Maxene: An Andrews Sister
Artist: Maxene Andrews

Patty, not Maxene, Andrews was the lead singer of the Andrews Sisters, with Maxene and third sister Laverne providing harmony and backup. But since the sisters split up, Maxene obviously has learned to sing lead, since she projects a definite identity on this, her debut solo album (which came nearly 50 years after she started recording). The... Read More

Watch What Happens
Artist: Laura Fygi

On Watch What Happens, Laura Fygi tackles the songbook of Michel Legrand with the assistance of Legrand himself. The composer arranged and conducted the lush, lavish music and duetted with Fygi on "Et Si Demain," but Laura remains the center of attention and her sypathetic, pretty interpretations of Legrand's songs is what makes Watch What... Read More

Fight Dirty/Good Morning America
Artist: Charlie

This double disc from Charlie, who sounds like a cross between Toto and America, includes both the Fight Dirty and Good Morning America albums and is a fair depiction of their AOR style. The high harmony vocals of Terry Thomas set up the backdrop of saxophone and piano, accompanied by simple melodies set adrift on three-minute rock songs. While... Read More

Voice of the Southland
Artist: Gene Austin

During the second half of the 1920s, Gene Austin was the most popular singer in the U.S., his airy tenor and jaunty style generating dozens of hits with Roaring Twenties anthems like "Yes Sir! That's My Baby" and "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue," though his most popular songs were the ballads "My Blue Heaven" and "Ramona." Compiler/producer Peter... Read More

Love Me the Way I Love You
Artist: Jerry Vale
Community Score: 10.00

Columbia/Legacy's Love Me the Way I Love You is an attempt to compile 12 of the most romantic ballads Jerry Vale recorded for Columbia Records during the '50s and '60s. Vale had a hand in selecting the tracks, and he wisely decided to balance hits like "Innamorata (Sweetheart)" with popular favorites, covers and little-known gems. The result is... Read More

One
Artist: The Ordinaires

The Ordinaires, sadly, were both behind and ahead of the curve. In the early '80s, their blend of rock aggression and classical instrumentation would have been adopted by fans of European chamber rock ensembles like Soft Verdict and the Lost Jockey, and in the late '90s, they would have fit perfectly alongside Tortoise, Rachel's, and the Sea and... Read More

Musical Depreciation
Artist: Spike Jones & His City Slickers
Just Friends
Artist: Henri Chaix

For more than 30 years, pianist Henri Chaix, bassist Alain Du Bois (who was originally a rhythm guitarist) and drummer Romano Cavicchiolo worked together as a trio. Du Bois would pass away just four months and ten days after the live session that makes up this CD, but he plays as well as usual throughout the swing-oriented mainstream music.... Read More