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18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Versatile singer mixed jazz, pop and country, 20 April 2004
There have been many compilations of Kay's music on Capitol. This may not be the strongest of them but has much to commend it, covering both her spells with Capitol – she recorded for a different label in the mid to late fifties. Thus, this collection has music recorded up to 1954 and from 1959 to 1964. Her biggest hit during the intervening years was Rock and roll waltz, a song that is included here in the form of a 1964 re-recording.This British compilation misses out many of Kay's American hits but it does include her first American number one (Wheel of fortune) as well as Fool fool fool, Comes-a-long-a-love (her first British number one), Side by side, Half a photograph, Allez-vous en, Changing partners, If you love me really love me (originally an Edith Piaf song written in French as Hymn l'amour) and Am I a toy or a treasure, all significant hits in America. Together with I'm the lonesomest gal in town (a non-hit from 1950) those are the only tracks here that were recorded during her first spell with Capitol. The remainder are from the period 1959 to 1964. Aside from a cover of her own Rock and roll waltz, the later recordings include other brilliant covers. Crazy was written by Willie Nelson but made famous by Patsy Cline. Going to Chicago blues is a Count Basie classic. I love Paris was originally an American hit for Les Baxter but has been recorded by many others. It had to be you was a hit for several singers and bands in 1924 and revived by several more in 1944, which has been recorded by many great singers. Lazy river is a Hoagy Carmichael classic. Lovesick blues is a cover of a song popularised by Hank Williams, though the song dates from the twenties. More than you know was originally a 1930 hit for Ruth Etting. Nevertheless I'm in love with you was originally a 1931 hit for Jack Denny but this song became much more popular in 1950 when there were several hit versions. On a slow boat to China was a 1948 hit for several singers. P S I love you was originally a 1934 hit for Rudy Vallee but a bigger hit in 1953 for the Hilltoppers. Singing the blues was originally a Marty Robbins hit but a much bigger hit for Guy Mitchell – also a big UK hit for Tommy Steele. You're just in love was a 1951 hit for Perry Como. I'll always be in love with you was a 1929 hit for Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians. When a woman loves a man is a great oldie that was not a hit. You must not confuse it with Percy Sledge's soul classic, When a man loves a woman. If you are looking for Kay's American hits, this is not the best compilation to buy – however, everything here is worth listening to so this is a great starting point for any Kay Starr collection. And even if you do end up buying another collection to get the hits (if you can afford it, go for The definitive Kay Starr on Capitol), you'll find that some of the tracks here are not included.
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~ Kay Starr
~ Teresa Brewer
~ Sarah Vaughan
~ Julie London
~ Ruby Murray
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