Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Key Largo - Sarah Vaughan
2. Solitude - Ella Fitzgerald
3. Embraceable You - Dianne Reeves
4. Don't Go to Strangers - Etta James
5. Call Me - Della Reese
6. I'm Just a Lucky So and So - Diana Krall
7. Call Me Irresponsible - Dinah Washington
8. Something Cool - June Christy
9. You Go to My Head - Keely Smith
10. Very Thought of You - Nancy Wilson
11. My Funny Valentine - Dinah Shore
12. It Had to Be You - Kay Starr
13. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) - Rosemary Clooney
14. I'll Be Seeing You - Peggy Lee

Disc 2:

1. In A Sentimental Mood - Dianne Reeves
2. Here's That Rainy Day - Peggy Lee
3. Stormy Weather - Sarah Vaughan
4. In a Sentimental Mood - Dianne Reeves
5. They Can't Take That Away from Me - Diana Krall
6. Body and Soul - Etta James
7. Some Day My Prince Will Come - Cassandra Wilson
8. More Than This - Norah Jones
9. Thrill Is Gone - Patricia Barber
10. You're Changed - Nancy Wilson
11. Cry Me a River - Julie London
12. Don't Explain - June Christy
13. Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?) - Rosemary Clooney
14. I Wish You Love - Keely Smith
15. We'll Be Together Again - Lena Horne

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #102349 in Music
• Released on: 2003-03-25
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.com
We've called them torch singers, divas, chanteuses, and the First Ladies of American Song. And as the contemporary, Grammy-bedecked ascent of Norah Jones (who appears here with Charlie Hunter) attests, these ladies who sing the blues continue to reinterpret a tradition rooted in the blues, yet steeped in songcraft that spans jazz, pop, and even rock. This double-disc, 26-track collection spans a half-century-plus and offers up not only a tantalizing introduction to legends and pioneers (including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Della Reese, Etta James, Lena Horne) and an equally rich body of song standards, but also chronicles how an originally largely black heritage in effect became the pop mainstream in the '40s and '50s (and beyond) via the work of singers like Dinah Shore, Kay Starr, June Christy, Peggy Lee and Julie London. It's also a testament to how vital that legacy remains, with Jones' own Brazilian-inflected cover of Bryan Ferry's "More Than This" and Patricia Barber's spare, sultry '90s read of "The Thrill Is Gone" but two strong examples of the set's expansive scope. It's a compelling sampler and the best kind of musical appetizer: One that leaves you craving more. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Excellent Sound Nostalgia
A Great Gift Album. At my tender age of 61 a family member ordered this album. The engineering is as smooth as the music; super sound and super stars. "New" pop, jazz, etc., have nothing to offer compared to those singing pioneers, who just became better and better with age. Anything else is just a mere copy of perfection. There isn't another Peggy Lee, who I heard on stage in the 1960s. She awed everyone with her love of music and a generous performance filled with so many encores for an audience with endless requests. All the Ladies on the album are the best singing so many "best" classics-all blues-of course!

This Lady is no Tramp...
The fire of Etta James, the elegance, clarity and perfect pitch of Ella and the sophomoric verve of newcomer Norah Jones creates an amazing mosaic of the incredible history of women in jazz. I initially found myself trying to find a logical connection between the very diverse tracks and artists but resigned those analytical impulses to the emotion, truth and appeal of the CD. It somehow alludes the discombobulation of typical "best of" CD's but rather delivers a very fluid soundtrack feel. It seems to indirectly chronicle the struggle, tenacity and success of the best women in jazz; excellent production underscores the legendary tracks and voices.

two CDs that create an awesome sentimental mood...
Lady Sings The Blues is a marvelous two CD set that has so much to offer! This really gives people a large amount of timeless ballads from some of the best divas of the entire twentieth century. The sound quality is excellent and the artwork is very thoughtful.

Sarah Vaughan kicks off the set with her wonderful interpretation of "Key Largo." Sarah sounds just lovely and her ability to play with tempo changes impresses me greatly. The musical arrangement is rather jazzy as well. There's also "Embraceable You" sung by Dianne Reeves; Dianne sings this with all her heart and soul. The tempo is slowed down somewhat from the tempo I'm used to but this ballad as sung here by Dianne Reeves still holds its own very well. Della Reese also sounds great on "Call Me." "Call Me" has a particularly lush arrangement and Della's voice is rich, warm and rather vibrant. Della sure could belt out a tune!

Dinah Washington turns in a fine performance on "Call Me Irresponsible;" this tune gets the royal treatment from Dinah and she was born to sing songs like these! Dinah's energy makes this a major highlight of this two CD set and I'm sure you'll like it as much as I do. Moreover, Nancy Wilson's "The Very Thought Of You" is absolutely perfect--Nancy delivers this with panache, heart and soul! The strings are used to great advantage and the piano arrangement is very elegant as well. Kay Starr sings a stunning version of "It Had To Be You;" if this is your type of music then I dare you not to like this!

The second CD continues the hits. Sarah Vaughan returns to sing a passionate rendition of "Stormy Weather." Sarah bats this one straight out of the ballpark and she never sings a superfluous note, either! Sarah Vaughan always remains one of my favorite songbirds of all time; and just one listen will tell you why. Cassandra Wilson also sings "Someday My Price Will Come" with a slow, romantic delivery that just amazes me whenever I hear it; and listen also for "You've Changed" by the great Nancy Wilson. "You've Changed" is a classic bluesy ballad that Nancy infuses with so much emotion that it truly shines here on this set.

Julie London sings "Cry Me A River;" many people said that this song in actuality belonged to Julie London--and I think those people are right! Julie sings this with a degree of sensitivity that only she could muster. Keely Smith also does a smash-up job on "I Wish You Love;" Keely's voice is very rich and warm. "I Wish You Love" stuns me with its natural beauty. The CD set also ends well with Lena Horne performing "We'll Be Together Again." "We'll Be Together Again" is the perfect ending to this two CD set.

Overall, blues music aficionados cannot afford to go without this two CD set. These timeless ballads shine so well; don't be surprised if you find yourself listening to this practically every day of the year!