June Hutton Collection 1945-55 (2-CD)

June Hutton, half-sister of singer and band leader Ina Ray Hutton, was a big band vocalist, member of the successful vocal group The Pied Pipers, and subsequently a hit-making solo artist on both sides of the Atlantic during the 1950s, before recording a number of sophisticated middle-of-the road pop albums with the burgeoning of the stereo long-player market during that era. She was a member of The Stardusters vocal group performing with Charlie Spivak's orchestra before replacing Jo Stafford in The Pied Pipers vocal group in 1944, appearing not only on their hits during the 1940s, but also on some of Johnny Mercer's vocal hits, as well as performing and recording with Artie Shaw's Orchestra. She left the Pied Pipers in in 1949 to pursue a solo career for Decca and then Capitol during the 1950s. This great-value 50-track 2-CD set comprises the Top 10 hits she had as the only female member of The Pied Pipers, along with most of her A & B sides for Decca and Capitol, including recordings with Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five, plus her duet single with Gordon MacRae and titles from her album with him "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon", and all the titles from her album "Afterglow", recorded with her arranger/conductor husband Axel Stordahl. It features her Top 10 hits with the Pied Pipers, "Dream", "In the Moon Mist", "Open the Door Richard", "Mam'selle" and "My Happiness" plus her solo hits, "Say You're Mine Again", "No Stone Unturned" and "For the First Time (In a Long Time)". It's a fascinating and entertaining cross-section of her work, and an admirable showcase for her talent and versatility as a distinctive vocal stylist.