You probably haven’t heard of Annette Warren, but you might have actually heard her voice. She was a “ghost singer” for actresses like Ava Gardner and Lucille Ball, doing the singing parts in films like “Showboat” and “Fancy Pants.” To give you an idea of the quality of her voice, she was selected over Dinah Shore and Lee Wiley! She was also married to pianist Paul Smith. Got your attention yet?
This 2 disc set from Fresh Sound Records includes her best album, the 1957 There’s A Man In My L ife and it shows her clear and expressive tone feels like a compilation of big band vocalists like Francis Wayne, Martha Tilton and Helen Ward. She’s got a natural swing, a wonderful enunciation and articulation and optimistic pinch to her delivery on a wonderful intro and delivery of “More Than You Know” while “Suddenly It’s Spring” is as winsome as daffodils.
A swinging session with Brick Fleagle’s Orchestra from 1945 includes a snappy “Shufflin’ Shoes” while Phil Moore’s Orchestra has a boppy “How High The Moon.” The real treat here is when Warren teams up with her husband’s trio of Red Callender/b and Wes Nellermoe (along with Marshal Royal on some tracks) in the early 50s for exquisite takes of “What’ll I Do?” and obscurities such as “Tell Me You’re Glad That I’m Sorry.” These two minute ditties are rich bon mots of intimate swing and ballads.
The accompanying booklet gives an encyclopedic collection of her life and career, putting the music and lady in proper perspective. A real charmer!
Fresh Sound Records