Up there with Ruth Brown, Lavern Baker and Dinah Washington, Annie Laurie (1924-2006) was one of the pre-eminent blues/R&B vocalists of the 40s and 50s. She had the classic sass in her delivery, bold and brassy, having a couple big hits like “Since I Fell For You” and “It Hurts To Be In Love”. This two disc, 51 song anthology shows her wide ranging career, spanning and adapting to the various musical and cultural trends.
She has bop in her roots as she bounces to a 1946 take of “St.Louis Blues” with a full band and the jumping “Them There Eyes” and “Love That Man Of Mine” in trio settings. When she’s teamed with Paul Gayten’s Orchestra (which included a pre-Little Richard Lee Allen on tenor sax), she sizzles on “Cuttin’ Out” and “Blue and Disgusted” while swooning on “I’ll Never Be Free”. Laurie digs deep with Howard Biggs’ Orchestra featuring Budd Johnson/ts and Ellis Larkins/p on “Get Me Some Money” and “Just One More Chance” with “Stop Talkin’ And Start Walkin’” having her in a classy swaying mood. She had a couple more big bluesy hits such as “1949’s “Cuttin’ Out” and 1950s’s “I’ll Never Be Free”. By the late 50s, she was smoothing out the rough edges, with Kenny Burrell on guitar for “It Must Be You” and “Please Honey Don’t Go” while still getting dirt under the nails with tenor saxist Hal Singer on “You Promised Love”. The tail end of the sessions include more of almost a doo wopping atmosphere as on “Love Is A Funny Thing” and vocal accompaniment on lush pieces like “Lost Love” and the hit “If You’re Lonely”.