Blossom Dearie - Complete Recordings: 1952-62

American jazz singer and pianist, Margrethe Blossom Dearie, was born April 28, 1924 in East Durham, New York. As a child she studied classical piano but switched to jazz in her teens. Often performing in the bebop genre and remembered for her light and girlish voice, she was one of the last supper club performers, hosting regular engagements in London and New York City across many years. After high school Dearie moved to New York City to pursue a music career and began to sing in groups such as the Blue Flames (with the Woody Herman Orchestra) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey's band) before starting her solo career. She moved to Paris in 1952 and formed a vocal group, The Blue Stars of France, which included Michel Legrand's sister, Christiane Legrand, and Bob Dorough. In 1954 the group had a hit in France with a French-language version of "Lullaby of Birdland". The Blue Stars would later evolve into the Swingle Singers. While in Paris, Dearie met her future husband, Belgian flautist and saxophonist Bobby Jaspar. On her first solo album, released two years later, she played the piano but did not sing. One of her most famous songs from this period is "The Riviera", which was written and composed by Cy Coleman and Joseph McCarthy Jr. After returning from France, Dearie made her first six American albums as a solo singer and pianist for Verve Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, mostly in a small trio or quartet setting. Dave Garroway, host of The Today Show and an early fan of Dearie, featured her on several occasions, increasing her exposure with the popular audience. In 1962, she recorded a radio commercial for Hires Root Beer. As it proved very popular, the LP Blossom Dearie Sings Rootin' Songs was released as a premium item that could be ordered for one dollar and a proof of purchase. This collection contains eight complete albums from this remarkable artist's most celebrated era, covering the years 1955 to 1962.

1) Moody's Mood for Love
2) Lullaby of Birdland
3) Tout Bas [Speak Low]
4) Gina
5) Plus Je T'emmbrasse [Heart of My Heart]
6) Toute Ma Joie [That's My Girl]
7) Les Lavandieres Du Portugal [The Portuguese Washerwomen]
8) Mister L'amour [Mister Sandman]
9) En 1920 [In 1920]
10) Embrasse Moi Bien [Hold Me Close]
11) Lettre a Virginie [Letter to Virginia]
12) Danse Du Baiser [The Kissing Dance]
13) Mambo Italiano
14) Old Devil Moon
15) Autumn in New York
16) Flamingo
17) There Will Never Be Another You
18) Continental
19) Boy Next Door
20) They Can't Take That Away from Me
21) Moonlight Saving Time
22) Surrey with the Fringe on Top
23) April in Paris
24) Blue Moon
25) Down in the Depths
26) Deed I Do
27) Loverman
28) Everything I've Got
29) Comment Allez Vous
30) More Than You Know
31) Thou Swell
32) It Might As Well Be Spring
33) Tout Doucement
34) You for Me
35) Now at Last
36) I Hear Music
37) Wait Till You See Her
38) I Won't Dance
39) Fine Spring Morning
40) Just One of Those Things
41) Like Someone in Love
42) Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
43) They Say It's Spring
44) Try Your Wings
45) Bang Goes the Drum (And You're in Love)
46) Riviera
47) Middle of Love
48) Plus T'embrasse
49) Give Him the Ooh-La-La
50) Let Me Love You
51) I Walk a Little Faster
52) Tea for Two
53) Surrey with the Fringe on Top
54) Moonlight Saving Time
55) It Amazes Me
56) If I Were a Bell
57) We're Together
58) Teach Me Tonight
59) Once Upon a Summertime
60) Down with Love
61) Manhattan
62) Doop-Doo-De-Doop (A Doodlin' Song)
63) Our Love Is Here to Stay
64) Lucky to Be Me
65) Just in Time
66) Some Other Time
67) Dance Only with Me
68) I Like Myself
69) Party's Over
70) How Will He Know
71) It's Love
72) Hold Me Hold Me Hold Me
73) Lonely Town
74) Guys and Dolls
75) Confession
76) Rhode Island Is Famous for You
77) To Keep My Love Alive
78) Too Good for the Average Man
79) Gentleman Is a Dope
80) Always True to You in My Fashion
81) Napoleon
82) Life Upon the Wicked Stage
83) Physician
84) Love Is the Reason
85) Buckle Down Winsocki
86) Little Jazz Bird
87) Gentleman Friend
88) It's Too Good to Talk About Now
89) Chez Moi
90) You Fascinate Me
91) You've Got Something I Want
92) Boum!
93) L'etang
94) Hello Love
95) Someone to Watch Over Me