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Classic Jane Russell recordings on a no-frills budget disc

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 08/29/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Utilising crackly public domain recordings, this CD from the budget Hallmark label provides a nice sampling of Jane Russell's singing career, with lots of wonderful numbers from her movie musicals "Son of Paleface", "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "The French Line"; plus many of the great religious singles, where she was joined by Connie Haines, Beryl Davis, Rhonda Fleming and Della Russell.



Jane Russell was discovered by Howard Hughes and skyrocked to fame in his notorious western potboiler "The Outlaw" in 1943. Reinventing herself as a musical comedy star, she blazed across the screen in such movies as "The Paleface", "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "Son of Paleface", "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes", "Montana Belle" and "Hot Blood". Off the screen, Russell was deeply religious and took her faith to the top of the charts with some warmly-received recordings she made with fellow singers like Della Russell and Connie Haines (some of the best included "Somewhere List'nin'", "Jacob's Ladder" and "The World is Not My Home").



If you're a fan of the delicious Miss Russell, make some space on your CD shelf with this nicely-priced disc--though, as the other reviewers have keenly noted, don't expect miracles with the sound quality. [HALLMARK-700082]"

Nice original recordings...lousy transfer to CD!

James R. Stewar | Near Tucson, Arizona, USA | 04/21/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I was, perhaps, too pleased to find that Jane Russell's wonderful sacred recordings with Connie Haines, Beryl Davis & Della Russell (billed on the original singles and one Coral LP as The Four Girls) were on CD. I expected the label, Hallmark, to have used somekind of restoration on the recordings, but, alas, they just transferred their noisy, clicky, singles to CD...if I had wanted this, I'd have just played my old copies of the original singles...by the way, my copies are in MUCH BETTER condition than those used by Hallmark! I could easily pass on the lousy duets with Bob Hope, who has ruined many a recording with other artists like Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby with his silly, so-called vocalizations and flat 'humor.' I can't find anything positive about this release...no liner notes or anything! I'll avoid anything and everything with the Hallmark label. I'll hope for some REAL re-issue label to release the quartet's tunes! May I suggest "The Magic of Believing" on Sepia label by Jane Russell that features the Capitol sacred recordings (one LP and one single)of the group (minus Della Russell)with its stellar restoration and vocalizations that sound pretty close to The Fontane Sisters or Andrews Sisters, plus other nice duets by Jane with Johnny Desmond and Mary McCarty, sans any of the lousy things Jane did with Hope."

Janie Can Really Sing!

C. Barnes | Gray, TN | 02/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In my opinion, Jane Ruseell never gets enough credit (she never could, she's that great! ;) ). The songs included here are great ones, as you get some of her sacred offerings as well (pick up Miss Jane Russell Sings to supplement a few more pop/film recordings--the best being The Gilded Lily from the film "Montana Belle"; if you get both CDs you'll be in Heaven!). The's not a bad track on here, espeically when you get to hear Miss Jane sing with Bob Hope on two tracks, as well as the wonderful Marilyn on two cuts (Marilyn's version of Bye Bye Baby is not included, just Jane's), and Frank Sinatra on "Kisses and Tears".



Aside from the tracks that are included being great, Janie sings WONDERFULLY! She's got a breathy, sultry, and rich voice. The top five non-sacred tracks would probably, for me, be:



Pamper Me

Two Little Girls From Little Rock (with Marilyn)

Am I In Love? (with Bob Hope)

Kisses And Tears (with Frank Sinatra)

Lookin' For Trouble



It's really a great collection. Pick it up if you're a fan, or even if you're not just yet--you will be!"