includes “You Never Had It So Good” and a woodwinded “Memories Of You.” She’s all by herself on piano, organ and bongos for a 56-57 recording that has her bluesy on “I Got IT Band and That Ain’t Good” and she comes across like King Pleasure as she sings along with her organ on a hep “Bopligatto.” Classy on a wide range of fronts.
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/rita-moss-albums/47802-queen-moss-1951-1959.html