APRIL STEVENS - Teach Me Tiger! (1959-2012) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Teach Me Tiger! represents some kind of absurd apotheosis in post-Julie London pop seduction -- April Stevens' vocals are so breathy that one can't help but wonder whether the poor girl spent the recording session hooked up to a respirator machine. Calculated naughtiness that's ultimately as innocent as a lamb, the album luxuriates in the double entendres and nudge-nudge-wink-wink eroticism of a simpler time. Henri René's lush, knowing arrangements perfectly complement Stevens' starry-eyed interpretations of songs like "Love Kitten," "You and Only You," and "It Can't Be Wrong," adding a much-needed touch of truly adult sophistication to the proceedings. Harkit's 2008 CD reissue also appends a handful of rare tracks from Stevens' tenure with RCA.  by Jason Ankeny

Tracklist:

1 Do It Again 2:36

DeSylva, Gershwin

2 Teach Me Tiger 2:25

 Tempo

3 I Want A Lip 2:30

Written-By – Tempo

4 In Other Words 2:24

 Howard

5 I Get Ideas 2:29

Cochran, Sanders

6 Talk To Me 2:15

 Snyder, Vallee, Kahan

7 I'm In Love Again 2:17

 Porter

8 That's My Name 1:59

Lampert, Loring

9 I'm Making Believe 2:14

 Monaco, Gordon

10 I'll Wait For Your Love 2:36

Hooven, Hooven, Hooven

11 It Can't Be Wrong 2:07

Gannon, Steiner

12 When My Baby Smiles At Me 2:14

 Sterling, Munro, Von Tilzer, Lewis

Credits:

Conductor, Arranged By – Henri René

Vocals – April Stevens