Unlike such competitors as MGM and 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures did not forbid its contracted performers from maintaining separate contracts with record companies, and Dorothy Lamour, who joined the studio at the age of 21 in 1936, also signed to Brunswick Records, for which she made eight two-sided singles released between 1937 and 1939, all included here. Fourteen of the 16 tracks were studio recordings of songs also used in the films in which she appeared, although she had not necessarily sung them onscreen. In ...
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Unlike such competitors as MGM and 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures did not forbid its contracted performers from maintaining separate contracts with record companies, and Dorothy Lamour, who joined the studio at the age of 21 in 1936, also signed to Brunswick Records, for which she made eight two-sided singles released between 1937 and 1939, all included here. Fourteen of the 16 tracks were studio recordings of songs also used in the films in which she appeared, although she had not necessarily sung them onscreen. In particular, she cut a version of "Thanks for the Memory" from The Big Broadcast of 1938, even though in the movie it was sung as a duet by Bob Hope (for whom it became his signature song) and Shirley Ross. The two songs not from Lamour's films were "True Confession," from the movie of the same name (though it was used only instrumentally in the picture), and the non-film song "Little Lady Make-Believe." Lamour had started her career as a band singer and was even married to bandleader Herbie Kay (who backed her on four tracks here), so she knew her way around the swing arrangements used. Many of the songs were popular at the time, though Lamour was always only one of several recording artists cutting disc versions of them. Nevertheless, several were particularly identified with her, especially "The Moon of Manakoora," which became her signature song. Other than "Thanks for the Memory," there are no real standards among the selections, although these are in general sturdy compositions, written by such craftsmen as Hoagy Carmichael, Burton Lane, Frank Loesser, Ralph Rainger, and Leo Robin. Lamour switched to Bluebird in 1939 and later recorded for Decca, but these are her first recordings, and it's good to have them back in print at a reasonable price. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi
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