Personnel:
India Adams, Easy Williams (vcl), Ray Martin (dir), Allan Reuss (g, dir), Ted Nash (fl), Frank Flynn (vib & perc)
Reference: FSR V108 CD
Bar code: 8427328641081
The Best Voices Time Forgot
Collectible Albums by Top Female Vocalists
· Collector's Edition
· 2 Original LPs on 1 CD
· Original Cover Art, Liner Notes
· Complete Personnel Details
· Stereo/Mono Recordings
· Newly Remastered in 24-Bit
Comfort Me With Apples
The curvy blond girl in the cover is India Adams. Miss Adams, who had been the screen singing voice for such stars as Joan Crawford and Cyd Charisse, created quite a name for herself, in her own right, with her debut LP. The saucy tunes are well handled by the thrush, and the orchestral backing by Ray Martin is first rate. She’s sultry, exciting or tender, whatever the mood requires. India’s provocative voice suggests a girl who could be bad but could never be sad… You will find her singing not torchy… not bluesy… not jazzy… but sexy.
Easy Does It!
There’s invitation in Easy Williams’ voice—the provocative suggestion that you forget your worldly cares and join her in the easy life. In a collection paced at a stroll, Miss Williams delivers a half-whispered, breathy set of ballads, sophisticated club songs, and bouncy standards, backed by a small group featuring Allan Reuss on guitar, Ted Nash on flute, and Frank Flynn on vibes.
"Another two forgotten singers who should never have been abandoned appear here on this CD. India Adams is up first and no, she has no idea how she got that first name. All of her selections are in the not very well-known category but most are melodic and well-structured with Ms Adams receiving bright, lively backings from the Ray Martin Orchestra.
She wishes to be comforted with apples on track 1 and then says It’s Amazing. Sell Me and It’s Silk are interesting tunes that sound like standards that never quite made it. India has a strong voice which is husky on the pieces that benefit from that treatment. On others she is laid back, using the lyrics as a way of being sophisticated in song. Still other songs are tongue in cheek as she taunts the listener.
No musicians are listed but they are obviously top-flight soloists. The cover photo of the original LP shows India naked in a bath full of apples looking out cheekily and no doubt would be frowned on by today’s PC Mafia. The singing is very good however and she deserved to be around for a long time. Evig Evol, is a tasty blues that is give love spelled backwards.
Easy Williams is an ultra-sultry songstress who begins with a very slow, blues-based Easy Street. Her programme is mainly solid standards and her support is from a fine group featuring Allan Reuss on guitar and Ted Nash on flute. Frank Flynn’s quiet vibes add an extra harmonic dimension. Once again here is a good singer with jazz phrasing that should have made it but didn’t. Both these young ladies were just embarking on vocal careers in jazz that never took off. And that’s a shame."
Derel Ansell (June 19, 2019)
https://jazzjournal.co.uk
