The Complete Recordings 1941-1947

Product Description:

Personnel includes: Peggy Lee (vocals); Benny Goodman (clarinet); Mel Powell (arranger, piano); Eddie Sauter (arranger); Skippy Martin, Clint Neagley (alto saxophone); Vido Musso (tenor saxophone); Charles Gentry (baritone saxophone); Billy Butterfield, Cootie Williams, Jimmy Maxwell, Al Davis, Bernie Privin (trumpet); Lou McGarity, Cutty Cutshall (trombone); Red Norvo (vibraphone); Tom Morgan (guitar); John Simmons (bass); Sid Catlett, Alvin Stoller (drums); Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers; Paul Weston and his Orchestra.

Compilation producers: Didier C. Deutsch, Charles L. Granata, Darcy M. Proper.

Includes liner notes by Will Friedwald.

Digitally remastered by Darcy M. Proper (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York).

These 38 tracks chronicle Peggy Lee's first recordings of her long and productive career, and chart her musical evolution, from rather timid, run-of-the-mill band singer to sophisticated and confident performer. Her first records, like "Elmer's Tune," reveal a pretty voice, but with little trace of the character and charisma that was to surface in later sessions.

These standard vocal refrains are buoyed by Benny Goodman's exciting aggregation and Mel Powell's ebullient arrangements. Rhythmically in sync with the powerful band, Lee finds her footing in songs like "That Did it, Marie." Increasingly relaxed, she handles the unrelenting tempos beautifully, and by "Sunny Side of the Street" and "Why Don't You Do Right," her blues-infused interpretations are pointing the way to a style that would later make her the queen of hip.