Peggy Lee & Benny Goodman - The Complete Recordings 1941-1947

In 1941, Peggy Lee had just come down from her home state of North Dakota to join Benny Goodman's band in Chicago as a replacement for Helen Forrest. Lee was young, frightened, and forced to sing the band's songs in Forrest's keys. No surprise, then, that the earliest records in this anthology seem a bit stiff and without commitment. She had not yet narrowed her range nor begun to phrase behind the beat (both á la Billie Holiday), but the confidence and speed with which she began to form her style are documented here, and it's amazing to hear how quickly she advanced--keep in mind that all but three of these recordings were made in a one year period between 1941 and 1942. And even when her singing lacks interest, there are some stunning arrangements here by Eddie Sauter and Mel Powell. After six months with the band, Lee was flying: the second CD contains gems such as "Where or When" and "The Way You Look Tonight" with the Goodman trio; her hit cover of Lil Green's "Why Don't You Do Right"; a couple of duos with Johnny Mercer; and three songs from a little-known reunion with Goodman in 1947. By then she was on her own, the Holiday influence was fully assimilated, and her smoky, vibrato-less voice was assured and distinct. --John F. Szwed Amazon.com

A pairing made in heaven...

Long before she became known as a sultry sex kitten with 1950's smash hit Fever, Peggy Lee had practiced her sexier side with Benny Goodman on hits such as Why Don't You Do Right. Lee received her big break in 1941 when Benny Goodman heard her sing; his vocalist Helen Forrest was about to leave his band, and he was looking for a replacement. A few days later, Lee recorded Elmer's Tune, the first track on The Complete Recordings 1941-1947. That same year, several more of Lee/Goodman's arrangements went on to be hits, including I Got It Bad and Winter Weather.

The Complete Recordings gathers 38 tracks by Lee and Goodman, despite the fact that Lee married Goodman's guitarist Dave Barbour and took a year off, returning to work on her solo career with Barbour (in 1945, she signed a solo contract with Capitol). 32 of the tracks were recorded between 1941 and 1942 and displayed Peggy Lee's widening range to perfection, from blues (Blues in the Night), ballads (How Deep is the Ocean?, How Long Has This Been Going On?, When the Roses Bloom Again, Where or When, The Way You Look Tonight), holiday tunes (Winter Weather), uptempo numbers (Let's Do It, The Freedom Train), and everything in between. It's amazing to hear how she matures from that first jittery performance on Elmer's Tune to the confident vocalist she'd become.

The remastering has produced a crisp, clear sound, and the discs are printed to look like the old vinyl labels that Columbia's used with Frank Sinatra reissues. The excellent liner notes are by the incomparable Will Friedwald, who writes for all the Sinatra Columbia / Capitol reissues and releases, and include rare photos and a complete list of original catalog numbers, recording dates, and studio personnel. This is a fabulous investment for fans of Big Band (Goodman in particular) and Peggy Lee, but any fan of the Great American Songbook and music of the 1940s will find much to enjoy here. March 19, 2008

Peggy Lee & Benny Goodman 1941-1947

What a great collection. It has them all. I didn't have to buy ten CD's to get the recordings I wanted. March 18, 2007

Good pop music is not dead

Good pop music is not dead, it is just waiting for a new generation to discover wonderful romantic poetry set to music. March 8, 2007

AMERICAN CULTURE AT ITS BEST

Imagine. A Swedish girl from North Dakota pairing with a Russian Jewish boy from Chicago to play a musical genre created by New Orleans blacks. American culture at its best! The more I listen, the more I enjoy. Benny Goodman was a wonderful clarinetist. I levitate most times when he chimes in. And it is easy to understand why Duke Ellington asked Peggy Lee if she was sure she didn't have any "spade" in her. Her timing and intonations sound black.
I have seen film clips of a gorgeous young Peggy Lee fronting the band. I regret that I'm too young to have experienced them live. April 6, 2006

Peggy Lee + Goodman = Masterpiece and Success

Peggy Lee might just be my favorite big band singer after this CD. Goodman's orchestra, one of the best in the business, combined with Peggy Lee creates one of the best sounds during the era. Goodman's solo on the clarinet make this CD worthwhile, but with Peggy Lee's voice aswell...it is a MUST BUY for any big band or general jazz fans. This CD really opened my eyes, truly is big band music at its best. February 24, 2006

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