Peggy Lee ‎– Sea Shells (1958-1999) RM / FLAC (tracks), lossless

Peggy Lee returned to Capitol Records in 1957 after a five-year stretch at Decca Records, but it wasn't until 1958 that Decca got around to releasing Sea Shells, an LP she had recorded during her tenure with the label. That the recording sat on the shelf for a while is not surprising given the contents, which make it Lee's most unusual album. Accompanied only by harp player Stella Castellucci and harpsichordist Gene DiNovi, she essays a group of art songs and Chinese poetry (thankfully translated into English) on this thoughtful, esoteric project. On several tracks ("Greensleeves," the Lee-composed "The Happy Monks," Debussy's "The Maid with the Flaxen Hair," "Chaconde"), the instrumentalists are on their own with no participation from the singer. Lee ventures into children's fare ("I Don't Want to Play in Your Yard") and Irish music ("The Wearing of the Green"), but throughout, she maintains a calm demeanor and sings or speaks with precise articulation, reflecting on philosophical and metaphysical concerns. All of that is fine, of course, as long as the potential buyer is aware of the approach. Decca may have finally issued the disc in hopes of getting some sales simply on Lee's name, but nobody should pick this one up expecting to hear anything in the vein of "Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)" or "Lover."  by William Ruhlmann  

Tracklist  
1 Sea Fever
Written-By – Unknown Artist
2 Nine Thorny Thickets
Written-By – Johnny Mercer, Rolfe Humphries
3 Little Old Car
Written-By – Heinie Beau, Peggy Lee
4 Greensleeves
Traditional
Chinese Love Poems
5a The Fisherman
Written-By – Li Po, Peter Rudolph
5b Autumn Evening
Written-By – Li Po, Peter Rudolph
-
6 The Happy Monks
Featuring [With] – Gene Di Novi
Written-By – Peggy Lee
7 The White Birch And The Sycamore
Written-By – Hubert Wheeler, P. Lee, Willard Robison
8 Of Such Is The Kingdom Of God
Written-By – Ernest Holmes, Irma Glenn
9 A Brown Bird Singing
Written-By – Haydn Wood, Royden Barrie
10 I Don't Want To Play In Your Yard
Written-By – H. W. Petrie*, P. Wingate
11 The Maid With The Flaxen Hair (La Fille Aux Chevaux De Lin)
Written-By – Claude Debussy
12 The Wearing Of The Green
Traditional
13 Chaconde (Le Bon Petit Roi D' Yvetot)
Written-By – Marcel Grandjany
Chinese Love Poems
14a Going Rowing
Traditional
14b Like The Moon
Traditional
14c The Musicians
Traditional
-
15 The Riddle Song
Traditional
16 The Gold Wedding Ring
Written-By – Sukman, Lee
Credits
Harp – Stella Castellucci
Vocals, Liner Notes – Peggy Lee