Recorded 1946-56
Dinah Washington was always proud of her ability to sing everything very well. Born Ruth Lee Jones, she was a teenager when she started appearing in clubs as a singer and pianist. She was discovered by Lionel Hampton and was a part of his band during 1943-46, scoring her first hit with "Evil Gal Blues." After leaving Hampton, Dinah worked and recorded steadily, having many best sellers on the R&B charts. In the 1950s she recorded jazz, blues, pop, R&B, gospel and even country, being billed as the "Queen of the Blues." She had a pop hit in 1959 with "What a Difference a Day Makes," which made her a major name in homes where jazz and blues were rarely heard. Only Dinah's premature death in 1963 cut short her success.
Mad About the Boy is a fine sampler of Dinah Washington's 1950s recordings. Many of the performances find her backed by big bands arranged by Quincy Jones. The great trumpeter Clifford Brown makes an appearance on "I've Got You Under my Skin." Other highlights include "But Not for Me," "Perdido," "Makin' Whoopee," "Never Let Me Go" and "I'll Drown in My Tears."
But on these recordings, it matters less what the songs are than the fact that Dinah Washington is singing them. Her passionate interpretations are consistently memorable and deserve to be heard and savored.
—Scott Yanow
Imported from Europe!
Mad About the Boy; But Not for Me; Caravan; Perdido; Makin' Whoopee; Stairway to the Stars; The Kissing Way Home; You Let My Love Grow Cold; Ain't My Baby; Embraceable You; I'll Close My Eyes; Never Let Me Go; Tears to Burn; You're Crying; They Didn't Believe Me; Somebody Loves Me; I Know; Bargain Day; Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye; Relax Max; I'll Drown in My Tears; I've Got You Under My Skin*; Summertime*.
Dinah Washington, Vocals; Orchestra directed by Quincy Jones & Clifford Brown.
(*Live bonus tracks.)