Starry Eyes: The Collection (1998)

About this title: Billy Paul was obviously a big fan of Gloria Lynne; you can hear Lynne's phrasing and vocal inflections in the singer's '70s recordings. And what a singer to pattern yourself after. Lynne's creamy alto is luscious and soothing; play one of her albums at the first sign of a headache and "the voice" might cure your pain without aspirin or Tylenol. Whether singing to soft guitar strums on "Blue Afternoon," bodacious brass on "Some of These Says," or in cozy clubs as she does on two live cuts -- "Somewhere in the Night" and "For You" -- Lynne's calming vocals and meticulous phrasing are awesome. ... read more

Tracks:

1. Joey, Joey, Joey [Loesser]
2. Somewhere in the Night [May/Raskin]
3. Baby Won't You Please Come Home [Williams/Warfield]
4. Blue Gardenia [Lee/Russell]
5. Soul Serenade [Dixon/King Curtis]
6. For You [Burke/Dubin]
7. I'm Gonna Laugh You Right out of My Life [Coleman/McCarthy]
8. Some of These Says [Brooks]
9. Blue Afternoon [Bailey/McFarland]
10. All Alone [Berlin]
11. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered [Hart/Rodgers]
12. Let's Take an Old Fashioned Walk [Berlin]
13. Country Girl
14. I Cover the Waterfront [Green/Heyman]
15. Nothing Ever Changes My Love for You [Segal/Fisher]
16. Happy Shoes [Scott/Ahlert]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.