Lee Wiley pioneered the "songbook" concept, for which a singer exclusively interpreted the work of one composer. Her
Gershwin and
Cole Porter projects of 1939-40 were major successes, as is the music on this Audiophile reissue. In a fairly straight but strangely sensuous manner,
Wiley sings eight songs apiece by
Rodgers & Hart and
Harold Arlen while backed by a variety of all-star players associated with
Eddie Condon, including pianist
Joe Bushkin, trumpeters
Max Kaminsky,
Billy Butterfield and
Bobb Hackett, tenor saxophonist
Bud Freeman, and Ernie Caceres on baritone and clarinet. Although many of these songs have been interpreted countless times since, few singers have reached the emotional peaks that
Lee Wiley scaled in her versions of "A Ship Without a Sail," "Let's Fall In Love," "I've Got the World On a String," "Down With Love" and especially "Glad to Be Unhappy." This set (along with the previous one) belongs in every serious jazz collection. ~ Scott Yanow