Sometimes the problem with reissue collections is what to leave out, a situation that compact discs anything but help alleviate with their ample playing time, although the ease with which a listener can skip a given track takes something of the edge off. Morgana King is a wonderful singer whose many fine recordings from the '50s and '60s have gone out of print, sometimes more than once. Clearly cheers should resound for producer Joel Dorn, who continues to make this type of great material available on a series of ...
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Sometimes the problem with reissue collections is what to leave out, a situation that compact discs anything but help alleviate with their ample playing time, although the ease with which a listener can skip a given track takes something of the edge off. Morgana King is a wonderful singer whose many fine recordings from the '50s and '60s have gone out of print, sometimes more than once. Clearly cheers should resound for producer Joel Dorn, who continues to make this type of great material available on a series of independent label ventures, even if listeners are going to no doubt be skipping some of the tracks. Unlike some of the material Dorn has reissued, these are not recordings he originally produced. The type of arrangements featured here are a far cry from the naturalistic work Dorn did, although the exotic stylings of arranger and conductor Torrie Zito touch on the more ambitious work of artists such as Yusef Lateef and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The Label M reissue effort almost seems a bit slapdash. No recording dates are given for the three complete albums that are presented, which actually originate from 1965, 1966, and 1967. Dorn writes that "It's been three decades since these three albums were recorded" in his liner notes, but "more than three decades" would have been much more accurate, since 33 years had passed since the original release of Gemini Changes, the newest and worst of the albums featured here. It is hard to say which type of material brings out the best in King, although swing and bossa rhythms are obvious loves. She uses a great amount of detail in every aspect of her vocalizing, including the tone, rhythmic phrasing, and especially the dynamics. The performances can be masterful, on the best recordings perfectly served by every graceful aspect of the arranger's craft. On the other hand there are some embarrassments, especially on the 1967 session which suffers from a bumbling arranger and producer. The 1965 "It's a Quiet Thing" is uneven, ranging from great to puzzling, sometimes within the passing of several bar lines. There are customers who will be happy to see all three records on two compact discs, yet the most aesthetically pleasing production would have consisted of simply the Wild Is Love and It's a Quiet Thing albums complete on separate discs -- and not with one of the albums chopped in half, as occurs here -- and just a few of the better tracks from the 1967 session such as "Sunny" for the bonus hounds. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi
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Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
