Search - Chris Connor :: Chris (Mlps)

Sophisticated, smoky voice

Michael J. McVay | 05/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a compilation album originally released in 1957 after Chris left Bethlehem Records for Atlantic. She made only a handful of albums for Bethlehem in 1953-55, and, judging by these select tracks, they are all excellent and very worthy of rerelease. The remastering is excellent, especially on the big band numbers like Miser's Serenade, which sounds like it was recorded yesterday.Chris is featured here with a variety of ensembles: Sy Oliver and his orchestra, The Ellis Larkins Trio, The Vinnie Burke Quartet, and the Ralph Sharon Group (who would follow her to Atlantic for several outings.) Chris is in gorgeous voice throughout, and very assured and polished in these early recordings. She doesn't backphrase as much as she would later. In fact, All About Ronnie, her striking signature song with a "smoky saloon" small-combo feel, would sound much different on her Chris in Person live album a few years later. Lush Life effectively features an "offstage" flute representing the "siren song", and is one of the very best interpretations of this classic. The last four tracks, featuring the Ralph Sharon Group, are indicative of things to come. From This Moment On and In Other Words (Fly Me to the Moon, one of the first interpretations of this song), are given sophisticated treatments. In Other Words shifts meter from a triple feel to a duple feel on the repeat, anticipating Quincy Jones's famous arrangement for Frank Sinatra by more than a decade. The other two songs from this set are the kind of obscure yet haunting songs that Chris (and June Christy) would champion throughout their careers."

The One and Only

06/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album originally followed two 10-inchers, "Lullabies of Birdland" and "Lullabies for Lovers" (or was it "Losers"?) and was an attempt to followup with a 12-inch putting to use various tracks Bethlehem had put down on Chris but not found use for, including initial sessions strangely recasting her as a big band singer even though she'd gone solo. It's a mish-mosh, but a glorious mish-mosh. This singer has never met a song she couldn't make better and everything is sung to perfection. What a voice, what a stylist, what an intellect! The inclusion of alternate takes gives you a whole second version of the album and it's super too, again illustrating how this lady simply never made a musical misstep (still doesn't). If you've ever seen Chris in person, she's tall, she's blonde, she's magic. If you've ever met her she's a great Kansas City sunflower of a girl, totally natural (real name: Mary, and it figures), most gracious to her fans, softspoken and 100 percent impressive. It's amazing how this album has weathered the years--'swonderful still!"

Too Many Alternate Takes

Raymond E. Wilson | West Des Moines, Iowa United States | 02/17/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is Chris in top form; however, how many alternate takes are needed. Virtually every tune has an alternate take and the cd would have been better served if it included additional tunes. This is my primary "beef""