Search - Ivie Anderson :: I Got It Good and That Ain't Bad!

Outstanding band singer of the thirties and forties

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 12/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ivie Anderson was the female singer with Duke Ellington's band from 1932 to 1942, at which point she left due to deteriorating health - she was asthmatic. After that, she continued in music until 1946, the year of her last recordings. Asthma finally killed her in 1949. This collection covers the whole of her career, so is particularly interesting for her later recordings, which are otherwise harder to find than her music with Duke Ellington.The first 14 tracks cover the years with Duke Ellington, though mainly focusing on the later recordings. Of course, there are other compilations that focus entirely on Ivie's music with Duke Ellington but this set provides a great introduction to her music, including All God's chillun got rhythm (from A day at the races, the classic Marx brothers movie), a superb cover of Stormy weather and Ivie's final recording with Duke Ellington, Hayfoot strawfoot.The last 10 tracks were recorded between 1944 and 1946 - the first two for the Excelsior label and the remainder for the Black and white label. These tracks include a re-recording of I got it good and that ain't bad (a song she previously recorded with Duke Ellington - the original recording is not included here but can be found on other compilations) and a great version of the classic On the sunny side of the street. The other songs appear to be originals and prove that Ivie was still in great voice even though her health continued to deteriorate. I particularly like Play me the blues but there's a lot of great music here.This collection provides a great introduction to Ivie's music, but if you want to explore the Duke Ellington years in greater depth, I recommend Raisin' the rent ( covering the first half) and All God's chillun (covering the second half), both of which I've already reviewed."

INCREDIBLE!

Lucy in the Sky | Florida | 03/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"That's all I can say when starting a review of Ivie Anderson. I first heard Ivie sing during the "Gabriel/All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" sequence of the Marx Brothers' A Day at the Races, and I liked the song so much that I got this album just to have it. I wasn't expecting much--I never do when I get a CD for just one song--but man, did I ever get more than my money's worth!



Each and every song on this disc is a priceless gem. Ivie's smooth voice and confident delivery shine on classics like "Stormy Weather," "Five O'Clock Whistle," "I'm Checkin' Out, Goombye,"...well, all of them, really. And when your backup band is the Duke Ellington Orchestra, how can you lose? But of course, as evidenced by the later recordings on this CD, she could swing just as well without them.



I recommend this album to anyone who even remotely likes music. And one more thing: if you, too, become addicted to Ivie, you'll also want to pick up the albums Raisin' the Rent and All God's Chillun..., and also maybe Her Best Recordings (which features the seldom-heard "Chocolate Shake," and also the Ellington version of "I Got it Bad")."

Ivie Forever

Joe Richards | Belgium | 07/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I went right past this CD at first, thinking it was stuff that I already had. It wasn't and I'm very pleased to have looked a little closer at the track listing and then buying it. In addition to some of her later standards with Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra, there are the bulk, if not all, of her post-Ellington recordings. This extra material is what sets this particular CD apart from the crowd. I had despaired of ever hearing any of these sides but here they are. They show Ivie in a different light from her normal setting and a very good light it is. One would not think from listening to her that she was having some serious problems with asthma, but she was and that's why she had to leave the Duke. The travelling was getting to be too much for her and it was better to stay put and enjoy life a little without being in constant motion. She did start an eatery, Ivie's Chicken Shack, and performed locally around Los Angeles from time to time during the last seven years of her life. She also made these recordings and one wonders why she didn't make more of them. It's really a shame that her career was cut so short and that she died so young. Her singing was completely wonderful and very unique. On the other hand, she did reach the very top of her profession and stayed there for over a decade with the world's finest orchestra. Yes, she really WAS that great, so don't miss this CD.



I do wish that she could have stayed with Ellington through the end of 1943 and participated in the two important Carnegie Hall concerts that year or at least made guest appearences at them. I also wish that I could have enjoyed listening to Ivie in person singing in front of Duke's wonderful band of that era. Wishes,sadly enough, don't always come true. Anyway, stop wishing and buy this CD. You won't be sorry.



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