Jo Stafford - Capitol Collectors Series

Jo Stafford Columbia Collection

This is an excellent recording that highlights the beautiful voice of Jo Stafford. Thoroughly enjoyed this CD and the memories that the songs recall. Recommend to anyone. September 23, 2008

What a voice! BRAVO, JO STAFFORD !!!

Capitol Collectors Series is a CD series that covers great songbirds and crooners from the twentieth century; and this installment of Jo Stafford's work is no dud! Jo Stafford is in excellent form on this album; and the sound quality is excellent. The artwork is also very thoughtfully done.

"Old Acquaintance" starts the CD track set with Jo Stafford singing so sweetly it really gets my attention! Jo Stafford sings this with heart and soul; her voice is clear as a bell, too. This is very impressive. "How Sweet You Are" gives Jo the chance to show off the operatic qualities of her voice; and the strings are used very well in the musical arrangement. "Long Ago (And Far away)" features Jo probably at her very best; this is a major highlight of this album. Jo never sings a superfluous note; and the flute enhances the melody quite a bit.

"It Could Happen To You" has Jo putting her own stamp on this classic love song; her incredible sense of timing makes this number really take flight! "That's For Me" again features Jo standing front and center--and that's terrific! The flutes and the strings enhance the melody and Jo Stafford sings this to perfection. "This Is Always" again proves just how well Jo Stafford really could sing--what a fantastic voice she had!

"The Things We Did Last Summer" gets the royal treatment from Jo as she sings this seemingly effortlessly; the number is very pretty. "Serenade Of the Bells" shines like silver and gold when Jo Stafford performs this flawlessly; and the male backup vocalists harmonize to perfection. I love it! Listen also for "Once And For Always;" Jo gives this all her might and she succeeds! Jo Stafford performs this with panache.

"Some Enchanted Evening" comes from South Pacific; and this classic love song gets new life breathed into it when Jo sings this. It's truly like listening to pure silk; I simply can't describe in any other way. "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" has a 1940s style country flavor to it that works very well--and that keyboard work is awesome! "Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)" is a number I first heard when Harry Belafonte sang it; Jo Stafford delivers this with great sensitivity and it holds its own very well.

The CD ends with Jo Stafford singing doing more than just her best on "No Other Love." "No Other Love" is a very pretty, soothing love song that makes the perfect ending to this album.

Jo Stafford was truly one of the best although she isn't always remembered that way. However, just one listen to this CD proves she had quite a set of pipes! I highly recommend this for her fans; and people who enjoy classic pop vocals will enjoy this album too.
April 20, 2008

BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL

WITH EVERYONE SINGING STANDARDS (EVEN ROD STEWART) IT IS VERY REFRESHING TO LISTEN TO THESE SONGS BY ONE OF THE "ORIGINALS" OF THE ERA. JO STAFFORD'S VOICE COME THROUGH WITH VERY HIGH QUALITY IN THESE REMASTERED RECORDINGS. I WISH I COULD SEE HER PERFORM LIVE. April 3, 2007

Sumptuous, smoky and spellbinding!

Jo Stafford's voice is one in a billion. Smooth and silky, also sultry and hazy, she draws you in from the first few notes on this album. The songs cast a spell in a way that almost no other singer has ever been able to do. She was blessed with a mighty talent, and uses those golden pipes with consummate skill. She also swings easily on a few tracks. The novelty track Tempation I skip over; a very minor quibble with such a wealth of gorgeous material.

If you like female crooners, Jo Stafford shares the top with very few others, and this is a wonderful collection of her recordings. I am so glad I have this music, and recommend it highly. December 24, 2005

A good overview of Jo's forties music

As an introduction to Jo's music, this is quite impressive although it's not strictly a greatest hits package. It contains 26 tracks from her years with Capitol (1944 to 1950). Although Jo had more than enough hits during the late forties to fill this CD, it includes two failed singles, an album track and a previously unreleased recording.

So there are plenty of hits missing but Long ago and far away, I love you, It could happen to you, Trolley song, There's no you, That's for me, Symphony, The things we did last summer, Temptation, Serenade of the bells, Some enchanted evening, Whispering hope, Ragtime cowboy Joe and No other love, all American top ten hits for Jo, are among the hits included here. The most surprising omission is Candy, Jo's first number one hit, but I suspect from the liner notes that this was being held back for another compilation that was never released.

This was the first CD of Jo's music that I bought, but that was before the release of the boxed set (Yes indeed), which contains all these tracks and many others from the same period, and which I reviewed a long time ago. Before buying this collection, I advise you to check the track listing - and the price - of the boxed set. Nevertheless, this is a great collection and if you just want a single CD of Jo's forties music, this will suit you. September 18, 2004

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