Ethel Waters - The Incomparable Ethel Waters

Ethel Waters: the first African-American superstar !!!

A heat wave blew right into town last week,
She came from the island of Martinique,
The can-can she dances will make you fry
The can-can is really the reason why

We're having a heat wave,
A tropical heat wave,
The temperature's rising,
It isn't surprising,
She certainly can can-can.

She started a heat wave
By letting her seat wave
In such a way that
The customers say that
She certainly can can-can.

Gee, her anatomy
Makes the mercury
Jump to ninety-three.

We're having a heat wave,
A tropical heat wave,
The way that she moves
That thermometer proves
That she certainly can can-can.

Ethel Waters sang with great passion and she captivated her audiences wherever she went. Ethel was truly the first African-American superstar: she excelled in song, stage and motion pictures. Ethel pursued the fine arts never afraid of the touchy issues of racism and heated romantic moments. We are so much better off because Ethel shared her talent with us; and this CD is an excellent selection of some of her finest songs.

Ethel was equally at home singing hot numbers about romance or belting out torch songs to describe the sadder feelings we all experience in love and life. The CD begins with the Irving Berlin classic "Heat Wave" recorded by Ethel in 1933 with Benny Goodman on trumpet. The musical arrangement is wonderful and Ethel's voice is rich, vibrant and full of energy. The CD takes a sharp 180 degree turn for the next track entitled "I Just Couldn't Make It, Baby." In this song Ethel expresses how she just can't forget a man for whom she has feelings. Ethel also performs "Stormy Weather" flawlessly with Tommy Dorsey on trombone and Jimmy Dorsey playing both clarinet and alto saxophone.

Other classic songs on this CD include "(What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue?" which deals with racial issues and the singer's need for black pride; "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone;" the very sassy "Maybe Not At All;" and the very romantic "Memories Of You."

Ethel wasn't shy about taking on her rivals, either. "Harlem On My Mind" gently pokes fun at Josephine's Baker's style; and the lyrics to "Come Up And See Me Sometime" even go so far as to call Mae West "an Eskimo." "Come Up And See Me Sometime" is perfectly arranged as well. Ethel sings this number with Tommy Dorsey on trombone and Jimmy Dorsey on both clarinet and alto saxophone.

Ethel's incredible entertainment continues. Ethel does a great rendition of "Cabin In The Sky" accompanied by Max Meth and his Orchestra. "Taking A Chance On Love" is absolutely beautiful; and the CD concludes with the playful and joyous "Honey In The Honeycomb." Excellent!

The liner notes feature great black and white photos of Ethel Waters both on stage and at MGM with Duke Ellington during the filming of Cabin In The Sky in 1943. Donald Bogle contributes a fascinating essay about the tough personal life Ethel Waters endured as she entertained millions of people in the public eye.

There will never be another Ethel Waters. When Ethel Waters sang you listened--and you listened closely, too, because she always gave 110% and she possessed an abundance of natural talent. Thank God for Ethel Waters--this lady graced us generously with her art!
January 14, 2007

Not a bad introduction to Ethel Waters' music

Ethel Waters possessed one of the most breath-takingly gorgrous voices of our time, she also was a spectacular jazz singer. She did a great vocal version of Louis Armstrongs classic West End Blues! This cd will work as a good introduction to Ethel'scharming style of singing. She was technicly a swinging jazz singer, though her mannerisms were vaudevillian, such as the way she OVER-pernounces her r's, and how she rolls her R's. While other singers did that and sound dated today, it sounds charming when Ethel does it, and her vocie is just so pretty. One of the greatest singer sof all time.

Interesting facts:
Ethel Waters toured with Billy Graham's crusades in the 50's until she died, she became a Cgristian, and sang Gospel music in her later career!

She also stars is an exellent film "Cabin in the Sky", which is worth finding and watching. December 22, 2004

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