The Andrews Sisters: Capitol Collector's Series
Check out this artist at Amazon.com

Orchestration:

  • Gordon Jenkins
  • Jack Marshall
  • Vic Schoen
  • Bob Thompson

The Andrews Sisters

Capitol Collector's Series

Capitol

After a three-year break-up, the Andrews Sisters reunited in 1956 and returned to the studio. They took advantage of the new LP format to re-record many of their popular WWII-era numbers but also added several new, contemporary songs to their repertoire. Capitol brings together the best of these latter-day recordings on a 25-song Collector's Series CD featuring studio dates from 1956 to 1959.

The sisters stayed true to their roots when re-making their classic hits, performing them pretty much note for note. Orchestration is also close to accurate, being provided by Vic Schoen, the same man who served as their musical director during the 1930s and 1940s. There seems to be a bit more brass in the arrangements than there was originally, but that may just be the results of the cleaner sound of late 1950s technology compared to WWII-era equipment.

The sisters' newer material stands up quite well when compared to the classics. A few are true to the spirit of the swing era, but others, like the electric guitar-driven ''Alone Again,'' are definitely contemporary. ''One Mistake'' finds the sisters doing their best Patsy Cline, and indeed, they seem to be leaning towards a country sound on several songs. The pseudo-Hawaiian mix ''E-Ma-Ma'' and the campy caffeine anthem ''Proper Cup of Coffee,'' as well as the aforementioned ''Alone Again,'' are all previously unreleased.

An excellent collection featuring the Andrews Sisters in perfect form. Recommended.

Track Listing

  • 1. Crazy Arms
  • 2. I Want to Linger
  • 3. Ti-pi-tin
  • 4. Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
  • 5. Aurora
  • 6. Ferry Boat Serenade
  • 7. Rancho Pillow
  • 8. Beer Barrel Polka
  • 9. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
  • 10. Rum and Coca Cola
  • 11. Shoo Shoo Baby
  • 12. Well All Right! (Tonight's the Night)
  • 13. Begin the Beguine
  • 14. Tulip Time
  • 15. Hold Tight, Hold Tight (Want Some Sea Food Mama)
  • 16. Don't Sit under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me)
  • 17. I'll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time
  • 18. Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar
  • 19. By His Word
  • 20. Alone Again
  • 21. One Mistake
  • 22. Melancholy Moon
  • 23. I've Got an Invitation to a Dance
  • 24. E-Ma-Ma
  • 25. Proper Cup of Coffee

Read other Andrews Sisters reviews: