While these days best known for her iconic role in the classic movie White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, at one time Rosemary Clooney was one of the top canaries in jazz. While also having an impressive career in her later days, her post-war pre-Beatles years are quite underrated. This 3 disc, 78 song collection highlights her days with various big bands as well as her own solo career, and the anthology is impressive in its range.
One of the most charming vocal duos occurred with Clooney teamed up with band leader Tony Pastor, who was an impressive tenor player and singer in his own right. The two are a treat on things like “ You S tarted Something” and “A You’re Adorable” before Clooney goes on her own for some fun novelties like “Bargain Day” and “Me and My Teddy Bear”. There’s an intriguing duet with Frank Sinatra on “Love Means Love” a wild one-off with Marlene Dietrich for “Too Old To Cut The Mustard”. With Harry James’ big band, she might have hit her peak with “It Might As Well Be Spring” and “In The Cool Of The Evening”. A teaming with Benny Goodman’s trio produces a convincing “Memories of You”, while Clooney rhumbas with Perez Prado on “Watermelon Heart”. The set concludes with Clooney in a more of a pop atmosphere with tunes such as “Hey Look Me Over” and “Theme From ‘Return To Peyton Place”, but this only confirms the width and breath of a woman who was as comfortable with Danny Kaye as Gene Autry.