Beauty and the Beat

[Larry Kart]

Somehow I'd missed out on this one until now, perhaps because it's short measure (34 minutes or so). Recorded in 1959 with George Shearing's Quintet, it's very fresh, committed, musically adventurous, emotionally open Lee. In fact, the two tracks that didn't make it onto the original LP -- "Nobody's Heart" and ""Don't Ever Leave Me" (the latter with only Shearing as accompanist) -- sound as private emotionally as anything Lee ever recorded. Also, dig Lee's own tune, which she wrote with one Hubie Wheeler, "There'll be Another Spring" -- especially the bridge, and the way she subtly highlights the sexuality of Carl Sigman's lyric on "All Too Soon." The whole album is special.

[Bol]

Somehow I'd missed out on this one until now, perhaps because it's short measure (34 minutes or so). Recorded in 1959 with George Shearing's Quintet, it's very fresh, committed, musically adventurous, emotionally open Lee. In fact, the two tracks that didn't make it onto the original LP -- "Nobody's Heart" and ""Don't Ever Leave Me" (the latter with only Shearing as accompanist) -- sound as private emotionally as anything Lee ever recorded. Also, dig Lee's own tune, which she wrote with one Hubie Wheeler, "There'll be Another Spring" -- especially the bridge, and the way she subtly highlights the sexuality of Carl Sigman's lyric on "All Too Soon." The whole album is special.

Just got this myself, and like it a lot. Do people know of other small to mid-size group Peggy Lee recordings? I am aware of Black Coffee, Basin Street East, and Mink Jazz, and of course the Mosaic set. Are there other ones? It would be great if Mosaic at some point releases Benny Goodman Columbia small group recordings -- I think there are a number of Lee vocals on those.

[mikeweil]

With two unissued bonus tracks added, my CD runs 39:02 minutes.

Yes, a very nice album.

In fact, I like all of Shearing's albums with guests I have, no matter if they are vocalists (Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson) or instrumentalists (Wes Montgomery - well, Shearing was the guest here).

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

This was one of the first jazz albums I ever bought. The CD is at least my third, or maybe my fourth copy.

One Lee album I like very much, which has a definite small group FEEL to it, though it isn't, is "If you go", which was arranged by Quincy Jones. Some really lovely songs you won't hear anywhere else and very unobtrusive but strangely dramatic arrangements.

MG

[mikeweil]

Do people know of other small to mid-size group Peggy Lee recordings? I am aware of Black Coffee, Basin Street East, and Mink Jazz, and of course the Mosaic set. Are there other ones?

Edited May 6, 2006 by mikeweil

[mikeweil]

It would be great if Mosaic at some point releases Benny Goodman Columbia small group recordings -- I think there are a number of Lee vocals on those.

Until then, take this SONY 2-disc set (38 tracks):

[jazzbo]

I've become a real Lee nut and have been enjoying her material the last few years with glee.

I don't know about small group Lee vocals with Goodman, don't think there's much that was recorded in the Columbia years (?) outside those big band sides on that excellent two cd set.

I'll also mention the two great "Live at Basin Street East" cds, the Capitol mostly NOT live, and the excellent Collector's Choice cd of the next night (or the night before, my memory is sketchy, and I'm in Houston and my cd is in Austin). Great smallish group, fantastic singing.

[jazzbo]

Also, there's some cool Decca sides, especially the "Pete Kelly Blues" bits (I love all the incarnations of the music from that film, CATHCART!)

[Chuck Nessa]

Bought Beauty and the Beat in high school. It was nice then. I'm sure it is nice now but I have other priorities.

[Bol]

Also, there's some cool Decca sides, especially the "Pete Kelly Blues" bits (I love all the incarnations of the music from that film, CATHCART!)

Lon,

Sorry to ask a philistine question, but is "Pete Kelly" a small group or a big band session? Thanks.

I desire for the Mosaic small group BG sessions is obviously not just for the Peggy Lee vocals. I just love BG small group sessions -- Capitol and RCA sessions come to mind.

[jazzbo]

Also, there's some cool Decca sides, especially the "Pete Kelly Blues" bits (I love all the incarnations of the music from that film, CATHCART!)

Lon,

Sorry to ask a philistine question, but is "Pete Kelly" a small group or a big band session? Thanks.

I desire for the Mosaic small group BG sessions is obviously not just for the Peggy Lee vocals. I just love BG small group sessions -- Capitol and RCA sessions come to mind.

I love BG small group sessions too, and have tracked down all I can. . . just aren't any Lee vocals on the small group Columbias I've found.

"Pete Kelly's Blues" was a movie starring Jack Webb as a Bix like character. Totally unconvincing in that regard. Peggy Lee had an interesting part as an alcholic and bipolar singer. . . she was nominated for an academy award. The band was a septet I think, sort of a Hollywood version of dixie material. There were about four or five lp and ep combinations of material from the film and by the core musicians outside the film that are really nice. Dick Cathcart. . . I really like his playing, he "ghosted" Webb's trumpet in the film. (Lee Marvin sort of was playing Pee Wee Russell. .. )

There was Decca release that had a few Lee songs and Ella's contribution. Mahbe one day they'll make and expanded version as a "Verve Master Edition." (Yeah right.)

