DOROTHY COLLINS - Picnic (1958) lp | MONO | Mp320k

While Steve Allen's legacy rests largely on his pioneering efforts in late-night television, he was also a prolific composer who reportedly authored more than 7,000 songs, among them the pop standard "This Could Be the Start of Something Big." This 1958 set from vocalist Dorothy Collins is a pleasant if occasionally pedestrian collection of Allen material, buoyed by the winsome arrangements of Jack Kane. Given Allen's renowned wit, it's no surprise that the lyrics of songs like "Banana Split" and "C'est Tres Joli" are suffused with humor, but Collins' rich vocals lack the dexterity and playfulness the material seems to demand -- Kane's feather-light arrangements help offset the disparity, but rarely does Picnic rise to the level one expects given the talent involved. by Jason Ankeny
Tracklist :
1     Picnic 2'57
Steve Allen
2     Banana Split 2'25
Neal Hefti
3     Spring in Maine 3'26
Carolyn Leigh
4     What Is a Woman 3'11
Steve Allen
5     Impossible 3'30
Steve Allen
6     Oh What a Nite for Love 2'31
Neal Hefti
7     South Rampart Street Parade 3'53
Ray Bauduc
8     C'est Tres Joli 2'55
Varel / Bailey / Steve Allen
9     We're Together 2'09
Don Elliot
10     Stay Just a Little While 2'12
Steve Allen
11     This Could Be the Start of Something 2'08
Steve Allen
Credits :
Dorothy Collins sings Steve Allen with Orch. directed by Jack Kane

DOROTHY COLLINS - A New Way to Travel (1960) lp / Mp3

Singer Dorothy Collins was one of the most popular and beloved entertainers of television's golden age, rising to national prominence via the long-running series Your Hit Parade. Born Marjorie Chandler in Windsor, Ontario, on November 18, 1926, at 12 she claimed top honors in a Detroit-area amateur talent contest, winning a guest shot on Motor City radio outlet WJKB's weekly children's showcase -- she proved such a hit that she remained with the station for several years. In 1942 Collins was introduced to the pioneering bandleader Raymond Scott, who recommended she spend a year with a voice teacher and then audition again -- she agreed and a year later commenced touring with his famed Quintette, performing in jazz clubs across the U.S. When Scott signed on as musical director with radio's Your Hit Parade in 1949, Collins continued touring with his former band. A year later, they resumed their collaboration when Scott hired her to sing some advertising jingles he was commissioned to write by the American Tobacco Company, Your Hit Parade's corporate sponsor. The firm was so impressed with Collins that when Your Hit Parade made the leap to television in late 1950, she was installed as a featured vocalist as well as spokesperson for its Lucky Strike cigarette brand. by Jason Ankeny
Tracklist:
A1 Say Si Si 2:07
A2 Let's Do It 2:23
A3 You've Changed 2:30
A4 Perfidia 2:43
A5 Goodbye 2:53
A6 Lady In Red 2:08
B1 I Feel A Song Comin' On 2:34
B2 My Heart Belongs To Daddy 2:06
B3 Everytime We Say Goodbye 2:28
B4 Sweet And Gentle 2:27
B5 Blame It On My Youth 2:45
B6 Adios 2:30
Credits:
Orchestra directed by Manny Albam
Vocals - Dorothy Collins