Peggy Lee - Capitol Collectors Series, Vol. 1: The Early Years

This is post-Benny Goodman Peggy Lee at her best.

Most folks remember Peggy Lee as one of Benny Goodman's many vocalists, and rightly so. He plucked her out of nowhere at an early age and she sang on some of the Goodman Orchestra's biggest hits of the day, however her stint with Mr. Goodman really didn't last that long in the scheme of things. This fine collection contains tracks recorded while Peggy was with Capitol Records and stretch from 1945-1950. There's a lot of 'best of' CDs out there, but I highly recommend this collection, as you're likely to find it at a good price and it contains a whopping 25 tracks. This is classic Peggy Lee at her best, and this collection highlights her vocal talents at a time when things were much simpler, classier, perhaps more noble. Take a trip back in time with the wonderful Peggy Lee. If you do enjoy this, do look up the other Capitol Collector's Series CDs. They always contain something a little extra that you won't find on other 'best of' CDs, like studio chatter, outtakes, things like this. I'm going to play this CD again, right now! October 13, 2007

Peggy steps out of the shadows

Peggy first made an impact as a singer with Benny Goodman's band (where she replaced the excellent but largely forgotten Helen Forrest) before committing herself to a solo career. This collection covers Peggy's early solo recordings from 1945 to 1950 and it shows that Peggy was a brilliant ballad singer but that she could also swing to good effect - there are some fantastic up-tempo songs here. As with all collections titled Capitol collectors series, this comes with copious liner notes including recording dates and American chart information.

Then, as in any era, the biggest hits are not always the songs that stand the test of time best. The only number one hit here is Manana, an upbeat, fun song of a type that was popular in those days but is generally dismissed now as a novelty song. Caramba it's the Samba (a top twenty hit) is another song of a similar type. In their way, they are great songs that I really enjoy, but I can understand why a lot of people don't like them. If necessary, you can skip them - there are 25 songs here in total and most of them are classy songs from the finest songwriters available.

Apart from Manana, the biggest hits here are Golden earrings (a ballad typical of Peggy) and Ghost riders in the sky (a western song that is not typical of Peggy, but which she does brilliantly). Both of those peaked at number two. Waiting for the train to come in, I don't know enough about you, It's all over now, Chi-baba and The old master painter (a duet with Mel Torme) all made the top ten and every one is a masterpiece. Some of Peggy's finest songs of the period didn't make the top ten. I particularly like I'll dance at your wedding, It's a good day and Don't smoke in bed.

There is a bewildering selection of compilations of Peggy's music, some covering particular periods and others spanning her whole career. Despite that, there aren't many that confine themselves to her early years. If you just want a single CD of Peggy's forties music, this is the one to buy. It has all her big hits from the period. January 10, 2004

Refreshing, Poppy, and Crystal Clear

It's hard to "sing like Peggy Lee", and hard to find a better album to exemplify such an understated style and phrasing, yet with such vocal punch. Detractors from Miss Lee's work often cite vocal greatness to be found in the form of the "shrieker" such as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Maria Muldaur, dated and tired examples of excessively loud, out of control, have to belt and trill or they can't sing it artists. What she doesn't say is as important as what she does. Peggy shows that she knew how to make great music before the Tramp came along. December 28, 2001

A triumph of beauty over talent

This carefully selected Capitol compilation brings the first chapter of Peggy Lee's long career (her earlier work with Benny Goodman can be percieved as a preface),her first succes as a solo singer.Although her fans would find this compilation exciting,it has more points from a historic perspective than as a real music gem - novelty songs as "Caramba!Its the Samba!" are VERY dated today althought they must have sound cute then - and its interesting to hear how her style eventually grow with these songs.Lee had a easy-listening purr,a whisper that was appealing to a mass audience and her popularity can be explained as result of uninvolving humming,nice music background that did not offend anybody.I still haven't found anything that she recorded really breathtaking and I always found her overrated - so many listeners are awed by her glamour,clothes,style and looks that for them that's enough.Any suggestions of some above average listening from Lee would be welcome,as I haven't discovered it yet. April 18, 2001

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