Great Ladies of Song: Spotlight on the King Sisters
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Orchestration:

The King Sisters

Great Ladies of Song: Spotlight on the King Sisters

Capitol

Wow! That aptly describes this collection of recordings by the King Sisters. After a break from the music business in the early 1950s the King Sisters decided to return to the studio. They signed with Capitol Records and released an album of Hawaiian music followed by a daring and groundbreaking vocal album called Imagination. Modernizing their sound they created an innovative jazz harmony, contemporary with such vocal groups as the Hi-Lo's. They then followed Imagination with the equally inventive Warm and Wonderful, which featured a group of male singers providing counterpoint.

Great Ladies of Song: Spotlight on the King Sisters features 18 tracks from those Capitol recordings, eight from Imagination, six from Warm and Wonderful, one from the Hawaiian album, and three songs recorded during that time but not released until 1965. If you've never heard this period of the King Sisters' legacy then be prepared for love at first listen. Smooth and harmonious, the sisters' voices are like a dream floating in the air. At times they're calm and cool, at other times frantic and hot, and Alvino Rey's musical backing compliments the mood perfectly. Sometimes he keeps the level down, softly echoing the sisters' refrain, but when it comes time to let go he really does, blasting trumpets louder than Harry James ever dreamed of playing.

The sisters are at their best on the softer numbers, especially ''But Beautiful'' and ''The Nearness of You.'' ''Take the 'A' Train,'' however, is probably their most famous number from that period. Their delivery on that classic track is slick and very hip. All the songs on the CD, except ''Aloha Oe,'' are pure jazz delights, amazing and innovate. ''Four Brothers'' features the sisters scatting. ''How Long Has This Been Going On?'' finds them sauntering along with the melody in a seductive haze, and their interpretations of the classic songs ''Imagination'' and ''Early Autumn'' are absolutely superb.

Excellent! Highly recommended. Jazz and lounge music fans will love this CD. Very hip.

Track Listing

  • 1. Memories of You
  • 2. Don't Take Your Love from Me
  • 3. But Beautiful
  • 4. What's New?
  • 5. I Hadn't Anyone Till You
  • 6. Early Autumn
  • 7. How Long Has This Been Going On?
  • 8. Imagination
  • 9. There Is No Greater Love
  • 10. Deep Purple
  • 11. Spring Is Here
  • 12. Four Brothers
  • 13. The Nearness of You
  • 14. That Old Feeling
  • 15. Impossible
  • 16. Take the ''A'' Train
  • 17. That's All
  • 18. Aloha Oe (Hawaiian Farewell Song)