Anthology 1954-1956 (2008)

About this title: A double-CD 48-track compilation from the mid-'50s, this collection pretty much sums up what Carmen McRae was capable of and consistent in doing. Most of this is standard fare and all of it is well produced, and shows McRae performing with mostly small jazz ensembles. There's little in the way of filler or sappy stringy tunes. Among the more obscure tracks are "Tip Toe Gently," "Misery," and "I Go for You." The remainder gives you the whole nine yards of McRae in this time period, as she shows equal expertise in swing, ballads, and blues. Her voice is mature and powerful. One quibble -- ... read more

Tracks:

1. Supper Time [Berlin]
2. Easy to Love [Porter]
3. If I'm Lucky (I'll Be the One) [Girard/Darwin]
4. Old Devil Moon [Lane/Harburg]
5. Tip Toe Gently [Mathews/Girard]
6. You Made Me Care [Girard/Darwin]
7. The Last Time for Love [McRae]
8. Too Much in Love to Care [Coates/Kriegsmann]
9. Misery [Scott]
10. A Fine Romance [Kern/Fields]
11. I Go for You [Carr/David]
12. Something to Live For [Strayhorn]
13. Just One of Those Things [Porter]
14. Sometimes I'm Happy [Youman/Caesar]
15. Love Is Here to Stay [Gershwin/Gershwin]
16. I Can't Get Started [Duke/Gershwin]
17. This Will Make You Laugh [Higginbotham]
18. My One and Only Love [Wood/Mellin]
19. I'll Remember April [DePaul/Raye/Johnsto]
20. Yardbird Suite [Parker/Jefferson]
21. You Took Advantage of Me [Rodgers/Hart]
22. Come Down to Earth, Mr. Smith [Mann/Murray]
23. My Future Just Passed [Whiting/Marion]
24. If You'd Stay the Way I Dream About You [Kitching/Herzog]
25. Speak Low [Weill/Nash]
26. But Beautiful [VanHeusen/Burke]
27. I Guess I'll Dress Up for the Blues [Burke/David]
28. Yesterdays [Kern/Harbach]
29. Last Night When We Were Young [Arlen/Harburg]
30. Midnight Sun [Hampton/Mercer/Burk]
31. Good Morning Heartache [Drake/Fisher/Higgin]
32. Star Eyes [DePaul/Raye]
33. I'm a Dreamer, Aren't We All [Brown/DeSylva/Hende]
34. We'll Be Together Again [Fischer/Laine]
35. (I Don't Stand) A Ghost of a Chance (With You) [Young/Crosby/Washin]
36. Blue Moon [Rodgers/Hart]
37. I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket [Berlin]
38. I Was Doing All Right [Gershwin/Gershwin]
39. Nowhere [Mooney]
40. My Foolish Heart [Young/Washington]
41. Until the Real Thing Comes Along [Chaplin/Cahn]
42. Lush Life [Strayhorn]
43. Laughing Boy [Segal]
44. Summer Is Gone [Costa/Raker]
45. Lilacs in the Rain [DeRose/Parish]
46. Even If It Breaks My Heart [Carter/Henry]
47. All This Could Lead to Love [Lowe/Bishop]
48. Skyliner [Barnet]

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