Search - Ella Mae Morse :: Cow Cow Boogie

A Forgotten Gold Mine

Paul Hughes | Michigan, Oklahoma | 08/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Where has the industry been hiding Ella Mae Morse and why? In the early 70's during my early high school years I discovered a large hold of 78 rpm recordings from my parents era. Included was a recording by Ella Mae Morse, "House Of Blue Lights" The classic boogie woogie piano style has long been an influence in my ever widening range of musical taste. This collection of music stands alone representing several great Big Bands and some of the very best music of all time. I am ashamed after many many years of first hearing her sing that I once again did not recognize the name right away. I stumbled across this collection by accident looking for another title and the name rang out familiar but could not place it until I heard her sing again. She has been truly forgotten and any lover of this great era's music could never have a complete cross section of music until they add Ella Mae Morse to even a small collection. She is every bit rubbing shoulders with Jo Stafford, Dinah Washington, Kay Starr, Margaret Whiting and though possibly equaled, no one has ever surpassed her talent. This collection features 13 top 40 hits and 7 of them were top 10. Check the title track names and when you listen you'll find that hers were the most popular versions recorded.



It is not just Ella who is selling this music it is an elaborate scheme of great musicians, writers, producers and arrangers that have sewn together one of the most natural mixes of melody ever put together. Forty cups of coffee is the finest arrangement echoing twin western swing guitarists of the day and other songs in this set will take you from Artie Shaw's band style, hinting at Kay Kayser from time to time and swinging back to blues and jazz. What Makes Ella unique is the impossibility to label her genre. She is forgotten only because of her ability to capture you to her music. Her variety escapes her name. Who would not know the Andrews Sisters, The Modernaires, Tex Beneke by their own styles? When you finally realize that it's Ella Mae Morse singing many will find out they had no idea she did so much, so many styles, for so long and so very well. Don't pass this one up.

Paul Hughes"