Search - Lesley Gore :: It's My Party

Hidden Treasures

06/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lesley Gore basically recorded as a one-girl girl group, double and triple-tracking her voice on songs of teen angst. She was among the earliest female artists to record songs reflecting female strength, independence and determination, most notably "You Don't Own Me" but also on numerous album tracks such as "Don't Call Me, I'll Call You." As her career proceeded, hit after hit, she began to move into more adult material and recordings. But what went unnoticed during her time at the top was her great qualities as a singer--the fruity flavor of her voice, her unusual after-vibrato at the end of holding long notes, her tough qualities and her ability to sing virtually anything and everything and move it to a higher level. This collection maps out a remarkable journey during her Mercury collaboration with Quincy Jones and then other producers and a variety of prominent arrangers. To think so many of us never knew what was going on with her, never thought to buy her albums, never considered her more than a pop confection when all along she was recording intriguing, offbeat songs to complicated, challenging orchestrations, turning out collections right up to the standards of anything Motown was turning out and getting great sales and artistic rewards for but for which Lesley mostly went uncredited. Mostly notably, the notably white and Jewish Lesley when you think about it ounds like a tough black chick! There really was very little fragile, sentimental or self-indulgent about her singing--she was right out there. On the top of that, as if that wasn't enough, hiding just beneath the surface was a jazz singer who very clearly grew up on June Christy, Chris Connor and Anita O'Day. This is a terrific collection of unending fascination, perfectly mastered and beautifully annotated and welll worth the price."

Warning: Do Not Pay over $100 for this

Jonathan W. Schult | Mass. Park, NY | 11/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This fantastic box set is being marked up over 50% by Amazon. It can still be gotten brand new elsewhere for A LOT less. Amazon should be ashamed for this profiteering. I've owned this box since 1994, and I paid $90 then. Don't let them tell you it's discontinued, either - contact the manufacturer, just don't be duped into paying over $50.00 more than you have to. It's also available for $95.00 from one of the USA's largest mail-order (and Internet) CD/DVD catalogs, the choice of music collectors everywhere."

HAIL LESLIE!!!

cheralexis | 08/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been an avid fan of Lesley Gore's since I was 16 years old. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER!!! This box set is just what the Dr. ordered. All of the hits I Love and some I had never heard before. "I Died Inside" and "Say Goodbye" are my two favorites that never made it to the big time but are WONDERFUL just the same. Just received my box set yesterday and am loving it. My car never sounded so good!!! If you are a REAL Lesley Gore fan BUY THIS SET!!! It's worth the money believe me!!!"