Edited May 7, 2006 by jazzbo

[Bol]

Also, there's some cool Decca sides, especially the "Pete Kelly Blues" bits (I love all the incarnations of the music from that film, CATHCART!)

Lon,

Sorry to ask a philistine question, but is "Pete Kelly" a small group or a big band session? Thanks.

I desire for the Mosaic small group BG sessions is obviously not just for the Peggy Lee vocals. I just love BG small group sessions -- Capitol and RCA sessions come to mind.

I love BG small group sessions too, and have tracked down all I can. . . just aren't any Lee vocals on the small group Columbias I've found.

"Pete Kelly's Blues" was a movie starring Jack Webb as a Bix like character. Totally unconvincing in that regard. Peggy Lee had an interesting part as an alcholic and bipolar singer. . . she was nominated for an academy award. The band was a septet I think, sort of a Hollywood version of dixie material. There were about four or five lp and ep combinations of material from the film and by the core musicians outside the film that are really nice. Dick Cathcart. . . I really like his playing, he "ghosted" Webb's trumpet in the film. (Lee Marvin sort of was playing Pee Wee Russell. .. )

There was Decca release that had a few Lee songs and Ella's contribution. Mahbe one day they'll make and expanded version as a "Verve Master Edition." (Yeah right.)

Lon,

Tower lists this BG small group CD from Columbia that has 5 numbers with Peggy Lee singing:

http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?p...t=Benny+Goodman

[jazzbo]

Also, there's some cool Decca sides, especially the "Pete Kelly Blues" bits (I love all the incarnations of the music from that film, CATHCART!)

Lon,

Sorry to ask a philistine question, but is "Pete Kelly" a small group or a big band session? Thanks.

I desire for the Mosaic small group BG sessions is obviously not just for the Peggy Lee vocals. I just love BG small group sessions -- Capitol and RCA sessions come to mind.

I love BG small group sessions too, and have tracked down all I can. . . just aren't any Lee vocals on the small group Columbias I've found.

"Pete Kelly's Blues" was a movie starring Jack Webb as a Bix like character. Totally unconvincing in that regard. Peggy Lee had an interesting part as an alcholic and bipolar singer. . . she was nominated for an academy award. The band was a septet I think, sort of a Hollywood version of dixie material. There were about four or five lp and ep combinations of material from the film and by the core musicians outside the film that are really nice. Dick Cathcart. . . I really like his playing, he "ghosted" Webb's trumpet in the film. (Lee Marvin sort of was playing Pee Wee Russell. .. )

There was Decca release that had a few Lee songs and Ella's contribution. Mahbe one day they'll make and expanded version as a "Verve Master Edition." (Yeah right.)

Lon,

Tower lists this BG small group CD from Columbia that has 5 numbers with Peggy Lee singing:

http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?p...t=Benny+Goodman

Cool. I even have that at home somewhere, forgotten about; I don't remember the Lee numbers on this one. . . I haven't spun it since my Lee fascination began. I don't think there's any more than that in the can, or a certain drummer in the Cortland area would have sent me lp burns. . . ..

[medjuck]

"Pete Kelly's Blues" was a movie starring Jack Webb as a Bix like character. Totally unconvincing in that regard. Peggy Lee had an interesting part as an alcholic and bipolar singer. . . she was nominated for an academy award. The band was a septet I think, sort of a Hollywood version of dixie material. There were about four or five lp and ep combinations of material from the film and by the core musicians outside the film that are really nice. Dick Cathcart. . . I really like his playing, he "ghosted" Webb's trumpet in the film. (Lee Marvin sort of was playing Pee Wee Russell. .. )

Didn't Marvin play a bass player? And IIRC doesn't he have a speech where he talks about having to pluck all evening after he had lost his bow? (Maybe it was another actor.) I've often wondered about that line. Did bass players in early bands often use their bows?

[jazzbo]

"Pete Kelly's Blues" was a movie starring Jack Webb as a Bix like character. Totally unconvincing in that regard. Peggy Lee had an interesting part as an alcholic and bipolar singer. . . she was nominated for an academy award. The band was a septet I think, sort of a Hollywood version of dixie material. There were about four or five lp and ep combinations of material from the film and by the core musicians outside the film that are really nice. Dick Cathcart. . . I really like his playing, he "ghosted" Webb's trumpet in the film. (Lee Marvin sort of was playing Pee Wee Russell. .. )

Didn't Marvin play a bass player? And IIRC doesn't he have a speech where he talks about having to pluck all evening after he had lost his bow? (Maybe it was another actor.) I've often wondered about that line. Did bass players in early bands often use their bows?

No, Marvin plays the clarinetist.

YES, bassists often bowed. Steve Brown, Wellman Braud, many another in those years. A bowed bass often used to emulate a blown bass. . . .

[BruceH]

Do people know of other small to mid-size group Peggy Lee recordings? I am aware of Black Coffee, Basin Street East, and Mink Jazz, and of course the Mosaic set. Are there other ones?

I've got that one! Very nice indeed.

[BruceH]

Bought Beauty and the Beat in high school. It was nice then. I'm sure it is nice now but I have other priorities.

Gee, when I was in high school I didn't even like jazz.