Vocal / Jazz, Traditional Pop, Vocal Jazz
Al Goodhart Composer
Arthur Schwartz Composer
Bob Nolan Composer
Howard Dietz Composer
Jo Brooks Project Assistant
Kay Twomey Composer
Mike McNally Project Coordinator
Paul Weston Composer
Paul Weston & His Orchestra Performer
Peacock Design
Ronn Hill Remastering
The Pied Pipers Vocals (Background)
The Starlighters Performer, Vocals (Background)
Weston Arranger
Combines vocalist Jo Stafford's 1950 ('Autumn In New York') and 1953 ('Starring Jo Stafford') releases together on one disc. All 24 tracks have been digitally remastered on this 1997 EMI item, including 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,' 'Almost Like Being In Love,' 'The Gentleman Is A Dope,' 'Fools Rush In' and much more.
Autumn in New York/Starring Jo Stafford, a Capitol/EMI twofer collection released in 1997, includes 24 tracks of exceptional material by one of vocal music's underrated performers. Though the dates on the CD list Autumn in New York and Starring Jo Stafford as originally 1955 LP releases, it's much more likely from the artwork and material that these are 78-rpm catalogue sets from at least several years earlier. On the first, Stafford reprises 12 hits from Broadway shows, led by the title song. Fortunately, there's plenty of the dreamy, inspirational material she usually excelled at, including "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "Some Enchanted Evening," and "Almost Like Being in Love." The second LP in the package, Starring Jo Stafford, has several dated novelties -- "On the Alamo," "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," "Red River Valley" -- and a dominating vocal chorus (either the Starlighters or the Pied Pipers). Even here, though, Stafford's warm voice and elegant sense of swing saves the few standards present. "Fools Rush In," "Day by Day," and "You Keep Coming Back Like a Song" are wonderfully done, and even "The Gentleman Is a Dope" -- a female translation of "The Lady Is a Tramp" -- gets a classic treatment. There isn't much hit material here, but fans of Stafford who just want to hear her voice doing material they haven't heard will be well-pleased. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide |
