Search - Toni Arden :: This Is Toni Arden

A neglected singer with a great voice

Bruce R. Gilson | Wheaton, MD United States | 03/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Toni Arden had a career like many of her contemporaries, starting in the 1940s as a big band singer and striking out on her own in the late 1940s, with most of her recording done in the 1950s. But she differed from most in that she made record after record in the early 1950s, none of which scored particularly high in the charts, and then had her only really big hit, a million-seller called "Padre," in the late 1950s when her type of singer, in general, was being replaced on the record charts by rock'n'roll singers.



This CD does not include "Padre," as it is restricted to 1949-1954. What it does include are some songs that were hits for other artists, but with minor chart success for Toni Arden, and a whole lot of songs that never charted for anyone. And yet, I wonder, after listening to this CD, why she didn't do very well before "Padre." Certainly her voice was pleasing, as good as the voices of some much better-known contemporaries. In fact, her version of "Kiss of Fire" sounds better to me than Georgia Gibbs' big hit version. And I like her version of "I Can Dream, Can't I" at least as well as, possibly better than, the Andrews Sisters'. Even on such songs as "Too Young" and "I'm Yours," where I give the edge to the more popular versions by Nat Cole and Eddie Fisher, The Toni Arden version is still pleasant. So why she was ignored evades me.



I enjoyed this CD. I'd happily recommend it to anyone who likes early-50s pop music."

CD

Sharon L. Rice | Wilmington, NC | 01/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was actually for my Dad. I appreciate the fast delivery and he is enjoying his CD! He has become very nostalgic lately and it is wonderful to find just want he wants on Amazon- Thanks again."