The Songs Of Bessie Smith / It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing (MP3) Teresa Brewer

£7.99

Genre:
Vocal Jazz
Label:
Flying Dutchman
Format:
MP3
Catalogue Id:
DVBOPD 032

This product is also available in these versions:
The Songs Of Bessie Smith / It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing, CD (£11.70)

For a decade from the late 1940s Teresa Brewer was one of the biggest singing stars in world, with a series of Top 10 hits including two #1s. When her contract with Decca’s Coral label ended she was snapped up by the new US Philips imprint. By then times were changing, not only with the advent of rock’n’roll, but a new generation of pop singers looking to replace the established acts. Brewer took it all in her stride, releasing albums, but spending most of the 1960s raising her four daughters, happy not to be pushing for stardom.

By the 1970s her girls were grown up and her marriage had ended. She renewed a professional relationship with her old A&R man Bob Thiele, whom she went on to marry. With her interest in music renewed, she signed to Thiele’s Flying Dutchman label and began to play club shows. It was immediately clear she had developed as a singer, and her initial releases updated her pop sound.

Thiele then suggested she make an album with Count Basie, whose recent Flying Dutchman LP, “Afrique”, had shown him to be in top form. The pair chose to record a selection of numbers made famous by Bessie Smith. Rather than try to ape Smith’s style, Brewer did the songs her own way, and Basie’s band provided sympathetic and dynamic backing, ably arranged by Thad Jones. The greatest compliment paid to the record was by Duke Ellington, who asked Brewer when she would make an album with him.

Ellington and his band were in the studio with Brewer just a few months later. They recorded versions of some of Ellington’s biggest hits and hidden gems from his catalogue, plus two numbers that had never been recorded before. Brewer and the band were at the top of their game, and a very special album resulted. Poignantly, these proved to be the final studio recordings for Ellington, who died the following year.

Dean Rudland

 

Share

Track listing

Show

Side 1

Delivery & Returns

Show

We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Customer reviews

Show

Related products

Customers who bought this item also bought